Acarbose is a medication that helps control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. It does this by slowing the digestion of carbohydrates in the gut, which means that the sugar released into the bloodstream after eating is absorbed more slowly. This reduces the risk of spikes in blood sugar levels after meals.
Acarbose is available as a tablet that is taken before meals. It comes in two different strengths, 25 mg, and 50 mg. The usual dose is one 25 mg tablet taken before each main meal.
People with an allergy should not use acarbose to acarbose or other ingredients. It should also not be used by people with the condition that affects how their body handles disaccharides, which are sugar molecules made from two monosaccharide molecules joined together. This includes inherited enzyme deficiencies such as sucrase-isomaltase deficiency and lactase deficiency.
Diabetes and alcohol can be a dangerous combination. When you drink alcohol, it can interfere with your blood sugar levels, which can be dangerous for people with diabetes. If you have diabetes, it’s important to be careful when you drink alcohol.
What Is the Mechanism of Action of Acarbose?
Acarbose is a drug that inhibits starch digestion in the small intestine. Doing so slows down the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream, leading to a lower blood sugar level. Acarbose also delays the time it takes for food to leave the stomach, which can help people feel fuller for longer.
Acarbose is a starch blocker indicated for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus in conjunction with diet and exercise. Acarbose is a white to off-white crystalline powder that is practically insoluble in water and sparingly soluble in ethanol.
When food containing carbohydrates reaches your small intestine, it mixes with various enzymes that break down or digest the carbohydrates into smaller components that are absorbed into your blood. One of these enzymes is alpha-glucosidase, which breaks down starch (a type of carbohydrate) into maltose. After this digestion process is complete, the glucose enters the bloodstream and raises your blood sugar level. Acarbose works by blocking the action of alpha-glucosidase. By inhibiting this enzyme, it is possible to slow the digestion of starch, which results in a slower rise in blood glucose levels after eating.
Acarbose slows down carbohydrate digestion by blocking alpha-glucosidase enzymes, which are found on the surface of cells lining the gut wall and function to break down starches into glucose. The drug is taken before meals and works to prevent the digestion of starch in the food. This means that less glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream, leading to a lower blood sugar level overall. In addition, because acarbose delays the time it takes for food to leave the stomach, people may feel fuller for longer after eating. This can help with weight loss and obesity management in type 2 diabetes.
What Are the Possible Side Effects of Acarbose?
Acarbose may cause diarrhea, gas, and stomach pain. If you have these symptoms, drink plenty of fluids and call your doctor. Other possible side effects include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Skin rash
- Joint pain
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Elevated liver enzymes
Acarbose May Interact with Other Medications.
Acarbose oral tablet has the potential to interact with a variety of drugs, herbs, and vitamins you may be taking. An interaction occurs when one substance modifies the function of another drug. This can make the medication ineffective or dangerous.
To avoid conflicts, your doctor should watch all of your prescriptions closely. Let your doctor know if you’re taking any prescription drugs, vitamins, or herbs. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to learn whether this medication will cause an interaction with another medicine you’re taking.
Here are some examples of medications that may cause acarbose–related interactions.
Diabetes Drugs
When you take other diabetes medications simultaneously as acarbose, your blood sugar level can drop too low, causing hypoglycemia. Fast heart rate, confusion, hunger, sweating, shaking, or feeling weak and dizzy are all symptoms of hypoglycemia. The following drugs are examples of these:
- Sulfonylureas, such as glyburide or glimepiride
- Insulin
Use glucose tablets or liquid glucose to assist manage a hypoglycemic episode while you’re on acarbose. While on acarbose, cane sugar (sucrose) will not help treat hypoglycemia. Instead, use oral glucose (dextrose) solutions.
Thyroid Drug
Taking levothyroxine with acarbose may alter your blood sugar levels. If you take these medications simultaneously, your doctor will change your diabetes medicines to compensate.
