Acarbose 50 mg Australia

Description

Introduction

Acarbose 50 mg Australia is a tablet containing 50 mg of acarbose. It is used in the management of type 2 diabetes. Acarbose slows carbohydrate digestion in the intestine, helping to reduce the rise in blood glucose after meals.

Type 2 diabetes care can also include changes to food choices and physical activity, blood glucose monitoring and other medicines. A healthcare professional can advise where acarbose fits within a treatment plan.

What Is It?

Acarbose is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, a type of medicine that acts on carbohydrate digestion. These 50 mg oral tablets come in strips of 10. The active ingredient is acarbose.

The medicine is used to help manage blood glucose in type 2 diabetes. It may be prescribed on its own or with another diabetes medicine. The choice of treatment depends on medical history, other medicines and the response to treatment.

How Does It Work?

Enzymes in the small intestine break down carbohydrates into sugars that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Acarbose inhibits some of these enzymes. Carbohydrates are broken down more slowly, so blood glucose rises more gradually after eating.

Acarbose does not work by directly increasing insulin release. Some carbohydrates pass further through the bowel before they are digested. This contributes to the digestive side effects often associated with acarbose, including wind, bloating and diarrhoea.

Common Uses

Acarbose is used alongside diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes. It can be prescribed with other glucose-lowering medicines when a clinician considers the combination appropriate.

It is not a treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis. A healthcare professional can assess whether it is appropriate for a particular diabetes care plan.

Available Strengths

This family is available in 25 mg, 50 mg.

Key Features

• Contains 50 mg of acarbose per tablet.
• Comes as an oral tablet in strips of 10.
• Acts in the intestine during carbohydrate digestion.
• Mainly affects the rise in blood glucose after meals.
• Can be used as part of type 2 diabetes treatment when prescribed.

Benefits

• Acarbose can reduce after-meal rises in blood glucose.
• It can contribute to longer-term blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes.
• It can be used alongside certain other diabetes medicines under clinical supervision.

The response to acarbose varies. Blood glucose checks and follow-up help a healthcare professional assess whether treatment is having the intended effect.

Possible Side Effects

• Wind, bloating and abdominal discomfort are common, particularly when treatment begins.
• Bowel noises and diarrhoea may also occur.
• Low blood glucose is more likely if acarbose is taken with insulin or a sulfonylurea medicine.
• Changes in liver blood test results have been reported.
• Severe or persistent abdominal symptoms, signs of an allergic reaction or symptoms of low blood glucose need medical assessment.

Side effects can vary in severity and may have causes unrelated to the medicine. A pharmacist or prescriber can assess symptoms that are persistent, troublesome or unexpected.

Precautions

• Tell a healthcare professional about any previous allergic reaction to acarbose.
• Acarbose should not be used by people with diabetic ketoacidosis or cirrhosis.
• Inflammatory bowel disease, bowel obstruction and certain other significant intestinal conditions may rule out its use.
• Discuss kidney or liver problems before treatment so suitability and monitoring can be assessed.
• Follow the blood glucose monitoring plan recommended by the treating team, especially when medicines or eating patterns change.

Additional Precautions

• Discuss pregnancy, plans for pregnancy or breastfeeding with a healthcare professional.
• Tell the treating team about acarbose before surgery or a procedure that could affect meals or diabetes care.
• If acarbose is combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea, ask the treating team how to recognise and manage low blood glucose.
• Acarbose delays the breakdown of sucrose, or table sugar. Glucose or dextrose is used instead of sucrose to correct mild to moderate low blood glucose.
• Confusion, seizures or loss of consciousness associated with low blood glucose require urgent medical help.

Storage Instructions

• Keep the tablets in their original packaging and out of the sight and reach of children.
• Protect them from excess heat and moisture.
• Follow the storage directions and expiry date on the pack.
• Ask a pharmacist how to dispose of tablets that are expired or no longer needed.

How to Take

• Follow the directions given by the prescriber and pharmacist.
• Acarbose tablets are generally taken with the first mouthful of a main meal because their action is linked to food digestion.
• The amount and schedule should follow the individual prescription. Do not change them without professional advice.
• If a dose is missed, follow the medicine directions or ask a pharmacist. Do not double a dose to make up for one that was missed.
• Ask a healthcare professional for product-specific guidance if the directions are unclear.

Drug Interactions

• Insulin and sulfonylureas can increase the risk of low blood glucose when used with acarbose.
• Intestinal adsorbents, such as charcoal, and digestive enzyme preparations may reduce acarbose’s effect.
• Acarbose can alter digoxin exposure, so this combination may need review.
• Medicines that can raise blood glucose, including corticosteroids, some diuretics and thyroid medicines, may affect diabetes control.
• Tell a healthcare professional about all prescription medicines, over-the-counter products and supplements before starting or changing treatment.

Why Choose This Product?

• Each tablet contains 50 mg of acarbose for use in a prescribed type 2 diabetes treatment plan.
• Acarbose’s effect on carbohydrate digestion helps address after-meal blood glucose rises.
• It offers a treatment approach that a clinician may consider alongside diet, exercise and other diabetes care.

Whether acarbose is appropriate depends on medical history, tolerability, other medicines and treatment goals. A healthcare professional can provide product-specific guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the active ingredient?

The active ingredient is acarbose. Each tablet contains 50 mg.

What form does this medicine come in?

It is an oral tablet. The tablets come in strips of 10.

What is acarbose used for?

It helps manage blood glucose in type 2 diabetes as part of a wider treatment plan.

How does it affect blood glucose?

It slows carbohydrate breakdown in the intestine, reducing the speed of the blood glucose rise after eating.

Can acarbose cause low blood glucose?

It is unlikely to do so when used alone. The risk increases when it is combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea.

Which side effects are common?

Wind, bloating, abdominal discomfort and diarrhoea are common digestive effects.

Can it be used with other diabetes medicines?

Yes, when prescribed. Some combinations need additional attention to the risk of low blood glucose.

What if a dose is missed?

Follow the medicine directions or ask a pharmacist. Do not double a dose to make up for one that was missed.

Can it be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

A healthcare professional should assess diabetes treatment during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

How should the tablets be stored?

Keep them in their original packaging, away from excess heat and moisture, and out of children’s reach. Follow the pack directions.

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