Precose (Oral)

Acarbose is used to treat type 2 diabetes. Normally, your pancreas releases insulin into the bloodstream after you eat. Insulin helps all the cells in your body turn the food you eat into energy. This works by using glucose (sugar) in the blood as quick energy. When you have type 2 diabetes, your pancreas still makes insulin, but it may not make enough, or your body may not use it properly, so you may need more. Because of this, insulin cannot lower your blood sugar effectively, leading to too much sugar in your blood. Acarbose lowers your blood sugar by stopping starch from breaking down into sugar. It can be used alone or along with another type of oral diabetes medicine called a sulfonylurea.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Your doctor will want to check your progress at regular visits, especially during the first few weeks you take this medicine.

It is very important to carefully follow any instructions from your health care team about:

• Alcohol—Drinking alcohol may cause severe low blood sugar. Discuss this with your health care team.
• Other medicines—Do not take other medicines while you are taking acarbose unless you have talked about them with your doctor. This includes nonprescription medicines such as aspirin, and medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinus problems.
• Counseling—Other family members need to learn how to prevent side effects or help with side effects if they happen. Also, patients with diabetes may need special counseling about changes in diabetes medicine dosing that might occur due to lifestyle changes, such as changes in exercise and diet. Additionally, counseling on contraception and pregnancy may be necessary because of the issues that can arise for patients with diabetes during pregnancy.
• Travel—Keep a recent prescription and your medical history with you. Be prepared for an emergency as you normally would. Make allowances for changing time zones and try to keep your meal times as close as possible to your usual meal times.

In case of emergency—There may be times when you need emergency help for a problem caused by your diabetes. You need to be ready for these emergencies. It is a good idea to wear a medical identification (ID) bracelet or neck chain at all times. Also, carry an ID card in your wallet or purse that states you have diabetes and lists all of your medicines.

Acarbose does not cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). However, low blood sugar can happen if you take acarbose with another type of diabetes medicine, delay or miss a meal or snack, exercise more than usual, drink alcohol, or cannot eat because of nausea or vomiting. Symptoms of low blood sugar must be treated before they lead to unconsciousness (passing out). Different people may feel different symptoms of low blood sugar. It is important for you to learn which symptoms of low blood sugar you usually experience so that you can treat it quickly.

Symptoms of low blood sugar include anxiety; behavior change similar to being drunk; blurred vision; cold sweats; confusion; cool, pale skin; difficulty in thinking; drowsiness; excessive hunger; fast heartbeat; headache (continuing); nausea; nervousness; nightmares; restless sleep; shakiness; slurred speech; or unusual tiredness or weakness.

If symptoms of low blood sugar occur, eat glucose tablets or gel or honey, or drink fruit juice to relieve the symptoms. Table sugar (sucrose) or regular (nondiet) soft drinks will not work. Also, check your blood for low blood sugar. Glucagon is used in emergency situations when severe symptoms such as seizures (convulsions) or unconsciousness occur. Have a glucagon kit available, along with a syringe and needle, and know how to use it. Members of your household should also know how to use it.

Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur if you do not take enough or skip a dose of your antidiabetic medicine, overeat or do not follow your meal plan, have a fever or infection, or do not exercise as much as usual.

Symptoms of high blood sugar include blurred vision; drowsiness; dry mouth; flushed, dry skin; fruit-like breath odor; increased urination; ketones in urine; loss of appetite; stomachache, nausea, or vomiting; tiredness; troubled breathing (rapid and deep); unconsciousness; or unusual thirst.

If symptoms of high blood sugar occur, check your blood sugar level and then call your doctor for instructions.

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

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also inform your healthcare professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

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

Geriatric

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 compared to younger adults.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women to determine the risk to infants when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although some 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 instances, your doctor may want to adjust the dose, or other precautions might be needed. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important for your healthcare professional to know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected based on their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Abiraterone Acetate
• Acetohexamide
• Aspirin
• Chloroquine
• Chlorothiazide
• Chlorpropamide
• Chlorthalidone
• Ciprofloxacin
• Delafloxacin
• Digoxin
• Enoxacin
• Furosemide
• Gatifloxacin
• Gemifloxacin
• Gliclazide
• Glipizide
• Glyburide
• Grepafloxacin
• Hydrochlorothiazide
• Hydroflumethiazide
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Indapamide
• Insulin
• Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
• Insulin Bovine
• Insulin Degludec
• Insulin Detemir
• Insulin Glargine, Recombinant
• Insulin Glulisine
• Insulin Lispro, Recombinant
• Lanreotide
• Levofloxacin
• Levoketoconazole
• Liraglutide
• Lomefloxacin
• Methotrexate
• Metolazone
• Moxifloxacin
• Norfloxacin
• Octreotide
• Ofloxacin
• Pasireotide
• Pioglitazone
• Polythiazide
• Pramlintide
• Semaglutide
• Sitagliptin
• Somatrogon-ghla
• Sotagliflozin
• Sparfloxacin
• Thioctic Acid
• Tolazamide
• Tolbutamide
• Triamterene
• Trovafloxacin

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may increase the risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acebutolol
• Atenolol
• Betaxolol
• Bisoprolol
• Bitter Melon
• Carteolol
• Carvedilol
• Celiprolol
• Esmolol
• Fenugreek
• Glucomannan
• Guar Gum
• Isocarboxazid
• Labetalol
• Levobunolol
• Linezolid
• Methylene Blue
• Metipranolol
• Metoprolol
• Nadolol
• Nebivolol
• Oxprenolol
• Ozanimod
• Penbutolol
• Phenelzine
• Pindolol
• Practolol
• Procarbazine
• Propranolol
• Psyllium
• Rasagiline
• Safinamide
• Selegiline
• Sotalol
• Timolol
• Tirzepatide
• Tranylcypromine
• Warfarin

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used around the time of eating food or specific types of food due to possible interactions. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also lead to interactions. Discuss with your healthcare professional about using your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical issues, 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 worsen this condition

Along with its necessary effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Not all of these side effects may happen, but if they do, they might need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

• Yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may happen that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you how to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome, or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Abdominal or stomach pain
• bloated feeling or passing of gas
• diarrhea

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• Precose

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet

Therapeutic Class: Hypoglycemic

Pharmacologic Class: Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor

Follow carefully the special meal plan your doctor gave you. This is the most important part of controlling your condition, and is necessary if the medicine is to work properly. Also, exercise regularly and test for sugar in your blood or urine as directed.

For this medicine to work properly it must be taken at the beginning of each main meal.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (tablets): For type 2 diabetes: Adults—At first the dose is 25 milligrams (mg) three times a day, at the start of each main meal. Your dose may then be adjusted by your doctor. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you finish a meal and you have forgotten to take the medicine, do not take the missed dose. Instead, take the next dose at the beginning of your next meal, as scheduled.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.