Acarbose
Also known as: Precose, Glucobay, Prandase, Glucor, Glumida
Acarbose helps control your pet's blood sugar by slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates in their food. * **Timing is crucial:** Give this medication **right before feeding** for the best results. It will not work well if your pet grazes on food throughout the day. * **Side Effects:** Diarrhea and/or excessive gas are the most likely side effects. Contact your veterinarian if these become serious or do not resolve. * **Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia):** Acarbose alone does not cause low blood sugar, but it can increase the risk if your pet is also receiving insulin. Watch closely for signs of low blood sugar: **seizures (convulsions), collapse, rear leg weakness or paralysis, muscle twitching, unsteadiness, tiredness, or depression**. If these occur, call your veterinarian immediately. * **Emergency Sugar:** If your pet experiences low blood sugar and you need to give sugar by mouth, use **corn syrup or pure glucose** (like Karo syrup). Do NOT use regular table sugar (sucrose), as this medication stops table sugar from being absorbed. * **Patience:** It may take up to two weeks for the drug to reach its peak effect in controlling blood sugar.
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
What it is used for
- Improve glycemic control and reduce insulin dependence
- Reduce insulin dosage and thereby reduce hypoglycemia occurrence
- Adjunctive glycemic control
- For dogs poorly controlled with insulin and dietary therapy when another reason for the poor control cannot be identified
- Adjunctive glycemic control
How it is given
Possible side effects
- Flatulence
- Soft stools
- Diarrhea (dose-dependent)
- Weight loss (reported in dogs)
- May contribute to hypoglycemia if used concurrently with other hypoglycemic agents (e.g., insulin)
Cautions & contraindications
- Underweight animals (may have deleterious effects on nutritional status)
- Known hypersensitivity to acarbose
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Colonic ulceration
- Partial intestinal obstruction or predisposition to obstruction
- Chronic intestinal disease with marked disorders of digestion or absorption
- Conditions where excessive gas formation would be detrimental
- > **Important Precautions:** * **Hepatic/Renal Impairment:** Use with caution in patients with renal dysfunction or severe liver disease. Patients with severe renal dysfunction may attain serum levels approximately 5 times those of normal subjects. * **Pregnancy:** Safety in pregnancy has not been established (FDA Category B in humans). Weigh potential risks versus benefits. * **Hypoglycemia Risk:** While acarbose alone does not cause hypoglycemia, it can exacerbate it when used with insulin. If oral treatment for hypoglycemia is needed, **use pure glucose (dextrose), NOT sucrose**, as acarbose blocks the breakdown of sucrose.
Drug interactions
- Charcoal: Intestinal adsorbents may reduce the efficacy of acarbose.
- Digoxin: Acarbose may reduce digoxin blood concentrations.
- Hyperglycemic Agents (corticosteroids, thiazides, estrogens, phenothiazines, thyroid hormones, calcium channel blockers): May negate the antihyperglycemic effects of acarbose.
- Pancreatin, Pancrelipase, or Amylase: Exogenous enzyme formulations may reduce the efficacy of acarbose.
Frequently asked questions
What is Acarbose used for in pets?
Acarbose helps control your pet's blood sugar by slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates in their food. * **Timing is crucial:** Give this medication **right before feeding** for the best results. It will not work well if your pet grazes on food throughout the day. * **Side Effects:** Diarrhea and/or excessive gas are the most likely side effects. Contact your veterinarian if these become serious or do not resolve. * **Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia):** Acarbose alone does not cause low blood sugar, but it can increase the risk if your pet is also receiving insulin. Watch closely for signs of low blood sugar: **seizures (convulsions), collapse, rear leg weakness or paralysis, muscle twitching, unsteadiness, tiredness, or depression**. If these occur, call your veterinarian immediately. * **Emergency Sugar:** If your pet experiences low blood sugar and you need to give sugar by mouth, use **corn syrup or pure glucose** (like Karo syrup). Do NOT use regular table sugar (sucrose), as this medication stops table sugar from being absorbed. * **Patience:** It may take up to two weeks for the drug to reach its peak effect in controlling blood sugar.
Is Acarbose safe for my pet?
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell, please consult a veterinarian.
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