what type of drug is acarbose

Precautions

Acarbose slows the digestion of carbohydrates in the body, which helps control blood sugar levels. Acarbose is used together with diet and exercise to treat type 2 diabetes.

What is Acarbose used for?

Acarbose oral tablet is available as a generic drug and a brand-name drug. Brand: Precose. Acarbose only comes as an oral tablet. Acarbose is used to treat type 2 diabetes. Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis warning: These are gas-filled cysts on the wall of your intestines.

Is there a generic version of acarbose?

You may be more likely to have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you take acarbose with other drugs that can raise blood sugar, such as: niacin (Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Simcor, Slo Niacin, and others), nicotine patches or gum; thyroid medicine ( Synthroid and others). This list is not complete.

Can acarbose be taken with other medications?

Symptoms include headache, hunger, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, or feeling shaky. Always keep a source of dextrose (D-glucose) with you in case you have low blood sugar. When taking acarbose, dextrose will work better than cane sugar or table sugar in treating hypoglycemia.

What are the side effects of acarbose?

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What drug class is Precose?

It belongs to a class of drugs called alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, which also includes miglitol (Glyset). Carbohydrates that are eaten are digested by enzymes in the intestine into smaller sugars which are absorbed into the body and increase blood sugar levels.

What type of inhibitor is acarbose?

Acarbose is a α-glucosidase inhibitor that acts by competitive and reversible inhibition of α-amylase from the pancreas and α-glucosidase (Figure 36). The inhibition of these enzymes results in a delayed absorption of glucose from the gut and a reduced postprandial increase in plasma glucose and insulin.

What is the mechanism of action of acarbose?

Mechanism of Action By delaying the digestion of carbohydrates, acarbose slows glucose absorption, resulting in a reduction of postprandial glucose blood concentrations. Acarbose may produce weight loss by increasing glucagon-like peptide-1.

Is acarbose the same as metformin?

The glucose lowering effects of metformin monotherapy and acarbose monotherapy are the same by direct comparison, while metformin is a little better by indirect comparison. This implies that the effect of metformin is at least as good as acarbose's.

What are the side effects of the medication acarbose?

Common side effects may include: stomach discomfort, gas, bloating; mild diarrhea; or. mild skin rash or itching.

How much does acarbose lower a1c?

Acarbose, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, results in an average HbA1c lowering of 0.5-0.8%. 6,7 A limitation to its use is intolerability due to GI adverse effects, including flatulence, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and nausea.

Who should not use acarbose?

Acarbose is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

When is the best time to take acarbose?

Take acarbose at the beginning of a meal. The tablets can be chewed with your first mouthful of food, or swallowed with a drink of water. The most common side-effect is wind (flatulence). Remember to follow any advice you have been given about your diet.

Why should acarbose be taken with food?

Acarbose works by slowing the action of certain chemicals that break down food to release glucose (sugar) into your blood. Slowing food digestion helps keep blood glucose from rising very high after meals.

Does acarbose cause weight gain?

Can you gain weight on acarbose? Acarbose is usually associated with weight loss when combined with exercise and diet monitoring. Studies have shown weight loss, although not significant, following treatment with Acarbose. Other medication combined with acarbose can cause weight gain.

Can acarbose cause heart failure?

In intention-to-treat analyses, acarbose was associated with a higher risk of any cardiovascular event (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.09), heart failure (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.00–1.16), and ischemic stroke (HR, 1.05, 95% CI, 1.00–1.10) than metformin.

Can I take acarbose without food?

It is recommended that patients should be instructed to take acarbose with their first mouthful of food.

What does acarbose inhibit?

Acarbose reversibly inhibits intestinal alpha-glucosidases, enzymes responsible for the metabolism of complex carbohydrates into absorbable monosaccharide units.

What is a DPP 4 inhibitor in diabetes?

DPP-4 inhibitors are a class of prescription medicines that are used with diet and exercise to control high blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. Medicines in the DPP-4 inhibitor class include sitagliptin, saxagliptin, linagliptin, and alogliptin.

What drugs are alpha-glucosidase inhibitors?

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are pills that treat type 2 diabetes. There are two medications in this group, or class, of drugs: acarbose (Precose) and miglitol (Glyset). They help keep the amount of glucose in your blood from going up too fast after you eat.

What is the mechanism of action for Precose?

