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| ACARBOSE |
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| What
is ACARBOSE? |
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Acarbose is an oral antidiabetic drug. It is mostly used to treat patients suffering from type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. Basically, acarbose delays the absorption of sugar to the blood stream after meals by reducing the effect of some enzymes in the small bowel that digest food.
Acarbose is not normally used to treat patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes.
Acarbose is available as tablets. |
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| How
should I use ACARBOSE? |
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Your doctor will decide whether you need acarbose and if so, what dosage of the drug you must take. Take acarbose exactly as directed by your doctor, and do NOT change the dosage on your own. You should also read the directions on the drug leaflet carefully.
Acarbose is prescribed to control your high blood sugar, and thus to control your symptoms. It does not cure your illness, and it means you may need to take the drug for a long time. Never stop taking it without talking to your doctor. |
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| Contraindications |
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Acarbose should not be used during pregnancy or feeding and in patients with chronic liver disease, severe renal insufficiency, diabetic ketoacidosis and chronic bowel diseases including inflammatory bowel disease and bowel obstruction. |
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| If
you miss a dose! |
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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. |
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| Dietary
instructions |
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Acarbose should be taken with food and preferably just after beginning a meal. Do not take the drug on an empty stomach. Your doctor will probably order you a special diet or exercise program to help control your condition better. |
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| Special
Precautions & Warnings |
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CAUTION: As a diabetic patient, you must be familiar with the symptoms of low and high blood sugar.
The following symptoms occur with low blood sugar, which are often due to diabetic drugs: headache, confusion, dizziness, shaking, weakness, sweating, pale color, blurred vision, sudden hunger and fast heartbeat. If you have any of the mentioned symptoms, eat or drink something sweet containing sugar, and call or visit your doctor right away.
And the following symptoms appear with high blood sugar: frequent urination, thirst, dry mouth, dry skin, fatigue and flushing (feeling warm). See your doctor immediately if you experience any of such symptoms.
Tell your doctor if:
• You are allergic to acarbose or any other drugs.
• You are taking any medications, prescription or non-prescription, specially other drugs for diabetes like insulin; and calcium channel blockers (eg nifedipine or diltiazem), clidinium-c, pancreatin or other pancreatic enzymes, digoxin, diuretics (water pills like frusemide, hydrochlorthiazide and triamterene), estrogens, isoniazid (INH), medications for high blood pressure or heart disease, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, steroids (eg prednisolone or dexamethasone), thyroid hormones like levothyroxine, trifluoperazine and vitamins.
• You have or have had liver or kidney disease, high blood pressure, history of diabetic coma or ketoacidosis, thyroid or any endocrine problems and any intestinal disease such as inflammatory bowel disease.
• You are going to have a surgery, including dental procedures.
• You drink alcohol regularly or sometimes you drink heavy amounts.
• You are on a special diet or you are taking any exercise programs. In such cases your doctor may want to adjust the dosage of acarbose. |
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| Side
Effects |
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Acarbose is generally considered a safe drug. You may experience nausea, upset stomach, bloating and diarrhea. If these symptoms get worse or persist, consult your doctor.
However, see your doctor right away in case any of these symptoms happen: skin rash, yellowing of the eyes or skin and difficult breathing or swallowing.
Be careful of the symptoms of drop and rise in blood sugar mentioned in above lines. |
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| Storage |
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Keep acarbose in its container, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store tablets at room temperature, away from direct light, excess heat or moisture. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. |
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| Emergency/Overdose |
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In case of overdose seek help at the nearest medical centre and do carry the drug container. Symptoms of overdose are mostly the symptoms of low blood sugar that are mentioned above. |
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| Drug
interactions |
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• Taking acarbose along with other blood sugar lowering drugs (eg insulin, glibenclamide or metformin) can increase the chance of drops in blood sugar.
• Acarbose interferes with the action of indigestion remedies such as pancreatin or clidinium.
• If you are taking any of the drugs mentioned in the “Special Precautions & Warnings” section, inform your doctor. |
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| Children,
pregnant women & nursing mothers |
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• Acarbose is not normally indicated for childhood diabetes, however, you must follow the doctor’s prescription.
• It’s not known for sure whether acarbose is excreted in breast milk. However, it’s recommended not to take the drug during breast feeding. But you must follow whatever your doctor orders you.
• Acarbose, as well as other oral antidiabetic medicines, is not used during pregnancy, and insulin is usually used instead. |
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| More
information |
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• Type 2 diabetes, previously called non-insulin dependent diabetes, usually occurs in the middle age or elderly. In contrast to type 1 diabetes, in which patients suffer from lack of insulin, in this type the body response to insulin is often diminished. While in type 1, patients are mostly treated with insulin, in type 2 oral antidiabetics are usually used.
• Keep in touch with your doctor regularly and check your blood sugar as often as prescribed by your doctor. In addition, doctors usually start low doses of acarbose and if needed, they increase the dosage gradually in the subsequent visits.
• Do not drink large amounts of alcohol or alcohol on an empty stomach. Alcohol can lower your blood sugar and interfere with appropriate control of your blood glucose. |
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