INTRODUCTION

GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET contains Acarbose which belongs to the group of medicines called Anti-diabetic agents. It is used to treat non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (diabetes mellitus type 2) when a restricted diet alone or restricted diet in combination with other sugar lowering drugs do not work well enough.

Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus can be defined as the condition in which either your body does not make enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone which helps glucose to get into cells and produce energy. Due to this the glucose in the blood stays as it is and does not get absorbed by the cells which increases the blood sugar level.

Acarbose helps in slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates (sugars) which lower down the abnormally high blood sugar levels which rises after each meal. Along with GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET your doctor might advise you to do some lifestyle changes and cut down your sugar intake by restricting the diet. Prior to the treatment your doctor may take up several blood tests to better assess your condition.

Before taking GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease (inflammation or ulceration in the bowel), severe liver disease (liver cirrhosis), diabetic ketoacidosis, an intestine disease (unable to digest the food properly), obstruction in intestines, or have a large hernia. GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET is generally not recommended for use in children and adolescents (under 18 years of age), consult your doctor before taking this.

GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, consult your doctor before taking it. The most common side effects are flatulence, growling stomach, abdominal cramps, or a feeling of fullness. Avoid taking household sugar (cane sugar) with GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET as it may worsen the side effects. Consult with your doctor if any of the symptoms worsen.

USES OF GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET

• To treat diabetes mellitus type 2

HOW GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET WORKS

GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET helps in lowering down the abnormally high blood sugar levels by slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates. It acts on the intestinal walls and pancreas and stops the action and absorption of certain enzymes (alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidases). By preventing this activity GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET reduces postprandial (after meals) blood glucose and insulin levels.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Take GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET as advised by your physician. Swallow the medicine with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition.

SIDE EFFECTS OF GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET

HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS

Bloating

Eat smaller and frequent meals. Eat and drink slow, and exercise regularly. If the symptom does not improve, contact your doctor.

Diarrhea

Drink lots of fluids, such as water or fruit juice to keep yourself hydrated. Do not consume any medicine on your own without consulting your doctor.

Nausea And Vomiting

Take this medicine with, or just after meals. Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating oily or spicy foods. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Stomach Pain

Try to rest and relax. Eat and drink slowly or try to have smaller and frequent meals. Keep a heat pad on your stomach. If the symptom does not improve, contact your doctor.

WARNING & PRECAUTIONS

PREGNANCY

Contraindicated

GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET is generally not recommended for use in pregnant women. Consult your doctor before taking it.

BREASTFEEDING

Contraindicated

GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET is generally not recommended for use in breastfeeding women. Consult your doctor before taking it.

DRIVING AND USING MACHINES

Safe

GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET is not likely to affect your ability to drive or use machines. Consult your doctor before taking it.

KIDNEY

Use with Caution

GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET should be taken with caution in patients with kidney disease. Consult your doctor before taking it.

LIVER

Contraindicated

GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET is generally not recommended in patients with severe liver disease. Consult your doctor before taking it.

ALLERGY

Contraindicated

Do not take GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET if you are allergic to Acarbose.

INTERACTIONS

A. Drug - Drug Interactions:

• intestinal adsorbents (used to treat poisoning) (Ex. charcoal)
• digestive enzymes that help digestion (Ex. amylase and lipase)
• antibiotic (used to treat bacterial infections) Ex. neomycin
• medicines used to treat high cholesterol (Ex. cholestyramine)
• medicines used to treat heart diseases (Ex. digoxin)
• other blood glucose lowering drugs (Ex. sulphonylureas, metformin, or insulin)
• medicines used to treat indigestion (Ex. antacids such as sodium bicarbonate)

B. Drug - Food Interactions:

Avoid taking household sugars (cane sugars) or foods containing it with GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET as it may worsen the side effects.

Overdosage:

If you or anyone else accidentally take too much of GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital.

SYNOPSIS

MORE INFORMATION

• Keep GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET out of reach of children
• Store below 25°C

FAQs ABOUT GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET

Q: Can GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET be used alone to treat diabetes mellitus type 2?