Mechanism of Action: The antihyperglycemic action of acarbose results from a competitive, reversible inhibition of pancreatic alpha-amylase and membrane-bound intestinal alpha-glucoside hydrolase enzymes.

How does acarbose work?

Acarbose belongs to a class of drugs called alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. It works by slowing the action of certain enzymes that break food down into sugars. This slows down digestion of carbohydrates to keep your blood sugar from rising very high after you eat.

What are the symptoms of acarbose?

They are a rare but serious complication of using acarbose. Symptoms include diarrhea, mucus discharge, rectal bleeding, and constipation. You need to let your doctor know immediately if you experience these symptoms.

What drugs cause high blood sugar?

Taking drugs called sympathomimetics with acarbose may cause your blood sugar level to get too high, resulting in hyperglycemia. Examples of these drugs include:

What happens if you don't take acarbose?

These include nerve damage, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and damage to your eyes and kidneys.

Can you take levothyroxine and acarbose together?

Taking levothyroxine with acarbose may affect your blood sugar level. If you take these drugs together, your doctor will adjust your diabetes medications accordingly.

Does acarbose cause drowsiness?

Acarbose does not cause drowsiness, but it can cause other side effects.

Is acarbose a prescription?

Acarbose is a prescription medication. It comes as an oral tablet.

What is an acarbose tablet?

Acarbose Tablets are an oral alpha-glucosidase inhibitor for use in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Acarbose is an oligosaccharide which is obtained from fermentation processes of a microorganism, Actinoplanes utahensis , and is chemically known as O-4,6-dideoxy-4- [ [ (1 S ,4 R ,5 S ,6 S )-4,5,6-trihydroxy-3- (hydroxymethyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-yl]amino]-α-D-glucopyranosyl- (1→4)- O -α-D-glucopyranosyl- (1→4)-D-glucose. It is a white to off-white powder with a molecular weight of 645.6. Acarbose is soluble in water and has a pK a of 5.1. Its empirical formula is C 25 H 43 NO 18 and its chemical structure is as follows:

What is the role of acarbose in pharmacology?

Acarbose - Clinical Pharmacology. Acarbose is a complex oligosaccharide that delays the digestion of ingested carbohydrates, thereby resulting in a smaller rise in blood glucose concentration following meals.

What is the effect of acarbose on HbA1C?

The mean effect of the addition of Acarbose Tablets to diet therapy was a change in HbA1c of -0.78%, and an improvement of one-hour postprandial glucose of -74.4 mg/dL.

What drugs cause hyperglycemia?

These drugs include the thiazides and other diuretics, corticosteroids, phenothiazines, thyroid products, estrogens, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, sympathomimetics, calcium channel-blocking drugs, and isoniazid. When such drugs are administered to a patient receiving Acarbose Tablets, the patient should be closely observed for loss of blood glucose control. When such drugs are withdrawn from patients receiving Acarbose Tablets in combination with sulfonylureas or insulin, patients should be observed closely for any evidence of hypoglycemia.

How long does it take for acarbose to be recovered?

When Acarbose was given intravenously, 89% of the dose was recovered in the urine as active drug within 48 hours. In contrast, less than 2% of an oral dose was recovered in the urine as active (this is, parent compound and active metabolite) drug. This is consistent with the low bioavailability of the parent drug.

How many cases of transaminase elevation with Acarbose?

In approximately 3 million patient-years of international postmarketing experience with Acarbose Tablets, 62 cases of serum transaminase elevations > 500 IU/L (29 of which were associated with jaundice) have been reported. Forty-one of these 62 patients received treatment with 100 mg t.i.d. or greater and 33 of 45 patients for whom weight was reported weighed < 60 kg. In the 59 cases where follow-up was recorded, hepatic abnormalities improved or resolved upon discontinuation of Acarbose Tablets in 55 and were unchanged in two. Cases of fulminant hepatitis with fatal outcome have been reported; the relationship to Acarbose is unclear.

How much tid for acarbose?

Although there were no statistically significant differences among the mean results for doses ranging from 50 to 300 mg t.i.d., some patients may derive benefit by increasing the dosage from 50 to 100 mg t.i.d.

How does acarbose help with diabetes?

Acarbose is used (with diet only or diet and other medications) to treat type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood) . Acarbose works by slowing the action of certain chemicals that break down food to release glucose (sugar) into your blood. Slowing food digestion helps keep blood glucose from rising very high after meals.

