Glucobay Tablet (Acarbose) | Used to Manage Blood Sugar Levels in Type 2 Diabetes

Precaution

1. Follow the Prescribed Dose

Take Glucobay exactly as directed by your healthcare professional. The dose may be adjusted according to blood-glucose control and tolerance.

2. Take With Meals

Acarbose is intended to be taken with the beginning of a meal because its action is related to carbohydrate digestion during eating.

3. Monitor Blood Glucose

Regular blood-glucose monitoring may be recommended, particularly when Glucobay is used with other antidiabetic medicines.

4. Risk of Hypoglycemia With Combination Therapy

Acarbose alone generally does not cause hypoglycemia. However, when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas, the risk of low blood sugar can increase.

5. Use Glucose for Hypoglycemia

If hypoglycemia occurs while taking acarbose, glucose/dextrose should be used for rapid correction rather than ordinary table sugar (sucrose), because acarbose inhibits the breakdown of sucrose.

6. Kidney Problems

Tell your healthcare professional if you have kidney disease. Significant renal impairment requires particular consideration, and treatment is not recommended in patients with significant renal dysfunction according to U.S. labeling.

7. Liver Disease

Inform your doctor if you have liver disease. Acarbose is contraindicated in patients with cirrhosis according to U.S. labeling.

8. Digestive or Intestinal Disorders

Tell your healthcare professional if you have inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal obstruction, chronic intestinal disease, or other significant digestive disorders. These conditions can make acarbose unsuitable.

Usage 

• Take Glucobay exactly according to the prescribed schedule.
• It should generally be taken with the first mouthful of a meal or immediately before eating.
• The dose is individualized according to blood-glucose response and tolerance.
• Treatment is normally started at a lower dose and increased gradually when appropriate to reduce digestive side effects.
• Do not change the dose or stop treatment without medical advice.

Uses

1. Type 2 Diabetes

Glucobay is used to improve blood-glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

2. Post-Meal Blood Sugar Control

It helps reduce the rapid rise in blood glucose that occurs after carbohydrate-containing meals.

3. Diabetes With Diet and Exercise

It is used together with an appropriate diet and exercise program as part of diabetes management.

4. Combination Diabetes Therapy

Acarbose may be used with other antidiabetic medicines, including metformin, sulfonylureas, or insulin, when prescribed.

5. Additional Glycemic Control

It may be added when blood-glucose levels remain inadequately controlled with an existing treatment plan.

Side Effects

Common Side Effects

• Flatulence
• Abdominal bloating
• Abdominal discomfort or pain
• Diarrhea
• Increased intestinal gas
• Digestive discomfort
• Nausea

Serious Side Effects

Seek prompt medical attention for:

• Severe allergic reaction
• Significant or persistent abdominal pain
• Severe digestive symptoms
• Signs of intestinal obstruction
• Severe hypoglycemia, particularly when used with insulin or sulfonylureas
• Significant liver-related symptoms such as yellowing of the skin or eyes

FAQs

1. What is Glucobay Tablet?

Glucobay is an oral antidiabetic medicine containing Acarbose. It is used with diet and exercise to improve blood-glucose control in type 2 diabetes.

2. What is the generic name of Glucobay?

The generic name is Acarbose.

3. What is Glucobay used for?

It is used to improve blood-glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes, particularly by reducing the rise in blood sugar after meals.

4. What strengths of Glucobay are available?

Glucobay is available in 50 mg and 100 mg tablet strengths in documented product information.

5. How does Glucobay work?

It slows the digestion of carbohydrates in the intestine, which reduces the rapid rise in blood glucose after meals.

6. When should Glucobay be taken?

It should generally be taken with the first mouthful of a meal or immediately before eating, as directed by the prescriber.

7. Can Glucobay cause low blood sugar?

Acarbose alone generally does not cause hypoglycemia. The risk can increase when it is combined with insulin or sulfonylureas.

8. What should I use if low blood sugar occurs while taking Glucobay?

Glucose or dextrose should be used for rapid treatment of hypoglycemia because acarbose interferes with the breakdown of sucrose.

9. What are the common side effects of Glucobay?

Common digestive effects include gas, bloating, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea.

Interactions

1. Insulin and Sulfonylureas

Acarbose used with insulin or sulfonylureas can increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Dose adjustments may be necessary if low blood sugar occurs.

2. Metformin

Acarbose can be used with metformin. Available labeling reports little clinically significant interaction, although acarbose may modestly reduce the peak concentration of metformin.

3. Digoxin

Acarbose can alter digoxin bioavailability and may require monitoring or adjustment of the digoxin dose.

4. Digestive Enzyme Preparations

Preparations containing carbohydrate-splitting enzymes such as amylase or pancreatin may reduce the effect of acarbose and should not generally be taken together.

5. Intestinal Adsorbents

Medicines or products such as activated charcoal may reduce the effect of acarbose.

6. Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids may increase blood glucose and potentially reduce glycemic control, requiring closer monitoring.

7. Diuretics and Other Medicines Affecting Blood Sugar

Thiazide and other diuretics, thyroid products, estrogens, phenytoin, sympathomimetics, calcium-channel blockers, and some other medicines may affect glucose control.

8. Other Medicines and Supplements

Tell your healthcare professional about all medicines, vitamins, herbal products, and supplements you take before starting Glucobay.