Glucobay Mechanism of Action

Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: In all species tested acarbose exerts its activity in the intestinal tract. The action of acarbose is based on inhibition of the intestinal enzymes (α-glucosidases) involved in the degradation of disaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. This leads to a dose-dependent delay in the digestion of these carbohydrates. Most importantly, glucose derived from carbohydrates is released and taken up into the blood more slowly. In this way acarbose postpones and reduces the postprandial rise in blood glucose. As a result of the balancing effect on the uptake of glucose from the intestine, the blood glucose fluctuations over the day are reduced and the mean blood glucose values decrease.
Pharmacokinetics: Absorption and Bioavailability: The bioavailability is 1-2% only. This extremely low systemically available percentage of inhibitory substance is desirable because acarbose acts only locally in the intestine. Thus, this low bioavailability has no relevance for the therapeutic effect.