What are the side effects of acarbose?

It is important that you and other members of your household understand this difference between acarbose and other medications used to treat diabetes. shakiness. dizziness or lightheadedness. sweating. nervousness or irritability. sudden changes in behavior or mood. headache.

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Can you stop taking acarbose?

Continue to take acarbose even if you feel well. Do not stop taking acarbose without talking to your doctor.

What is acarbose used for?

Acarbose is used with a proper diet and exercise program to control high blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Controlling high blood sugar helps prevent kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, loss of limbs, and sexual function problems. Proper control of diabetes may also lessen your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

How to take acarbose?

How to use Acarbose. Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually 3 times daily with the first bite of a meal. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. To reduce your risk of side effects, your doctor may direct you to start this medication at a low dose and gradually increase your dose.

How to report acarbose side effects in Canada?

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345. Precautions. Before taking acarbose, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.

Does acarbose cause low blood sugar?

Acarbose does not usually cause low blood sugar ( hypoglycemia ). Low blood sugar may occur if this drug is prescribed with other diabetes medications, or if you do not consume enough calories from food, or if you do unusually heavy exercise.

Are you currently using Acarbose?

This survey is being conducted by the WebMD marketing sciences department.

What is the generic name for acarbose?

Acarbose ( INN) is an anti-diabetic drug used to treat diabetes mellitus type 2 and, in some countries, prediabetes. It is a generic sold in Europe and China as Glucobay ( Bayer AG ), in North America as Precose ( Bayer Pharmaceuticals ), and in Canada as Prandase ( Bayer AG ).

What enzymes does acarbose inhibit?

Mechanism of action. Acarbose inhibits enzymes ( glycoside hydrolases) needed to digest carbohydrates, specifically, alpha-glucosidase enzymes in the brush border of the small intestines, and pancreatic alpha-amylase .

What is the short term effect of a diabetic drug?

In diabetic patients, the short-term effect of these drug therapies is to decrease current blood glucose levels; the long-term effect is a reduction in HbA 1c level. This reduction averages an absolute decrease of 0.7%, which is a decrease of about 10% in typical HbA 1c values in diabetes studies.

Which enzyme hydrolyzes starches to oligosaccharides?

Pancreatic alpha-amylase hydrolyzes complex starches to oligosaccharides in the lumen of the small intestine, whereas the membrane-bound intestinal alpha-glucosidases hydrolyze oligosaccharides, trisaccharides, and disaccharides to glucose and other monosaccharides in the small intestine.

Does acarbose cause flatulence?

Since acarbose prevents the degradation of complex carbohydrates into glucose, some carbohydrate will remain in the intestine and be delivered to the colon. In the colon, bacteria digest the complex carbohydrates, causing gastrointestinal side-effects such as flatulence (78% of patients) and diarrhea (14% of patients). Since these effects are dose-related, in general it is advised to start with a low dose and gradually increase the dose to the desired amount. One study found that gastrointestinal side effects decreased significantly (from 50% to 15%) over 24 weeks, even on constant dosing.

Is acarbose a starch blocker?

A possible explanation for the differing opinions is an observation that acarbose is significantly more effective in patients eating a relatively high carbohydrate Eastern diet. It is a starch blocker, and inhibits alpha glucosidase, an intestinal enzyme that releases glucose from larger carbohydrates.

Is acarbose safe for diabetics?

is limited because it is not potent enough to justify the side effects of diarrhea and flatulence. However, a recent large study concludes "acarbose is effective, safe and well tolerated in a large cohort of Asian patients with type 2 diabetes.".

Why is acarbose administered daily?

In a 26-month study of Sprague-Dawley rats, acarbose was administered by daily postprandial gavage so as to avoid the pharmacologic effects of the drug. In both of these studies, the increased incidence of renal tumors found in the original studies did not occur.

Where is acarbose metabolized?

Acarbose is metabolized exclusively within the gastrointestinal tract , principally by intestinal bacteria, but also by digestive enzymes. A fraction of these metabolites (approximately 34% of the dose) was absorbed and subsequently excreted in the urine. At least 13 metabolites have been separated chromatographically from urine specimens. The major metabolites have been identified as 4-methylpyrogallol derivatives (that is, sulfate, methyl, and glucuronide conjugates). One metabolite (formed by cleavage of a glucose molecule from acarbose) also has alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity. This metabolite, together with the parent compound, recovered from the urine, accounts for less than 2% of the total administered dose.

