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Acarbose
Integrative Medicine > Drugs >  Acarbose
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Acarbose
Pronunciation
Brand Names
Therapeutic Categories
Reasons not to take this medicine
What is this medicine used for?
How does it work?
How is it best taken?
What do I do if I miss a dose?
What are the precautions when taking this medicine?
What are the common side effects of this medicine?
What should I monitor?
Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately
How should I store this medicine?
General statements
  
Pronunciation
(AY car bose)
Brand Names
; Precose®
Therapeutic Categories
Antidiabetic Agent (Miscellaneous)
Reasons not to take this medicine

  • If you have an allergy to acarbose or any other part of the medicine.
  • If you have any of the following conditions: Diabetic ketoacidosis or cirrhosis; inflammatory bowel disease, colonic ulceration, partial intestinal obstruction or history of intestinal obstruction; severe disorders of digestion or absorption.
What is this medicine used for?

  • This medicine is used to lower blood sugar in diabetic patients.
  • It is used in type 2 diabetes.
  • It can be used alone or in combination with other diabetes medicines.
How does it work?

  • Acarbose slows digestion of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates would include sugars, bread, rice, and pasta.
  • It slows absorption of sugar into your system.
How is it best taken?

  • Take at the beginning of a meal.
  • Follow diet plan as recommended by healthcare provider.
What do I do if I miss a dose?

  • Take a missed dose as soon as possible if you remember within an hour of the meal.
  • If not then skip the missed one. Return to your regular schedule.
  • Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

  • Wear disease medical alert identification for diabetes.
  • Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor).
  • When used alone, low blood sugars do not occur.
  • If taken with other diabetes medicine, use glucose (dextrose, D-glucose) or milk to treat low blood sugars. Table sugar may not work fast enough.
  • Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
  • Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
  • Do not use if you are breast-feeding.
What are the common side effects of this medicine?

  • Belly pain, cramps, and passing gas.
  • Diarrhea.
What should I monitor?

  • Check blood sugar as ordered by healthcare provider. Call if glucose is less than 80 mg/dL or greater than 250 mg/dL. Bring results to follow-up visits.
  • Watch for low blood sugar. This can cause anger, shaking, rapid heartbeats, confusion, and sweating.
  • Watch for high blood sugar. Causes many trips to the bathroom, thirst, and weight loss.
  • Check blood work. Talk with healthcare provider.
  • Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare provider.
  • Have a yearly eye exam and visit to the foot doctor.
Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

  • Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
  • Any signs or symptoms of infection. This may include a fever greater than 99 degrees, chills, sore throat, cough, increased sputum or change in color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, anal itching or pain.
  • Low blood sugar or high blood sugar.
  • Any rash.
How should I store this medicine?

  • Store in a tight container at room temperature. Protect from moisture.
General statements

  • Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
  • Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
  • Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
  • Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs, vitamins).

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