acarbose vs canagliflozin
Side-by-side comparison of acarbose and canagliflozin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Precose
Invokana
Acarbose is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It works best when used with diet and exercise.
Invokana is a medicine used with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It can also help reduce the risk of heart problems and kidney disease in some patients.
Acarbose is used to help control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. You should use it along with a healthy diet and regular exercise. This medicine helps to keep your blood sugar from getting too high after you eat.
Invokana is used to help control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is used along with diet and exercise. Invokana can also lower the risk of major heart problems like heart attack and stroke in adults with both type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It can also reduce the risk of kidney failure, heart-related death, and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with type 2 diabetes and kidney problems.
Acarbose slows down the digestion of carbohydrates (sugars and starches) in your body. It does this by blocking certain enzymes in your small intestine that break down carbs. This helps to prevent a sharp rise in blood sugar after meals.
Invokana is a type of medicine called an SGLT2 inhibitor. It works by preventing your kidneys from reabsorbing sugar back into your blood. This causes extra sugar to leave your body through your urine, which lowers your blood sugar levels.
- • Gas
- • Diarrhea
- • Abdominal pain
- • Yeast infections of the vagina
- • Urinary tract infection
- • Increased urination
- Low blood sugar 269
- Feeling sick to your stomach 203
- High blood sugar 200
- Feeling lightheaded 160
- Loose, watery stools 147
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (high levels of ketones in the blood) 3,421
- Toe amputation 2,195
- Bone infection 2,163
- Sudden kidney damage 1,990
- Fungal infection 1,446
You should not take acarbose if you have diabetic ketoacidosis or cirrhosis. Also, do not take it if you have inflammatory bowel disease, colon ulcers, or any bowel obstruction. This medicine can cause liver problems in some people. Tell your doctor right away if you develop symptoms like yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Invokana can cause serious side effects, including: - Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA): This is a serious condition where your body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones. DKA can be life-threatening. - Lower limb amputation: Invokana may increase your risk of needing an amputation of your foot or leg. - Volume depletion: Invokana can cause dehydration, which can lead to kidney problems and low blood pressure. - Serious infections: Invokana can increase your risk of urinary tract infections and a rare but serious infection of the tissue under the skin in the area between and around the anus and genitals (Fournier's gangrene).
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if acarbose will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if acarbose passes into breast milk.
Invokana is not recommended during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy because it may harm the developing baby's kidneys. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not recommended to use Invokana while breastfeeding.
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How to Read This acarbose vs canagliflozin Comparison
acarbose is classified in the Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor drug class, while canagliflozin sits within the SGLT2 Inhibitor class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, acarbose has 979 submissions while canagliflozin has 11,215. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between acarbose and canagliflozin — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.