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Acarbose

    Brands

    DEA Class; Rx

    Common Brand Names; Precose

    • Antidiabetics, Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors

    Oral alpha-glucosidase inhibitor; minimal systemic absorption
    Used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus
    Agents in this class have only modest effects on A1C (i.e., mean 0.3% to 0.7% reduction)

    Indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise.

    Documented hypersensitivity to acarbose

    Diabetic ketoacidosis, cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease, colonic ulceration, partial intestinal obstruction or predisposed to intestinal obstruction, known marked absorptive impairment of GI

    Conditions that may deteriorate as result of increased gas formation in GI tract

    • abdominal pain (19%)
    • diarrhea (31%)
    • elevated serum transaminases
    • flatulence (74%)
    • Gastrointestinal: Fulminant hepatitis with fatal outcome, ileus/subileus, jaundice and/or hepatitis and associated liver damage
    • Hypersensitive skin reactions: rash, erythema, exanthema and urticaria
    • Edema
    • Thrombocytopenia
    • Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis

    No clinical studies exist establishing conclusive evidence of macrovascular risk reduction with acarbose or any other anti-diabetic drug

    When diabetic patients are exposed to stress such as fever, trauma, infection, or surgery, a temporary loss of control of blood glucose may occur; at such times, temporary insulin therapy may be necessary

    Monitoring glycemic control with 1,5-AG assay is not recommended; measurements of 1,5-AG are unreliable in assessing glycemic control in patients taking acarbose; use alternate methods to monitor for glycemic control

    Pregnancy Category: B

    Lactation: not known if crosses into breast milk, avoid using in nursing women

    Adults

    150 mg/day PO if patient weighs <= 60 kg. 300 mg/day PO if patient weighs > 60 kg.

    Geriatric

    150 mg/day PO if patient weighs <= 60 kg. 300 mg/day PO if patient weighs > 60 kg.

    Adolescents

    Safety and efficacy have not been established.

    Children

    Safety and efficacy have not been established. 

    Acarbose

    tablet

    • 25mg
    • 50mg
    • 100mg