Miglitol (Systemic)

Brand Names : Glyset

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 miglitol, the following should be considered:

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

Pregnancy - Miglitol has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that miglitol causes birth defects or other problems. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - Although a very small amount of this medicine passes into human breast milk, it has not been shown to cause problems in nursing babies. Miglitol is not recommended for a nursing woman. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

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

Older adults - This medicine has been tested 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 miglitol, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Digestive enzymes (e.g., Pancrease, Viokase, etc.) or
• Activated charcoal (e.g., Insta-Char, Liqui-Char) - Miglitol may not work as well when taken with these medicines

• Propranolol (e.g., Inderal) or
• Ranitidine (e.g., Zantac) - These medicines may not work as well when taken with miglitol.

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

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

• Kidney disease - Higher levels of miglitol may result and a smaller dose may be needed