Acarbose, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antidiabetic

Generic and brand names: acarbose, oral; Precose

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus when diet alone has not worked. This medicine may be used along with other diabetes medicines or insulin shots.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a bowel disorder such as colitis, Crohn's disease, or a blockage in your bowel
• diabetic ketoacidosis
• kidney or liver disease.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Take it with the first bite of each main meal. This medicine is not effective unless you take it with food.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe insulin or other diabetes medicine to be used with this one. Take any other medicine exactly as prescribed.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

Follow the diet and exercise program prescribed by your healthcare provider.

Your healthcare provider will want to test your blood sugar levels regularly. You may be able to test your blood sugar at home using a blood glucose meter. Follow your healthcare provider's advice exactly. Your healthcare provider may also do more in-depth tests. Keep all appointments for these tests.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are scheduled to have surgery.

When used alone, this medicine will not cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). However, when used with insulin or other diabetes medicines, hypoglycemia can occur and may be serious. Low blood sugar can also occur if you miss or delay meals, drink too much alcohol, take too much medicine, or exercise more than usual. Symptoms of low blood sugar include confusion, shaking, weakness, strong hunger, cold sweats, headache, nausea, vision problems, and feeling faint. Treat the condition quickly by eating or drinking something with sugar in it such as candy, juice, or nondiet soda. Taking glucose tablets or glucose gel (available in drug stores) is another quick way to treat hypoglycemia. If you have low blood sugar often, contact your healthcare provider to find out if you need a dosage adjustment.

When you start taking this medicine it is likely to cause gas, bloating, and diarrhea. This is normal and should go away as your body adjusts to the medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe stomach pain, fever, dark urine, light-colored bowel movements.

Other: Mild abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• alcohol
• birth control pills
• calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), nicardipine (Cardene), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor), and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)
• charcoal
• corticosteroids such as prednisone (Meticorten) and dexamethasone
• digoxin
• digestive enzymes such as amylase and pancreatin (Creon)
• diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, Oretic), torsemide (Demadex), bumetanide (Bumex), and furosemide (Lasix)
• estrogens such as Premarin, Estratab, Ogen, Estinyl, and estrogen patches
• isoniazid (Laniazid, Nydrazid)
• nicotinic acid
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin), perphenazine, prochlorperazine (Compazine), thioridazine, trifluoperazine (Stelazine), promazine (Sparine), and trifluoperazine (Vesprin)
• sympathomimetics used to treat asthma such as salmeterol (Serevent), albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin), terbutaline (Brethine), metaproterenol (Metaprel), and epinephrine (Adrenalin)
• thyroid medicines such as levothyroxine (Levo-T, Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid), thyroid USP (Armor Thyroid, Thyrar, Thyroid Strong), liothyronine (Cytomel), and liotrix (Thyrolar).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.