Acarbose
Definition
Glucobay® is an antidiabetic and is used for the treatment and comedication of diabetes mellitus type I and II.
Mode of action
Glucobay® inhibits an enzyme called α-glucosidase, which prevents the rise of blood sugar levels in the body after meals. α-Glucosidase has normally the task in the intestine the multiple sugars to simple sugars to convert. If this is blocked, the multiple sugars cannot be used and the blood sugar does not rise thus.
Field of application
As the class of active ingredients (“antidiabetic”) already indicates, Glucobay® is used to treat diabetes mellitus. In insulin-dependent diabetes (type I), acarbose can only be used as a comedic drug, as the effect alone would not be sufficient. In diabetes mellitus type II, which is not insulin-dependent, Glucobay® is used together with a diet with or without another antidiabetic.
Dosage
Glucobay® must be dosed individually, as every body can react differently to a drug. The dose is determined by the doctor on the basis of various values in the blood. In adults, the usual starting dose is about 150 mg Glucobay® (one 50 mg tablet of Gulcobay® in the morning, at noon, and in the evening).
It has been shown that side effects are reduced when the drug is started gradually, i.e. with a lower starting dose: 50mg Glucobay® once or twice a day. The dose can then be gradually increased until the optimal effect is achieved. However, the total dose must not exceed 300mg acarbose.
Even in older patients no dose reduction is necessary, which may be the case with many other drugs. A therapy of Glucobay® in children and adolescents under 18 years of age is not to be prescribed, since there are no studies on this. The safety and efficacy of the drug has therefore not yet been proven.
Glucobay® tablets should be taken lightly chewed or unchewed with a little liquid before meals. With acarbose there is no time limit. It can be used as long as it works well and shows few side effects.