Precose - Acarbose

Precose (Acarbose). Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation. US Prescribing information, November 2004. 

The a-glucosidase inhibitors, acarbose (Precose) and miglitol (Glyset), lower blood sugar by delaying die digestion of carbohydrates and absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine. 

Acarbose (Precose) and miglitol (Glyset) are dosed similarly. Therapy is initiated with a very low dose (25 mg with one meal a day) and increased very gradually (over several months) to a maximum of 50 mg three times daily for patients weighing 60 kg or more, or 100 mg three times daily for patients above 60 kg. The drugs should be taken with the first bite of the meal so that the drug is present to inhibit enzyme activity. 

Acarbose Precose) is an ohgosaccharide derivative that has a higher affinity for the a- glucosidase enzymes than do other dietary oUgosaccharides. Systemic absorption of acarbose is very low ( 2%), with most being broken down in the intestine to several metabolites. About half of the orally administered acarbose is excreted unchanged in the feces, while the remainder, some of which is systemically absorbed, is renally excreted. Acarbose may be associated with hepatotoxicity in rare instances. 

Oral 2, 4, 8 mg tablets Alpha Glucosidase Inhibitors Acarbose (Precose)... 

Acarhose or Miglitol and Food. Some medications should be administered with food for optimum benefit. Acarbose (Precose) and miglitol (Glyset) are effective in the treatment of diabetes mellitus because they delay the digestion of ingested carbohydrates and reduce the elevation of blood glucose concentrations following meals. Maximum effectiveness is attained when doses are administered at the start (with the first bite) of each main meal. 

An alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose (Precose) or miglitol (Glyset), is administered to allow carbohydrates to pass slowly through the intestine. Glucophage does not do this. 

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