Acarbose

Question 1

Class?

Answer 1

alpha-glucosidase inhibitor / antidiabetic

Question 2

Dose?

Answer 2

50-600mg d (divided dose)

Question 3

AEs?

Answer 3

• GI: bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain, diarrhoea common (minimised by starting low and going slow)

Rare:

• hepatotoxicity
• skin reactions
• anaemia

Question 4

Counseling?

Answer 4

• The tablets should be swallowed whole with a little
  liquid just before a meal, or may be chewed with the
  first few mouthfuls of food.
• You might experience an upset stomach (e.g. wind,
  diarrhoea, stomach cramps) when you first start taking this medicine; these side effects are generally mild, and settle down or go away after 1–2 months.

Question 5

Label?

Answer 5

10a:
- Do not take more than one aspirin tablet or capsule each day while being treated with this medicine.

B
- ‘Take with or soon after food’