Estrogens and Oral Contraceptives
Certain hormonal therapies, such as spironolactone, may alter your blood sugar levels. Your doctor will change your diabetes treatment based on this information. These medications include:
- Ethinyl Estradiol/Norgestimate
- Ethinyl Estradiol/Levonorgestrel
- Ethinyl Estradiol/Norethindrone
- Ethinyl Estradiol/Drospirenone
- Diuretics (water pills)
Acarbose should not be used with drugs that cause your body to decrease water, as this can lead to high blood sugar levels and hyperglycemia. These medications include:
Thiazide Diuretics Such As:
- Hydrochlorothiazide
- Chlorthalidone
Loop diuretics such as:
- Furosemide
- Bumetanide
- Torsemide
- Triamterene
Corticosteroids
Excessive blood sugar levels, known as hyperglycemia, can result from taking acarbose with corticosteroids. These medicines include:
- Betamethasone
- Cortisone
- Depo-Medrol
- Dexamethasone
- Fludrocortisone
- Fluticasone
- Hydrocortisone
- Medrol
- Methylprednisolone
- Paramethasone
- Prednisolone
- Prednisone
- Prelone
Antipsychotic drugs
It’s also possible that using these medicines together will result in your blood sugar levels becoming too high, causing hyperglycemia.
Seizure drugs
It’s improbable that acarbose will have any adverse side effects. However, if you’re taking medications for epilepsy or diabetes, your blood sugar level may be affected by combining them. These are some of the drugs that might alter your blood sugar levels:
- Phenytoin
- Fosphenytoin
- Nicotinic acid
Taking niacin with acarbose can result in hyperglycemia, which is a condition in which your blood sugar level rises too quickly.
Sympathomimetics
High blood sugar levels can be a problem with sympathomimetic drugs. When you take sympathomimetics and acarbose at the same time, your blood sugar level may rise too much, causing hyperglycemia. These are some of the sympathomimetics:
- Pseudoephedrine
- Phenylephrine
Must Read: Mixing Metformin and Alcohol
Blood Pressure Drugs
It’s possible that taking certain blood pressure medicines such as beta-blockers with acarbose may raise your blood sugar to an unsafe level, causing hyperglycemia. It can also cause it to take longer for your blood sugar levels to return to normal. Beta-blockers can hide some signs of low blood sugar, such as a greater than usual heart rate, palpitations, and tremors. The following are examples of these medications:
- Metoprolol
- Isoprolol
- Atenolol
- Nadolol
- Propranolol
Tuberculosis Drug
Isoniazid and acarbose can result in hyperglycemia, which is a condition in which your blood sugar levels are too high.
Heart Problem Drug
Taking digoxin with acarbose can impact the amount of digoxin in your system. If you take these medicines together, your doctor may adjust your digoxin dose.
People who suffer from specific health issues should be aware of the following dangers.
Don’t take this medication if you have diabetic ketoacidosis. This is a severe condition that can lead to unconsciousness and even death. The symptoms of this illness develop slowly. They include Dry mouth or being very thirsty, high blood sugar levels, and urinating frequently. Call your physician or go to the hospital right away if you begin vomiting and believe you have this condition. Within a few hours, this illness can become deadly.
Don’t take acarbose if you have cirrhosis or severe liver disease. Taking acarbose might make your condition worse.
If you have an intestinal condition such as inflammatory bowel disease, colonic ulceration, or partial intestinal obstruction, or if you’re inclined to intestinal blockage, don’t consume acarbose. It might make your problem worse.
For those who use insulin or a sulfonylurea: When acarbose is combined with these other medicines, your risk of developing low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) may be increased. Fast heart rate, confusion, hunger, sweating, shakiness, or feeling weak and dizzy are all signs of hypoglycemia. To assist in managing a hypoglycemic emergency while taking acarbose, take glucose tablets or liquid glucose. While you’re on acarbose, cane sugar (sucrose) won’t help you treat your hypoglycemia. Instead, use oral dextrose (dextrose) preparations.
