Description
Acarbose is used with a proper diet and exercise program to control high blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Controlling high blood sugar helps prevent kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, loss of limbs, and sexual function problems. Proper control of diabetes may also lessen your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Acarbose works in your intestines to slow the breakdown and absorption of carbohydrates from foods that you eat. This effect helps lessen your blood sugar rise after a meal.
Dosage:
The initial dosage is 25 mg orally 3 times per day and the dosage can be adjusted at 4 to 8 week intervals based on efficacy and tolerability. The maintenance dosage is between 50 to 100 mg orally 3 times a day. The maximum dosage for those who weigh 60 kg or less is 50 mg orally 3 times a day while for those whose weight is greater than 60 kg is 100 mg orally 3 times a day.
How to use:
Since acarbose prevents the digestion of complex carbohydrates, the drug should be taken at the start of main meals (taken with first bite of meal). Moreover, the amount of complex carbohydrates in the meal will determine the effectiveness of acarbose in decreasing postprandial hyperglycemia.
