acarbose
Brand names: Precose
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.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.20/unit
Generic Available
Yes (3 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Acarbose is used to help control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Common side effects
Gas, Diarrhea, Abdominal pain
Key warnings
You should not take acarbose if you have diabetic ketoacidosis or cirrhosis.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Take acarbose three times a day with the first bite of each main meal. Start with a low dose, like 25 mg, and increase it slowly. Your doctor will adjust your dose every 4-8 weeks based on your blood sugar levels and how well you tolerate the medicine. Do not take more than 100 mg three times a day unless your doctor tells you to.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it with your next meal. If it is almost time for your next meal, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store acarbose tablets at room temperature (68° to 77°F) and protect them from moisture. Keep the bottle tightly closed.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 1,667 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 3,736 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
3,736
Death-Related Reports
310
Hospitalization Reports
2,037
Top Indication
Diabetes Mellitus
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HYPOGLYCAEMIA | 269 |
| 2 | NAUSEA | 203 |
| 3 | BLOOD GLUCOSE INCREASED | 200 |
| 4 | DIZZINESS | 160 |
| 5 | DIARRHOEA | 147 |
| 6 | DRUG INTERACTION | 142 |
| 7 | VOMITING | 142 |
| 8 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 139 |
| 9 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 134 |
| 10 | OFF LABEL USE | 131 |
| 11 | FALL | 125 |
| 12 | ASTHENIA | 112 |
| 13 | LACTIC ACIDOSIS | 107 |
| 14 | DYSPNOEA | 103 |
| 15 | DIABETES MELLITUS INADEQUATE CONTROL | 99 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
These drugs include the thiazides and other diuretics, corticosteroids, phenothiazines, thyroid products, estrogens, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, sympathomimetics, calcium channel-blocking drugs, and isoniazid.
Mechanism: Phenytoin can make it harder to control your blood sugar, which may affect how well acarbose works.
What to do: Your doctor should check your blood sugar levels more often and may need to adjust your medicine.
Digoxin concentrations decreased Acarbose, activated charcoal, albuterol, antacids, certain cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy, cholestyramine, colestipol, extenatide, kaolin-pectin, meals high in bran, metoclopramide, miglitol, neomycin, penicillamine, phenytoin, rifampin, St.
Mechanism: Acarbose can lower the amount of digoxin that gets into your blood by interfering with its absorption.
What to do: Your doctor may need to check your blood levels and adjust your digoxin dose.
Common Questions
What should I do if I experience severe gas or diarrhea?
Can I take acarbose with other diabetes medications?
Will acarbose cause low blood sugar?
What happens if my blood sugar is low?
Are there foods I should avoid while taking acarbose?
How long does it take for acarbose to start working?
Can acarbose cause weight gain?
What if I forget to take Acarbose with a meal?
Does Acarbose interact with other medications?
How will I know if the medicine is working?
What are the common side effects of acarbose?
Does acarbose interact with other medications?
What drug class is acarbose?
Is acarbose safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor
Other drugs grouped near acarbose — same-class peers and common alternatives.
alogliptin
Nesina
Alogliptin and Metformin HCl is a drug that helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
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bromocriptine
Cycloset
Bromocriptine (Cycloset) is a medicine that acts like dopamine in your body.
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canagliflozin
Invokana
Invokana is a medicine used with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
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colesevelam
Welchol
Colesevelam is a medicine that helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL-C) and control blood sugar in adults.
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dapagliflozin
Farxiga
Dapagliflozin (Farxiga) helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
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What the FDA Data Shows for acarbose
The FDA label for acarbose (sold under brand names such as Precose) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor class. Acarbose is used to help control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Gas, Diarrhea, Abdominal pain.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 1,667 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.20.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: August 12, 2024
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages