If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting acarbose.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of:
- digoxin
- certain herbal drugs (fenugreek, ginseng, gymnema)
- pramlintide
- drugs that may decrease your blood sugar levels (e.g., high-dose salicylates, quinolone antibiotics such as gatifloxacin and levofloxacin, MAO inhibitors such as isocarboxazid)
- drugs that may increase your blood sugar levels (including corticosteroids such as prednisone, diet pills, niacin, "water pills"/diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide, HIV protease inhibitors such as ritonavir, certain anti-psychotic drugs such as clozapine and olanzapine)
Beta-blocker medications (e.g., metoprolol, propranolol, glaucoma eye drops such as timolol) may prevent the fast/pounding heartbeat you would usually feel when your blood sugar level falls too low (hypoglycemia). Other symptoms of low blood sugar such as dizziness, hunger, and sweating are unaffected by these drugs.
Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully since many medications contain aspirin, which in high doses may increase your risk of hypoglycemia. Low-dose aspirin should be continued if prescribed by your doctor for specific medical reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams per day). Consult your doctor or pharmacist about the safe use of aspirin.
Precose Oral Medical Alert
Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-800-854-1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
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