Medicine Digests
Brand name Glyset, Miglitol is prescribed for treating Diabetes Type 2 . This is an Antidiabetic medication. Generic Ingredients are :- Acarbose, Precose.
General Information of the drug
- Miglitol works differently from other oral antidiabetes drugs, which control blood sugar levels by increasing the production of insulin or helping the body to use the hormone more efficiently.
- Miglitol delays the digestion of carbohydrates (sugars) by acting in the cells that line the small intestine, where sugar is absorbed. This results in less sugar being absorbed into the blood and therefore, a lower blood-sugar level.
- Miglitol also has some effect against the enzyme lactase, but usually does not cause lactose intolerance. Hypoglycemia (very low blood sugar) is unlikely with miglitol because of the way the drug works in diabetes.
- Miglitol may be prescribed with another antidiabetic drug if single-drug therapy is not enough to adequately control blood sugar levels.
- People taking miglitol should have their blood sugar checked periodically to see how well the drug is working. Your blood glucose should be carefully monitored if you add or withdraw any of these drugs while taking miglitol or acarbose. It is common for patients to equip themselves with Home Glucose Monitors, which is widely available.
- Thiazides and other diuretics, corticosteroid anti-inflammatory drugs, phenothiazines, thyroid drugs, estrogens, contraceptive drugs, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, stimulants, calcium channel blockers, and isoniazid may increase blood sugar levels.
- Miglitol and acarbose add to the blood-sugar-lowering effect of sulfonylureas, insulin, and other antidiabetes drugs and may increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) associated with these drugs.
- Miglitol may interfere with the absorption of several drugs into the blood, including propranolol, ranitidine, digoxin, glyburide, and metformin. Seek advise with your doctor as he/she may need to adjust your dose of these drugs.
- Digestive enzyme preparations, charcoal, kaolin (an ingredient in Kaopectate), and antacids—as well as other drugs intended to absorb stomach contents—reduce the effects of miglitol and acarbose. Separate dosing of these drugs by at least 2 hours.
- Combining acarbose and digoxin may increase the effects of digoxin.
- As Miglitol prevents the breakdown of table sugar, if you take Miglitol in combination with insulin or a sulfonylurea prescription drugs, make sure to have a quick source of glucose (dextrose) with you to treat hypoglycemia ( symptoms include increased hunger, tiredness, sweating, increased heart rate, and numbness in the arms and legs ).
- Take your dose with the first bite of each meal. The drug has to be present in your intestine to prevent the absorption of sugar into your blood.
- As Miglitol cannot work unless there is food in your stomach, if you do forget to take a dose of miglitol with your meal, skip the dose you forgot. At the beginning of your next meal, continue with your regular dose .
- Before buying any nonprescription drug, seek advice with your pharmacist to be sure if it is safe for diabetics to take together with acarbose.
Cautions
- Do not take miglitol if you are sensitive or allergic to any of its ingredients
- If you have diabetic ketoacidosis, cirrhosis of the liver, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers in the colon, intestinal obstruction, absorption or digestion diseases, or if intestinal gas, it will be a severe problem. Consult your doctor before taking this prescription.
- Acarbose may lead to liver inflammation.
- People with kidney disease retain higher levels of miglitol in the blood, but this does not affect the drug’s action because it acts locally in cells lining the small intestine. For patients with severe kidney disease should not take this drug due to drug retention in the blood.
Dosage and Possible Overdose ( This Prescription is not for Child )
- Acarbose :- Adult: 25-100 mg with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Miglitol :- Adult: 25-100 mg with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Miglitol must be taken with the first bite of each main meal.
- Unlike other antidiabetic medicines, a miglitol overdose does not cause hypoglycemia. Overdose symptoms are likely to include gas, diarrhea, and pain.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions especially for dietary plan, exercise, and blood- sugar testing. ( See Possible Side Effects below )
Possible Side Effects
a. Acarbose
Intestinal side effects of acarbose tend to improve or go away after a few weeks.
Most common:
- stomach gas (in 75% of people who take it),
- abdominal pain,
- and diarrhea.
( These side effects may be worse if you don’t restrict the amount of carbohydrate in your diet. Consult your doctor on proper dietary plan )
Less common or Rarely Occurs :
- skin rashes.
- swelling and itching,
- hepatitis or yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes,
- abdominal distress,
- abdominal obstruction,
- liver irritation,
- abnormalities in blood tests.
b. Miglitol ( Most side effects of miglitol go away with continued use of the drug )
Most common: gas, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Less common or Rare Effects : rash and low blood iron.
** For Unusual Side Effects that you may notice, seek your doctor advise immediately !
Pregnancy/Breast-feeding period :
Nursing Mothers who must take this drug should use infant formula, as the safety of using miglitol during pregnancy is not known, but small amounts of miglitol pass into breast milk. ( Diabetes during pregnancy is usually treated with insulin. )
Seniors Adult Consumption
Seniors with severe kidney disease should avoid this medication.
*Blood levels of acarbose are higher in older adults, but this is usually not considered important. Always consult your doctor if in doubt.
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