Manufacturer: Bayer Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd
Salt Composition : Acarbose(50mg)
Glucobay 50 Tablet should be taken just before or along with the first few bites of the meal. The dose and how often you need it will be decided by your doctor so that you get the right amount to control your blood sugar levels. It may be increased gradually. Do not stop taking it without consulting your doctor. If you do, your blood sugar levels may increase and put you at risk of serious complications like kidney damage and blindness. This medicine is only part of a treatment program that should also include a healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight reduction as advised by your doctor. Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly while taking this medicine.
Acarbose works by slowing the action of certain chemicals that break down food to release glucose (sugar) into your blood. Slowing food digestion helps keep blood glucose from rising very high after meals.
Pharmacokinetics. Acarbose acts locally in the gastrointestinal tract on the surface of enterocytes. Only 2% of an oral acarbose dose is systemically absorbed, with a plasma half-life of 2 h. Acarbose is metabolized by the intestinal microbial flora and digestive enzymes and excreted in the stool.
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Glucobay
Flatulence
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Acarbose use is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity, diabetic ketoacidosis, liver cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease, or colonic ulceration.
Glucobay 50 Tablet may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. Although there are limited studies in humans, animal studies have shown harmful effects on the developing baby. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.
Caution is advised when consuming alcohol with Glucobay 50 Tablet. Please consult your doctor.
Glucobay 50 Tablet is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.
Acarbose is used (with diet only or diet and other medications) to treat type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood) .
Acarbose may decrease the bioavailability of digoxin and valproic acid. Acarbose may increase hypoglycemic risk when combined with other anti-diabetic agents that cause hypoglycemia. Digestive enzymes, including amylase, lipase, and protease, may decrease the effectiveness of acarbose.
Do not chew, crush or break it. Glucobay 50 Tablet is to be taken with food.
Store below 30°C
If you miss a dose of Glucobay 50 Tablet, skip it and continue with your normal schedule. Do not double the dose.
Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
Along with your regular doctor visit, you might also need regular check-ups with an eye clinic and a foot clinic as well.
Your doctor will also advise you to test for sugar in your blood using a home diabetes test kit regularly to check that your sugar level is being controlled.
Along with a healthy diet, indulge in light exercises regularly and quit smoking and drinking.
If you feel excessively thirsty, pass urine more frequently, and get tired easily, then let your doctor know. These are the signs of very high sugar levels in your blood and your treatment may need adjusting.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) may occur if Glucobay 50 Tablet is taken along with other antidiabetic medicines, alcohol, or on delaying/skipping a meal. Check your blood sugar levels and have a snack/sugar source for immediate relief.
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Glucobay 50 Tablet is to be taken with food.
Q. Does Glucobay 50 Tablet cause hypoglycemia?
Glucobay 50 Tablet does not cause hypoglycemia by itself though it has a glucose-lowering effect. However, a fall of blood sugar levels in the hypoglycemic range may occur when given along with other antidiabetic medicines or insulin. If this occurs, consult your doctor who may modify your dose accordingly.
Q. Why does Glucobay 50 Tablet cause flatulence?
Glucobay 50 Tablet blocks the digestion of carbohydrates which causes the accumulation of undigested carbohydrates in the colon. Bacterial fermentation of the accumulated carbohydrates causes intestinal gas, leading to flatulence and abdominal pain.
Q. Can Glucobay 50 Tablet cause diarrhea?
Yes, diarrhea is a common side effect of Glucobay 50 Tablet. However, this does not affect everybody. Any food containing carbohydrates, such as household sugar (cane sugar) can cause diarrhea and severe abdominal pain. If diarrhea persists or becomes severe, then contact your doctor immediately.
Q. When should Glucobay 50 Tablet be taken?
Glucobay 50 Tablet should be taken with your meals and should be swallowed whole with water or chewed with the first mouthful of food. The initial dose of Glucobay 50 Tablet is generally twice daily. The dose is then gradually increased to thrice daily.
