This medicine has been prescribed for you by your doctor to treat your diabetes. Glucobay will help to control your blood sugar levels.

Why have I been prescribed Glucobay?

  • This medicine has been prescribed for you by your doctor to treat your diabetes. Glucobay will help to control your blood sugar levels.

How does it work?

  • Glucobay contains a drug called Acarbose which works by slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates (complex sugars) from your diet, and this reduces the abnormally high blood sugar levels that occur after each meal.

When and how do I take it?

Glucobay tablets should be chewed with the first mouthful of food. If you prefer not to chew the tablets then swallow them whole with a little liquid immediately before the meal.

What’s the dose?

  • This will normally be one or two tablets taken with meals three times a day.
  • However, when you first start your treatment, your doctor may recommend that you take your tablets once or twice a day before increasing your dose to three times a day.

Could it interact with other tablets?

As a diabetic you may also be receiving other treatments for your diabetes. If you are taking insulin, metformin or sulphonylurea drugs to control your blood sugar, you will probably be used to avoiding hypoglycaemic episodes by taking sugar when you feel that your blood sugar level is too low.

WHEN TAKING GLUCOBAY DO NOT TREAT A HYPOGLYCAEMIC EPISODE WITH ORDINARY SUGAR (SUCROSE). INSTEAD TAKE SOME GLUCOSE (ALSO KNOWN AS DEXTROSE) TABLETS, SYRUP, OR SWEETS WHICH SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL PHARMACIST.

This medicine may affect the levels of certain proteins called enzymes in your blood. Your doctor may wish to see you more frequently in order to monitor the levels of these enzymes.

Glucobay may alter the effect of other drugs or, alternatively, some drugs may alter the effect of Glucobay. If you are using any of the following drugs, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine:

  • Drugs known as intestinal adsorbents, e.g. charcoal.
  • Drugs to help your digestion (digestive enzyme preparations).
  • The antibiotic, neomycin.
  • Colestyramine, a drug used to treat high cholesterol.
  • Digoxin.

Herbal products should also only be taken after talking with your doctor.

What are the possible risks or side-effects?

The following side effect occurred very commonly (in more than 1 in 10 patients) in clinical trials:

  • Flatulence (wind)

The following side effects occurred commonly (in less than 1 in 10 patients but more than 1 per 100 patients) in clinical trials:

The following side effects occurred uncommonly (in less than 1 in 100 patients but in more than 1 per 1000 patients) in clinical trials:

The following effects occurred rarely (in less than 1 in 1000 patients) in clinical trials:

  • Swelling
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)

Can I drink alcohol while taking it?

  • There are no known interactions between alcohol and Glucobay.
  • Always ask you doctor or pharmacist however as other medications you are taking may have a bearing on this.

What if I’m pregnant/breastfeeding?

Glucobay cannot be used during pregnancy or while breast feeding.

 

If you have any more questions please ask your Pharmacist.

Remember to keep all medicines out of reach of children
Please Note: We have made every effort to ensure that the content of this information sheet is correct at time of publish, but remember that information about drugs may change. This sheet does not list all the uses and side-effects associated with this drug. For full details please see the drug information leaflet which comes with your medicine. Your doctor will assess your medical circumstances and draw your attention to any information or side-effects which may be relevant in your particular case.

References:

http://patient.info/medicine/acarbose-for-diabetes-glucobay

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/19972

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-medication/glucobay-acarbose.html

http://www.glucobay.com/scripts/pages/en/professionals_home/key_facts/what_is_glucobay/index.php

http://www.drugs.com/uk/glucobay-50mg-tablets-spc-7890.html

 

 

Health Reference: Diabetes - Type 2