Glucobay (Acarbose) 25mg
Also known as: Precose
Packed in strips of 10 x 25mg Tablets
Why is Glucobay (Acarbose) Prescribed?
Glucobay (Acarbose) is an oral medication used to treat type 2 (noninsulin-dependent) diabetes when high blood sugar levels cannot be controlled by diet alone. Glucobay (Acarbose) works by slowing the body's digestion of carbohydrates so that blood sugar levels won't surge upward after a meal. Glucobay (Acarbose) may be taken alone or in combination with certain other diabetes medications such as Diabinese, Micronase, Glucophage, and Insulin.
How should you take Precose?
Do not take more or less of this medication than directed by your doctor. Precose is usually taken 3 times a day with the first bite of each main meal.
Possible side effects of Glucobay
Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, tell your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Glucobay. If side effects do occur, they usually appear during the first few weeks of therapy and generally become less intense and less frequent over time. They are rarely severe. More common side effects may include: abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas.
Whan not to take Glucobay
do not take Glucobay when suffering diabetic ketoacidosis (a life-threatening medical emergency caused by insufficient insulin and marked by mental confusion, excessive thirst, nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue, and a sweet fruity smell to the breath).
You should not take Glucobay if you have cirrhosis (chronic degenerative liver disease). Also avoid Glucobay therapy if you have inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers in the colon, any intestinal obstruction or chronic intestinal disease associated with digestion, or any condition that could become worse as a result of gas in the intestine.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking Glucobay
When you take Glucobaywith certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before taking Glucobay with the following: airway-opening drugs such as Proventil, calcium channel blockers (heart and blood pressure medications such as Cardizem and Procardia), Charcoal tablets,
Digestive enzyme preparations such as Creon 20 and Donnazyme, Digoxin (Lanoxin), Estrogens such as Premarin, Isoniazid (Rifamate), Major tranquilizers such as Compazine and Mellaril, Nicotinic acid (Nicobid, Nicolar), Oral contraceptives, Phenytoin (Dilantin), Steroid medications such as Deltasone and Prelone, Thyroid medications such as Synthroid and Thyrolar
Water pills (diuretics) such as HydroDIURIL, Enduron, Moduretic.
Special warnings about Glucobay
Every 3 months during your first year of treatment, your doctor will give you a blood test to check your liver and see how it is reacting to Glucobay. While you are taking Glucobay, you should check your blood and urine periodically for the presence of abnormal sugar (glucose) levels.
Even people with well-controlled diabetes may find that stress such as injury, infection, surgery, or fever results in a loss of control over their blood sugar. If this happens to you, your doctor may recommend that Glucobayb e discontinued temporarily and injected insulin used instead.
When taken alone, Glucobay does not cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), but when you take it in combination with other medications such as Diabinese or Glucotrol, or with insulin, your blood sugar may fall too low. If you have any questions about combining Glucobay with other medications, be sure to discuss them with your doctor.
If you are taking Glucobay along with other diabetes medications, be sure to have some source of glucose, such as Glutose tablets, available in case you experience any symptoms of mild or moderate low blood sugar. (Table sugar won't work because Glucobay inhibits its absorption.)
Symptoms of mild hypoglycemia may include: Cold sweat, fast heartbeat, fatigue, headache, nausea, and nervousness.
Symptoms of more severe hypoglycemia may include: coma, pale skin, and shallow breathing.
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