What drugs can cause hyperglycemia?

These drugs include the thiazides and other diuretics, corticosteroids, phenothiazines, thyroid products, estrogens, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, sympathomimetics, calcium channel-blocking drugs, and isoniazid. When such drugs are administered to a patient receiving acarbose, the patient should be closely observed for loss of blood glucose control. When such drugs are withdrawn from patients receiving acarbose in combination with sulfonylureas or insulin, patients should be observed closely for any evidence of hypoglycemia.

How long does acarbose stay in the plasma?

This is consistent with the low bioavailability of the parent drug. The plasma elimination half-life of acarbose activity is approximately 2 hours in healthy volunteers. Consequently, drug accumulation does not occur with three times a day (t.i.d.) oral dosing.

How long does it take for acarbose to be recovered?

When acarbose was given intravenously, 89% of the dose was recovered in the urine as active drug within 48 hours. In contrast, less than 2% of an oral dose was recovered in the urine as active (that is, parent compound and active metabolite) drug. This is consistent with the low bioavailability of the parent drug.

What is the name of the oligosaccharide that is used to treat type 2 diabetes mellit?

DESCRIPTION. Acarbose is an oral alpha-glucosidase inhibitor for use in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Acarbose is an oligosaccharide which is obtained from fermentation processes of a microorganism, Actinoplanes utahensis, and is chemically known as O-4,6-dideoxy- 4- [ [ (1S,4R,5S,6S)-4,5,6-trihydroxy-3- ...

How much radioactivity is absorbed from acarbose?

In a study of 6 healthy men, less than 2% of an oral dose of acarbose was absorbed as active drug, while approximately 35% of total radioactivity from a 14 C-labeled oral dose was absorbed. An average of 51% of an oral dose was excreted in the feces as unabsorbed drug-related radioactivity within 96 hours of ingestion.

What is acarbose used for?

Acarbose is a prescription oral drug that is used to control blood glucose ( sugar) levels in people type 2 diabetes in conjunction with diet, exercise, and other diabetes drugs, for example, metformin ( Glucophage) or insulin. It belongs to a class of drugs called alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, which also includes miglitol ( Glyset ).

What is the brand name of acarbose?

Precose is the brand name available for acarbose.

Does acarbose affect digoxin?

Acarbose may interfere with digoxin ( Lanoxin) absorption thereby decreasing digoxin blood levels and its effect. Therefore, the digoxin dose may need to be increased if acarbose is begun.

Does charcoal absorb acarbose?

Charcoal may absorb acarbose and digestive enzyme preparations such as amylase or pancreatin may breakdown acarbose and should not be administered. with this diabetes drug.

Can precose be used with insulin?

Precose can be used alone in the treatment type 2 diabetes or can be combined with sulfonylureas such as glyburide (Diabeta) or metformin (Glucophage) or with insulin.

Is precose a good treatment for cirrhosis?

This medication is not recommended if a patient has cirrhosis. Precose therapy is not advised in the presence of certain medical conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease ( IBD) or intestinal obstruction and chronic intestinal diseases that interfere with digestion or absorption such as Crohn's disease.

Can you take acarbose with sucrose?

Caution should be used when combining these drugs. If mild to moderate hypoglycemia occurs while taking acarbose in combination with another anti-diabetic drug, the treatment for hypoglycemia is with with oral glucose (dextrose) instead of sucrose (table sugar) because acarbose blocks the digestion of sucrose to glucose, ...

Why is acarbose used in food?

Acarbose is taken with meals to slow the action of certain chemicals (enzymes) in the intestine that breakdown food to release glucose (sugar) into your bloodstream . Slowing food digestion helps prevent large spikes in blood sugar levels following a meal and also helps smooth out daily fluctuations in blood sugar.

What is the best medicine for diabetes?

Glucobay (Acarbose) Glucobay is an oral medication used to help people with type 2 diabetes control the amount of sugar in their blood. It works by delaying the breakdown of sugars and starches in the gut and their absorption into the blood, which in turn prevents the rise in blood glucose that normally occurs after eating.

Can you swallow acarbose tablets?

Acarbose tablets should be chewed with your first mouthful of food, or swallowed whole with a little liquid immediately before eating.

Acarbose Description

Acarbose - Clinical Pharmacology

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Indications and Usage For Acarbose

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