Acarbose is a prescription medication. It comes as an oral tablet. This is available as the brand-name drug Precose. It’s also available in a generic version. Generic drugs usually cost less. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name version. This drug may be used as part of combination therapy. That means you may need to take it with other drugs.
How Does Acarbose Work?
Acarbose is used to treat type 2 diabetes. It helps lower your blood sugar together with diet and exercise. 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 Do You Need To Know About Acarbose?
You need to take this medication with food. Acarbose only works when there’s food in your stomach. Take it with your first bite of each main meal. Don’t crush this tablet. Crushing it may cause more stomach problems like bloating, gas, or stomach pain. Store at room temperature, under 77°F (25ºC). Keep it away from high temperatures. Don’t freeze acarbose, Keep the medication container tightly closed and don’t store this medication in moist or damp areas, such as bathrooms.
Acarbose is used for long-term treatment. It comes with risks if you don’t take it as prescribed. If you don’t take acarbose as prescribed by your doctor, you may not be able to control the sugar levels in your blood. This can lead to dangerous complications that result from uncontrolled diabetes. These include nerve damage, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and damage to your eyes and kidneys.
If you miss doses or don’t take the drug on schedule: Your medication may not work as well or may stop working completely. For this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times.
What to do if you miss a dose: If you forget to take acarbose with the first bite of your meal and you’re still eating that meal, take it while you’re still eating. If you remember your missed dose after eating, skip the missed dose. This medication won’t work unless you take it during a meal. At the time for your next dose, take only one dose. Never try to catch up by taking two tablets at once. This could result in dangerous side effects.
What are the Side Effects?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have: severe constipation; severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody; easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin; or liver problems–nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Common side effects may include: stomach discomfort, gas, bloating; mild diarrhea; or mild skin rash or itching.
Remember while this medication helps to lower your blood pressure with diet and exercise. This medication also helps to prevent nerve problems, problems related to sexual functions, and blindness.
USA Script Helpers is an established Pharmacy partner located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This article is solely to bring attention to the current topic. USA Script Helpers do not encourage any readers to deem this information as 100% accurate as this information is based on public information and surveys. If you require medical advice please feel free to call our1 (888) 646-7749 to request to speak to a licensed Pharmacist from our contracted Pharmacy department
