Acarbose: Price, Dosage & Where to Buy

Acarbose is an oral medicine used alongside diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It belongs to the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor group and is most commonly prescribed to reduce rises in blood glucose after meals. Acarbose is a prescription medicine in the United Kingdom and generic versions have been available since 2008-05-07.

Acarbose is indicated for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is used as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control, particularly by reducing the rise in blood glucose that follows meals. It may be used alone or alongside other diabetes medicines, including sulfonylureas, insulin or metformin.

Acarbose does not replace a prescribed diabetic diet or physical activity plan. Digestive symptoms such as flatulence, diarrhoea and abdominal pain can occur because undigested carbohydrate reaches the lower intestine. If these symptoms become strongly distressing despite following the prescribed diet, medical advice is needed because the dose may need temporary or permanent reduction.

The label lists 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg tablets. The label lists an individualised regimen based on effectiveness and tolerance, with treatment given three times daily at the start, with the first bite, of each main meal. The usual starting dose is 25 mg three times daily at the start, with the first bite, of each main meal.

The label lists that some patients may begin with 25 mg once daily, followed by gradual increases to 25 mg three times daily. The label lists maintenance doses from 50 mg three times daily to 100 mg three times daily.

The label lists a maximum of 50 mg three times daily for patients weighing 60 kg or less, and 100 mg three times daily for patients weighing more than 60 kg. Dose adjustments are based on blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and tolerance.

Acarbose is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor. It slows the breakdown of complex carbohydrates and disaccharides in the intestine into smaller sugars that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. This delays carbohydrate absorption and reduces the rise in blood glucose after a meal.

Some carbohydrate therefore reaches the lower intestine without being fully digested, which explains common effects such as flatulence, diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort. Acarbose works in the digestive tract rather than by directly increasing insulin release. Its blood glucose-lowering effect can be combined with other diabetes treatments, although combination treatment can increase the likelihood of hypoglycaemia when sulfonylureas or insulin are used.

The safety of acarbose in pregnant women has not been established. Animal reproduction studies did not show impaired fertility or fetal harm due to acarbose in rats, but animal findings do not always predict human effects.

The label states that acarbose should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed and notes that insulin is commonly recommended by experts to maintain blood glucose close to normal during pregnancy. Acarbose should not be administered to a nursing woman because it is not known whether it is excreted in human milk.

A missed dose means the scheduled dose was not taken at the start of a main meal. General pharmacy practice is to avoid taking an extra dose to make up for a missed dose, because acarbose is intended to work with the carbohydrate in a meal.

The next dose is associated with the next main meal according to the prescribed regimen. Advice from a doctor or pharmacist is appropriate if doses are missed repeatedly or if blood glucose control becomes difficult.

Store at 20 to 25°C and protect from moisture. Keep the container tightly closed to maintain quality. Storage should follow the product label and the container should be kept away from children.