• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is acarbose?
Acarbose slows the digestion of carbohydrates in the body, which helps control blood sugar levels. Acarbose is used to treat type 2 diabetes. Acarbose is sometimes used in combination with insulin or other diabetes medications you take by mouth. Acarbose may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of acarbose?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these liver symptoms:

• low fever;

• nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite;

• dark urine, clay-colored stools; or

• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild stomach pain, gas, bloating;

• diarrhea; or

• mild skin rash or itching.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I take acarbose?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Take acarbose with the first bite of a main meal, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Your medication needs may change if you become sick or injured, if you have a serious infection, or if you have any type of surgery. Your doctor may want you to stop taking acarbose for a short time if any of these situations affect you. Do not change your dose or stop taking acarbose without first talking to your doctor.

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What is the most important information I should know about acarbose?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to acarbose, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). You also should not use acarbose if you have inflammatory bowel disease, an ulcer or blockage in your intestines, or cirrhosis of the liver. Before taking acarbose, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, or any type of stomach or intestinal disorder. Take acarbose with the first bite of a main meal, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember (be sure to take it with a meal). If it has been longer than 15 minutes since you started your meal, you may still take acarbose but it may be less effective than taking it with the first bite of the meal. Do not take acarbose between meals, and do not take extra medicine to make up a missed dose.

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What other drugs will affect acarbose?
You may be more likely to have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you are taking acarbose with other drugs that raise blood sugar. Drugs that can raise blood sugar include: isoniazid; digoxin; niacin, nicotine patches or gum; diuretics (water pills); steroids (prednisone and others); phenothiazines (Compazine and others); thyroid medicine (Synthroid and others); birth control pills and other hormones; seizure medications (Dilantin and others); cold or asthma medications; diet pills, stimulants, or medicines to treat ADHD; or

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Acarbose has been assigned to pregnancy category B by the FDA. Animal data have failed to reveal evidence of teratogenicity or embryotoxicity after rats were given 480 mg/kg (9 times the human dose, based on drug levels) or after rabbits were given 160 mg/kg (up to 32 times the human dose, based on body surface area). There are no controlled data from human pregnancy studies. Acarbose should only be given during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

There are no data on the excretion of acarbose into human milk.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to the drug.
• Diabetic ketoacidosis.
• Cirrhosis.
• Inflammatory bowel disease, colonic ulceration, existing partial intestinal obstruction or predisposition to this condition.
• Chronic intestinal diseases associated with marked disorders of digestion or absorption.
• Co-existing conditions that may deteriorate as a result of increased intestinal gas formation.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include bloating, gas, or stomach discomfort. In case of overdose, do not eat or drink anything containing carbohydrates for the next 4 to 6 hours.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acarbose?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to acarbose, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). You also should not use acarbose if you have: inflammatory bowel disease; a blockage in your intestines; a digestive disorder affecting your intestines; intestinal ulcer (of your colon); or cirrhosis of the liver. Before taking acarbose, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have: liver disease; or a bowel or intestinal disorder; or

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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