Glucobay Drug Interactions

Sucrose (cane sugar) and foods containing sucrose often cause abdominal discomfort or even diarrhea during treatment with Acarbose (Glucobay) tablets as a result of increased carbohydrate fermentation in the colon.
Acarbose has an antihyperglycaemic effect, but does not itself induce hypoglycaemia.
If Acarbose (Glucobay) tablets are prescribed in addition to drugs containing sulphonylureas or metformin, or in addition to insulin, a fall of the blood glucose values into the hypoglycaemic range may necessitate a suitable decrease in the sulphonylurea, metformin or insulin dose. In individual cases hypoglycaemic shock may occur.
If acute hypoglycaemia develops it should be borne in mind that sucrose (cane sugar) is broken down into fructose and glucose more slowly during treatment with Acarbose (Glucobay); for this reason sucrose is unsuitable for a rapid alleviation of hypoglycaemia and glucose should be used instead.
In individual cases Acarbose (Glucobay) may affect digoxin bioavailability, which may require dose adjustment of digoxin.
Because they may possibly influence the action of Acarbose (Glucobay) tablets, simultaneous administration of cholestyramine, intestinal adsorbents and digestive enzyme products should be avoided.
The concomitant administration of Acarbose (Glucobay) and oral neomycin may lead to enhanced reductions of post prandial blood glucose and to an increase in the frequency and severity of gastro-intestinal side-effects. If the symptoms are severe, a temporary dose reduction of Acarbose (Glucobay) may be considered.