Acarbose (Systemic)

Brand Names : Precose

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For acarbose, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to acarbose. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Acarbose has not been studied in pregnant women. However, it is easier during pregnancy to control your blood sugar by using injections of insulin rather than by taking acarbose. Close control of your blood sugar can reduce the chance of your baby gaining too much weight, having birth defects, or having high blood sugar before birth. Be sure to tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or you think you are pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether acarbose passes into breast milk. However, acarbose is not recommended during breast-feeding.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of acarbose in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - This medicine has been tested in a limited number of elderly people and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking acarbose, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Activated charcoal or
• Medicine for digestion that contains amylase or pancreatin (e.g., Creon) - Use of these medicines with acarbose may prevent acarbose from working properly

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of acarbose. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Diabetic ketoacidosis or
• Fever or
• Infection or
• Surgery or
• Trauma - Insulin is needed to control these conditions

• Digestion problems or
• Inflammatory bowel disease or
• Intestinal blockage or
• Other intestinal problems - Acarbose should not be used

• Kidney disease (severe) - Higher blood levels of acarbose may occur; acarbose should not be used

• Liver disease - Acarbose may make this condition worse