Patient Leaflet Updated 18-Mar-2019 | Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Europe Ltd
Acarbose 50 mg, 100 mg Tablets
Acarbose 50 mg tablets
Acarbose 100 mg tablets
Acarbose
1. What Acarbose is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Acarbose
3. How to take Acarbose
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Acarbose
6. Contents of the pack and other information
The active ingredient in this medicine is Acarbose. This medicine belongs to group medicines called glucosidase inhibitors.
Acarbose is used to treat non-insulin dependant diabetes.
It helps to control your blood sugar levels . It works by slowing down digestion carbohydrates complex sugars) which reduces the abnormally high blood sugar levels in your body after each meal.
Acarbose can be used to treat diabetes when a restricted diet alone or a restricted diet plus other sugar-lowering drugs do not work well enough.
Do not take Acarbose if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Acarbose tablets
Tell your doctor or, pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Some medicines affect the way acarbose works in the body. Other medicines are affected by acarbose.
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Do not take Acarbose if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Acarbose is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines.
Always take Acarbose exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
To start treatment your doctor may recommend taking the tablets only once or twice a day. He or she will then increase your dose to three times a day. The maximum dose is 200 mg three times a day.
Take Acarbose with your meal. Chew the tablets with your first mouthful of food. If you prefer not to chew, swallow the tablets whole with a little liquid immediately before your meal.
Keep to the diet prescribed by your doctor. If distressing complaints develop in spite of strict adherence to your diet (see section 4), contact your doctor as your dose of Acarbose may need to be reduced.
Household sugar (cane sugar) and foods containing it can lead to severe abdominal discomfort and diarrhoea during treatment with Acarbose (see section 4).
You may be used to taking ordinary sugar to treat a hypo. Do not take ordinary sugar (sucrose) if you take Acarbose. Take glucose (or dextrose) to treat a hypo. Glucose tablets, syrup or sweets are available from your pharmacist (chemist).
Get medical help immediately. Do not take food or drinks containing carbohydrates. If possible take your tablets or the box with you to show the doctor.
If you forgot to take a dose of your medicine then do not take the missed dose between meals. Wait until your next scheduled dose and meal and continue taking your tablets as per normal.Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.
If you forget a dose, wait until the next mealtime and take your next dose. Do not take the missed dose.
Do not take the tablets between meals.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The following side effects have been observed during treatment with Acarbose.
Effects occurring in first 2 or 3 days
Do not take indigestion preparations (antacids) as they are unlikely to help.
Very common (affects more than 1 user in 10):
Common (affects 1 to 10 users in 100):
Uncommon (affects 1 to 10 users in 1,000):
Rare (affects 1 to 10 users in 10,000):
Other side effects (frequency not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
In addition, side effects like liver disorder, abnormal liver function and liver injury have been reported.
Individual cases of a rapidly progressive and fatal form of liver injury have also been reported, particularly from Japan.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Store below 25°C.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the outer cartoon after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
Each tablet of Acarbose 100 mg tablets contains 100 mg of the active substance acarbose.
Each tablet of Acarbose 50 mg tablets contains 50 mg of the active substance acarbose.
The tablets of 50 mg are white to white to yellowish, round, biconvex.
The tablets of 100 mg are white to yellowish, round, biconvex, with a score on one side. The score line is only there to help you break the tablet if you have difficulty swallowing it whole.
Acarbose Tablets 100 mg is available in packages of 90 tablets.
Acarbose Tablets 50 mg is available in packages of 90 tablets.
Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Manufacturer:
For any information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder
This leaflet was last revised in August 2016
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