FAQs:
Acarbose is a medication used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor that inhibits various enzymes involved in breaking complex carbohydrates into simple carbohydrates. This leads to reduced absorption of simpler carbohydrates and avoids postprandial spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels. Acarbose is usually used along with exercise, diet planning, and other medications. It is available as 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg tablets; and also as a fixed drug combination (FDC) with metformin, etc.
What are the uses of Acarbose?
Acarbose is used in patients with diabetes, along with exercise and diet control. Acarbose helps maintain glycemic control by inhibiting the breakdown of complex carbohydrates. It can be used along with other medications to reduce blood glucose levels; therefore, it helps prevent complications associated with high blood sugar levels such as renal damage, nerve problems, blindness. Better glycemic control also significantly reduces the risk of heart diseases or stroke.
What are the side effects of Acarbose?
Common side effects
– Abdominal discomfort
– Abdominal pain
– Diarrhea
– Flatulence
Serious side effects
– Liver problems
– Nausea/vomiting
– Appetite loss
– Yellow skin/dark urine
– Hypoglycemia
– Severe diarrhea or constipation
– Bloody stools
– Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (rare)
– Severe allergic reaction
The majority of the side effects associated with acarbose are self-limiting and usually resolve on their own without any medical intervention. However, if any symptoms start to bother you or get worse, you should immediately seek medical attention.
1. Can you take acarbose with metformin?
Acarbose can be taken with metformin at the dose and frequency prescribed by your doctor. An FDC of acarbose and metformin is also available for ease of administration. However, you should monitor your blood glucose levels as the combination can cause hypoglycemia. Also, weight gain has been seen in a few patients taking metformin.
6. How to dissolve acarbose?
Acarbose is a crystalline solid that can be dissolved in a solvent of choice to prepare a stock solution. Acarbose is very soluble in water and has good solubility (approximately 129 mg/mL) in organic solvents such as Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethylformamide. It has lesser solubility in ethanol and methanol.
8. Is acarbose soluble in DMSO?
Acarbose was the first alpha-glucosidase inhibitor that was developed to reduce the breakdown of complex carbohydrates. DMSO is a chemical reagent and organic solvent that is used to isolate acarbose from plant-based extracts. Acarbose has good solubility in DMSO, approximately 129 mg/mL.
9. Is acarbose soluble in water?
Chemically, acarbose is an oligosaccharide that is derived from a microorganism and is a white crystalline powder. The powder is very soluble in water, with a pKa of 5.1. Acarbose gets readily dissolved in water and gets readily absorbed in the bloodstream, although the percentage of acarbose absorbed is around 2% of the drug amount taken orally.
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Side Effects:
– Abdominal pain
– Diarrhea
– Flatulence
– Liver problems
– Nausea/vomiting
– Appetite loss
– Yellow skin/dark urine
– Hypoglycemia
– Severe diarrhea or constipation
– Bloody stools
– Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (rare)
– Severe allergic reaction
References:
More about Acarbose:
Acarbose is used in patients with diabetes, along with exercise and diet control. Acarbose helps maintain glycemic control by inhibiting the breakdown of complex carbohydrates. It can be used along with other medications to reduce blood glucose levels; therefore, it helps prevent complications associated with high blood sugar levels such as renal damage, nerve problems, blindness. Better glycemic control also significantly reduces the risk of heart diseases or stroke.
The majority of the side effects associated with acarbose are self-limiting and usually resolve on their own without any medical intervention. However, if any symptoms start to bother you or get worse, you should immediately seek medical attention.