Glucobay (Acarbose 50mg) Tablets

Glucobay general information

What is Glucobay used for?

Glucobay tablets 50mg are an oral antihyperglycaemic medication that is used to control blood sugar levels in people with type-2 diabetes mellitus (also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes or maturity onset diabetes) who are unable to achieve adequate glycaemic control (normal blood sugar levels) with diet and exercise alone.  Glucobay 50 can be used as first time treatment for newly diagnosed diabetics, or for patients who are not responding to other medications used to lower blood sugar, and can be used alone as monotherapy, or in combination with other diabetic drugs like sulfonylureas and metformin, to improve glycaemic control.  Glucobay tablets 50mg should be used in conjunction with diet, exercise and weight loss.  Glucobay tablets 50mg can also be used in conjunction with insulin in type 1 diabetes (also called insulin-dependent diabetes), where insulin alone does not provide adequate glycaemic control.  Maintaining glycaemic control with Glucobay tablets 50mg reduces risk of serious health complications associated with diabetes due to microvascular damage (damage to capillaries), including diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina in the eye with loss of vision), diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) that can result in foot ulcers and amputation, and diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage).  Diabetes also contributes to cardiovascular disease that can result in heart attack and stroke. 

How does Glucobay work?

Glucobay tablets 50mg contain acarbose, an antihyperglycemic drug belonging to the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor group of drugs, that is used to lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.  The enzyme alpha-glucosidases is needed to digest complex carbohydrates in the diet (disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides) and convert them to monosaccharides, which are simple sugars like glucose that can be more easily absorbed by the small intestines.  Acarbose in Glucobay 50 inhibits the alpha-glucosidases produced by the wall of the small intestines and the pancreas and this slows down the digestion of carbohydrates from the diet, reducing the amount of glucose that enters the blood after a meal (posprandial) and lowering abnormally high blood sugar levels that occur after each meal.  Also, Glucose derived from carbohydrates is released into the blood more slowly, so that acarbose in Glucobay tablets 50mg helps keep blood glucose levels normal between meals, preventing fluctuations in the daily blood glucose profile, which is reflected in the amount of glycated haemoglobin (HbA_1c) a measure of blood glucose over a prolonged period of time.   

What does Glucobay contain?

Glucobay tablets 50mg contain the active ingredient acarbose, an antihyperglycemic drug that is used to lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.  They also contain microcrystalline cellulose, maize starch, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate.

Treating diabetes with Glucobay

Glucobay tablets 50mg contain acarbose, an antihyperglycemic drug that is used to control blood sugar levels in type-2 diabetes mellitus (non-insulin-dependent diabetes) where adequate glycaemic control (normal blood sugar levels) cannot be achieved with diet and exercise alone.  Glucobay 50 can be used alone as monotherapy, or in combination with other diabetic drugs like sulfonylureas and metformin to improve glycaemic control, and in conjunction with diet, exercise and weight loss.  Glucobay tablets 50mg can also be used in conjunction with insulin in type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes), where insulin alone does not provide adequate glycaemic control.  Acarbose in Glucobay 50 inhibits the enzyme alpha-glucosidases which digests complex carbohydrates and converts them to monosaccharides, which are simple sugars like glucose that can be more easily absorbed by the small intestines.  This action of acarbose in Glucobay 50 slows down the digestion of carbohydrates from the diet, reducing the amount of glucose that enters the blood after a meal (posprandial) and lowering abnormally high blood sugar levels that occur after each meal.  Maintaining glycaemic control with Glucobay tablets 50mg reduces risk of serious health complications associated with diabetes due to microvascular damage (damage to capillaries), including diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina in the eye with loss of vision), diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage).  Diabetes also contributes to cardiovascular disease that can result in heart attack and stroke.

What are the side effects of Glucobay?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Glucobay tablets 50mg include flatulence (wind), gastrointestinal and abdominal pains and diarrhoea.  If you are taking Glucobay 50 with other antihyperglyacemic diabetic mediation this may cause hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) which can make you feel dizzy and light-headed.

When should Glucobay not be used?

You should not use Glucobay tablets 50mg if you:

• are allergic to acarbose or any ingredients in Glucobay
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have kidney or liver disease
• have intestinal obstruction, disorders of digestion or absorption or inflammatory bowel disease
• are taking other diabetic drugs like sulfonylureas and metformin, without discussion with your doctor
• are taking medicines that interact with Glucobay including cholestyramine for high cholesterol, Intestinal adsorbents like charcoal used to binds toxins, digestive enzyme for treatment of pancreatic insufficiency, the antibiotic neomycin, digoxin for heart failure

What medications interact with Glucobay?

Several medications interact with Glucobay tablets 50mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Glucobay or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that affect Glucobay: the antibiotic neomycin, Intestinal adsorbents like charcoal used to binds toxins, cholestyramine for high cholesterol, digestive enzyme for treatment of pancreatic insufficiency
• Drugs that are affected by Glucobay: digoxin for heart failure

How should Glucobay be taken?

You should take your Glucobay tablets 50mg three times daily with each meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner, either swallowed whole with a small amount of liquid just before your first mouthful or chewed as you eat your first mouthful of food.  The dose you take and how often may be decreased initially and then increased after a 6-8 weeks, depending on your doctor’s recommendation, how well you response and your blood sugar levels.  You should avoid taking cane sugar (sucrose) and products containing sugar, while you are taking Glucobay tablets 50mg as this may cause stomach discomfort or diarrhoea.  You should continue to take your Glucobay tablets 50mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for long-term.  

How long should you take Glucobay?

You should continue to take your Glucobay tablets 50mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for long-term.  

Missed dose of Glucobay

If you miss a dose of Glucobay tablets 50mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Glucobay be stored?

You should store your Glucobay tablets 50mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.