A: No. GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET is used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2 or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet or when diet and other sugar lowering medications are not working properly. Your doctor will be able to better understand your condition and treat accordingly.

Q: Is overdose of GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET likely to cause hypoglycaemia?

A: No. Overdose of GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET is unlikely to cause hypoglycaemia (abnormally low levels of sugar). However, it may worsen the gastrointestinal effects (flatulence, diarrhoea, abdominal pain). If you or anyone else happens to have an overdose of GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET you should contact your doctor immediately.

Q: What if I forget to take a dose of GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET?

A: If you forgot to take a dose of GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET then do not take the missed dose between meals. Wait until your next scheduled dose and meal and continue taking your medicine as per normal. Do not take a double dose of GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET to make up for a forgotten dose.

Q: Can GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET be used in children and adolescents?

A: No, GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET is not recommended to use in children and adolescents (below 18 years of age). Consult your doctor if you have symptoms of high blood sugar such as dry mouth, fruity-smell breath, increased hunger, excessive thirst and increased urination.

Q: What precautions do I need to follow while taking GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET?

A: Patients taking GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET should inform their doctor if they have any pre-existing kidney or liver disease, inflammation or ulceration in the bowel, intestine disease, diabetic ketoacidosis, or hernia.

Q: What is GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET and how does it work?

A: GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET is an anti-diabetic medicine which is used in diabetic patients to treat non-insulin dependent diabetes and it works by slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates (sugars) which lower down the abnormally high blood sugar levels which rises after each meal. Along with the treatment your doctor might advise you to do some lifestyle changes and cut down your sugar intake by restricting the diet

Q: Who should avoid using GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET?

A: Do not take GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET if you are allergic to it, pregnant or breast-feeding women, have inflammation or ulceration in the bowel, an obstruction in intestines, or have a severe liver disorder or an intestine disease where you do not digest or absorb food properly. It is also not recommended for use in children and adolescents (below 18 years). Consult your doctor before taking GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET.

Q: Does GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET affects kidney?

A: GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET is fully excreted by kidneys without complications. But caution should be practiced by patients suffering from kidney disorders while taking GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET. It is advisable to consult the doctor before taking the medicine.

Q: What are the common side effects of GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET?

A: The most common side effects of GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET are flatulence, growling in the stomach, stomach pain or abdominal cramps, feeling of fullness or diarrhoea. Consult your doctor immediately if any of the symptoms worsen or bother you.

Q: Does GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET affects the liver?

A: GLUCOBAY 50MG TABLET is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor which decreases intestinal absorption of carbohydrates and is used as adjunctive therapy in the management of type 2 diabetes which has been linked to rare instances of clinically apparent acute liver injury and hence recommended not to be used in patients with severe liver disorders.

REFERENCES

1. KD. Tripathi. Insulin, Oral Hypoglycaemic Drugs and Glucagon. Essentials of medical pharmacology. Seventh edition. 2013. Page – 279.

2. Lindsey A. McIver; Jayson Tripp. Acarbose. NIH National Library of Medicine, National center for biotechnology information. August 2021. [Accessed on 18th April 2022]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493214/

3. Bluepharma Indústria Farmacêutica S.A. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). [Revised in August 2016]. [Accessed on 18th April 2022]. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.10000.pdf

4. McDermott Laboratories Ltd, Generics [UK] Ltd, Mylan Hungary kf. Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). [Revised in July 2015] [Accessed on 18th April 2022]. https://www.hpra.ie/img/uploaded/swedocuments/2166283.PA0577_171_002.8d5fa55c-b1a7-4feb-965a-d6170e0b759c.000001Product%20Leaflet%20Approved.160308.pdf

5. Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). [Revised on March 2011]. [Accessed on 18th April 2022]. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2011/020482s024lbl.pd

USEFUL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

• Fasting blood sugar
• Postprandial glucose test
• Glycosylated haemoglobin

AUTHOR DETAILS

Written By Dr. R. Dinesh John Rajkumar, Pharm.D
Last updated on 28 Jan 2023 | 12:52 PM(IST)