ACARBOSE

(ah KAR bose) Brand: Precose

What is the most significant information I must know about acarbose?

• Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to acarbose, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). You also must not use acarbose if you have inflammatory bowel malady, an ulcer or blockage in your intestines, or cirrhosis of the liver.

• Till taking acarbose, speak your doctor if you have liver malady, or any type of stomach or intestinal disorder.

• Take acarbose with the first bite of a main meal, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

• Your medicine needs may change if you become sick or injured, if you have a serious infection, or if you have any type of surgery. Do not change your doze or stop taking acarbose without first talking to your doctor.

• If you take acarbose with insulin or another diabetes medications, your blood sugar could get too low. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can occur if you skip a meal, exercice too long, drink alcohol, or are under stress. Symptoms include headache, famine, weakness, sweating, tremors, irritability, or trouble concentrating.

• Carry heavy candy or glucose tablets with you in case you have low blood sugar. Another sugar sources include orange juice and milk. Be certain your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency.

• Acarbose is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet, exercice, weight control, foot care, eye care, dental care, and testing your blood sugar. Follow your diet, medicine, and exercice routines very closely. Changing any of these factors can affect your blood sugar levels.

What is acarbose?

• Acarbose slows the digestion of carbohydrates in the body, which helps control blood sugar levels.

• Acarbose is used to treat type 2 diabetes. Acarbose is sometimes used in combination with insulin or another diabetes medications you take by mouth.

• Acarbose may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking acarbose?

· inflammatory bowel disease;

· a blockage in your intestines;

· a digestive mess affecting your intestines;

· intestinal ulcer (of your colon); or

· cirrhosis of the liver.

• To create certain you can safely take acarbose, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:

· liver malady; or

· a bowel or intestinal mess; or

· a stomach disorder.

• FDA pregnancy category B. Acarbose is not expected to harm an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

• It is not known whether acarbose passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are using acarbose.

How must I take acarbose?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Take acarbose with the first bite of a main meal, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

• Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and you may need another blood trials at your doctor's office. Visit your doctor regularly.

• Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them: headache, famine, weakness, sweating, tremors, irritability, or trouble concentrating.

• Always hold a source of sugar accessible in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar. Sugar sources include orange juice, glucose gel, candy, or milk. If you have severe hypoglycemia and can't ate or drink, use an injection of glucagon. Your doctor can give you a prescription for a glucagon abnormal injection kit and speak you how to give the injection. Be certain your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency.

• Check your blood sugar carefully during a time of stress or diseases, if you travel, exercice more than normal, drink alcohol, or skip meals. These things can affect your glucose levels and your doze needs may also change.

• Your doctor may want you to stop taking acarbose for a short time if you become ill, have a fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical abnormal.

• Ask your doctor how to adjust your acarbose doze if needed. Do not change your medicine doze or schedule without your doctor's advice.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Hold the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember (be certain to take it with a meal). If it has been longer than 15 minutes since you started your meal, you may still take acarbose but it may be smaller effective than taking it with the first bite of the meal. Do not take acarbose between meals, and do not take extra medication to create up a missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

• Overdose symptoms may include bloating, gas, or stomach discomfort.

• In case of overdose, do not ate or drink anything containing carbohydrates for the following 4 to 6 hours.

What must I avoid while taking acarbose?

• Avoid drinking alcohol. It can lower your blood sugar.

• Avoid taking a digestive enzyme such as pancreatin, amylase, or lipase at the same time you take acarbose. These enzymes can create it harder for your body to absorb acarbose. Commodity that contain digestive enzymes include Arco-Lase, Cotazym, Donnazyme, Pancrease, Creon, and Ku-Zyme.

What are the possible side effects of acarbose?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· severe stomach pain, severe constipation;

· diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

· light bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin; or

· nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· mild stomach pain, gas, bloating;

· mild diarrhea; or

· mild skin rash or itching.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect acarbose?

• You may be more likely to have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you are taking acarbose with another drugs that raise blood sugar. Drugs that can raise blood sugar include:

· isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis);

· digoxin (Lanoxin);

· niacin (Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Simcor, Slo Niacin, and others), nicotine patches or gum;

· diuretics (water pills);

· steroids (prednisone and others);

· phenothiazines (Compazine and others);

· thyroid medication (Synthroid and others);

· birth control pills and another hormones;

· medicines for colds or asthma

· seizure medications (Dilantin and others);

· diet pills, stimulants, or medicines to treat ADHD; or

· heart or blood pressure medication such as amlodipine (Norvasc, Caduet, Exforge, Lotrel, Tekamlo, Tribenzor, Twynsta, Amturnide), diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others.

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· insulin; or

· an oral diabetes medicine such as glipizide (Glucotrol, Metaglip), glimepiride (Amaryl, Avandaryl, Duetact), glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase, Glucovance), and others.

• This list is not complete and another drugs may affect your blood sugar or interact with acarbose. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about acarbose.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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