Acarbose (acarbose): Reviews and patient testimonials

Acarbose 100 mg Tablets (Arrow)

Indications

Acarbose Tablets are recommended for the treatment of non-insulin dependent (NIDDM) diabetes mellitus in patients inadequately controlled on diet alone, or on diet and oral hypoglycaemic agents.

Mode of action

Acarbose is a competitive inhibitor of intestinal alpha-glucosidases with maximum specific inhibitory activity against sucrase. Acarbose dose-dependently delays the digestion of starch and sucrose into absorbable monosaccharides in the small intestine. In patients with diabetes, this results in a lowering of postprandial hyperglycaemia and a smoothing effect on fluctuations in the daily blood glucose profile.

In contrast to sulphonylurea drugs, acarbose has no stimulatory action on the pancreas.

Treatment with Acarbose Tablets also results in a reduction of fasting blood glucose and to modest changes in levels of glycated haemoglobin (HbA₁, HbA_1c). The changes may be a reduction or reduced deterioration in HbA₁ or HbA_1c levels, depending upon the patient's clinical status and disease progression. These parameters are affected in a dose-dependent manner by acarbose.

Following oral administration, only 1-2% of the active inhibitor is absorbed.

Acarbose 50 mg Tablets (Arrow)

Indications

Acarbose Tablets are recommended for the treatment of non-insulin dependent (NIDDM) diabetes mellitus in patients inadequately controlled on diet alone, or on diet and oral hypoglycaemic agents.

Mode of action

Acarbose is a competitive inhibitor of intestinal alpha-glucosidases with maximum specific inhibitory activity against sucrase. Acarbose dose-dependently delays the digestion of starch and sucrose into absorbable monosaccharides in the small intestine. In patients with diabetes, this results in a lowering of postprandial hyperglycaemia and a smoothing effect on fluctuations in the daily blood glucose profile.

In contrast to sulphonylurea drugs, acarbose has no stimulatory action on the pancreas.

Treatment with Acarbose Tablets also results in a reduction of fasting blood glucose and to modest changes in levels of glycated haemoglobin (HbA₁, HbA_1c). The changes may be a reduction or reduced deterioration in HbA₁ or HbA_1c levels, depending upon the patient's clinical status and disease progression. These parameters are affected in a dose-dependent manner by acarbose.

Following oral administration, only 1-2% of the active inhibitor is absorbed.

Route of administration: Oral
Molecule: acarbose