Acarbose (Systemic)
Brand Names : Precose
CategoryDescriptionAcarbose (AY-car-bose) is used to treat a type of diabetes mellitus
(sugar diabetes) called type 2 diabetes. Normally, your pancreas releases
insulin into the blood stream after you eat. Insulin is used by all the cells
in your body to help turn the food you eat into energy. This is done by using
glucose (sugar) in the blood as quick energy. When you have type 2 diabetes,
insulin is still produced by your pancreas, but the amount of insulin produced
may not be enough or your body may not be using it properly and you may still
need more. Because of this, the insulin is not able to lower your blood sugar
properly and you will have too much sugar in your blood. Acarbose lowers your
blood sugar by preventing the breakdown of starch into sugar. It may be used
alone or in combination with another type of oral diabetes medicine called
a sulfonylurea.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the
following dosage form:
Brand NamesSome commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S. -
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