Precose (Acarbose) for Diabetes

Overview
Precose is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Precose is considered an adjunct treatment to diet and exercise. Precose is also referred to by its drug name, Acarbose.

Precose is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor. Precose is believed to work by blocking or slowing the breakdown of starches and some sugars in the intestines, moderating the rise of glucose levels in the blood after meals.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Precose is generally taken three or more times a day with the first bite of a meal.

Precose comes in tablet form.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Precose lists common side effects including gas, bloating, diarrhea, upset stomach, and stomach pain.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Precose include severe abdominal pain, jaundice, and rectal bleeding.