Acarbose is a category B drug during pregnancy. That means two things:
- No adverse effects have been observed in animal studies of the drug during pregnancy.
- There aren’t enough studies on pregnant women to demonstrate that the drug harms their babies.
Tell your doctor if you’re expecting a baby or plan to get pregnant. Acarbose should only be used during pregnancy if the anticipated benefit justifies the known risk to the fetus.
For women breastfeeding, it’s been observed in lactating rats that there is a small amount of acarbose in the milk. It isn’t known if acarbose goes through human breast milk. You and your doctor should determine if you’ll take acarbose or breastfeed.
The safety and effectiveness of acarbose in children under 18 have not been established.
Read More:Relationships of Acarbose
Why is this medication prescribed?
Acarbose is used to manage type 2 diabetes to lower blood sugar levels. Lowering your blood sugar can help prevent or delay complications associated with high blood sugar, such as heart disease and nerve damage.
How should you take acarbose?
Don’t alter a dose of your medication unless your doctor tells you to. Swallow the tablet with a glass of water. You can take acarbose with or without food. If you have trouble swallowing pills, ask your doctor about other forms of the medication, such as capsules or liquid.
What should you avoid while taking acarbose?
Don’t drink alcohol while taking acarbose because it can cause low blood sugar. Also, avoid eating foods high in sugar or starch. These include candy, cake, cookies, ice cream, pasta, and rice. If you have trouble identifying high in sugar or starch foods, consult a dietitian.
What special dietary instructions should you follow while taking acarbose?
Acarbose lowers blood sugar by slowing the digestion of carbohydrates in your body. Your doctor will recommend you take a special diet that includes no more than 120 grams of carbohydrate each day. Carbohydrate is found in bread, cereals, pasta, beans, potatoes, vegetables, fruit (excluding fruit juice), milk products like yogurt, and ice cream.
You should also avoid sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol and xylitol, in food products because they’re converted to glucose in your body.
Acarbose may interfere with the absorption of some minerals from food. Taking a multivitamin that contains zinc and iron might help offset these possible side effects.
Acarbose may cause gas, stomachache, and diarrhea. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you don’t remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and resume your normal schedule. Don’t take two doses at once to catch up for a missed one.
What should I know about the 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). Dispose of any unused medication by flushing it down the toilet. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper way to dispose of expired or unwanted medications.
How long is acarbose in your system?
Enzymes break down acarbose in your gut. The length of time the drug stays in your system varies according to factors such as when you last ate carbohydrates and how much you have consumed in the past.
What other information should I know?
Acarbose is only one part of a complete program of treatment for diabetes that may also include diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.
Don’t stop taking acarbose without talking to your doctor. If you do, your blood sugar levels could rise to dangerous levels.
Acarbose can cause low blood sugar, a condition in which blood sugar is too low to provide your body with the energy it needs. Symptoms of low blood sugar include chills, dizziness, drowsiness, rapid heartbeat, nausea, nervousness or tremors, sweating, and weakness. If you experience these symptoms, eat or drink something containing glucose immediately and contact your doctor.
Acarbose can also cause liver problems. Contact your doctor if you experience yellowing of the skin or eyes, itching, dark urine, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, or flu-like symptoms.
Acarbose is a prescription medication used to manage type 2 diabetes. Available as tablet you take by mouth. The drug works by slowing the digestion of carbohydrates in your body, which helps to control blood sugar levels. Because acarbose can cause low blood sugar, your doctor will recommend you take a special diet that includes no more than 120 grams of carbohydrate each day. You should also avoid sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol and xylitol, in food products because they’re converted to glucose in your body. Talk to your doctor. If you do, your blood sugar levels could rise to dangerous levels.
Enzymes break down acarbose in your gut and the length of time the drug stays in your system varies according to various factors, such as when you last ate carbohydrates and how much you have consumed in the past.
