Acarbose is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor that delays carbohydrate digestion in the small intestine, reducing postprandial glucose spikes.
Also known as: Precose, Glucobay
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitor + biguanide: safe and effective combination.
Complementary mechanisms: acarbose delays carbohydrate digestion; metformin reduces hepatic glucose production.
Postprandial glucose, HbA1c
Significant GI effects
Adjust doses individually. Additive GI effects possible.
DailyMed/FDA (NIH/NLM) — approved Acarbose label: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=c85bc02a-bf18-4690-84b8-2c256bce5f9f
No documented food or drink interactions.
No documented disease interactions.
No documented pregnancy or breastfeeding information.
Clinical and educational support tool. The information does not replace a medical prescription or the opinion of a qualified healthcare professional.
Competitively inhibits alpha-glucosidase at the brush border of the small intestine, delaying digestion of complex carbohydrates.
Competitively binds to alpha-glucosidase, preventing hydrolysis of disaccharides and oligosaccharides into absorbable monosaccharides.
Oral bioavailability: <2%. Tmax: ~1 hour (for unchanged drug). Local effect in intestine.
Metabolised predominantly in the gastrointestinal tract (only <2% absorbed). Metabolites are renally excretados.
~2 hours (for unchanged drug). Elimination is predominantly gastrointestinal.
Medicines from the same therapeutic group (ATC classification) or the same pharmacological class.
