Acarbose Alternatives

Several acarbose alternatives are available for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. A few of these alternatives include lifestyle changes, other oral diabetes medications, and insulin or other injectable diabetes drugs. There may be many situations in which lifestyle changes (such as weight loss, more physical activity, and changes in diet) alone may not be effective at controlling type 2 diabetes. In these situations, other diabetes medications (such as sulfonylureas, biguanides, or meglitinides) may be necessary.

 

Acarbose Alternatives Explained

Acarbose (Precose®) is a prescription medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The medicine is part of a group of diabetes drugs called alpha glucosidase inhibitors. For most people, acarbose is well-tolerated and is effective at treating diabetes. However, as with all medicines, it is possible that acarbose may not completely control a person's diabetes or that side effects may occur during treatment with the drug. Fortunately, there are several substitutes for acarbose to treat type 2 diabetes.
 
Some of these acarbose alternatives include:
 
  • Other diabetes medication taken by mouth 
  • Insulin and other injectable diabetes medications
  • Lifestyle changes.

  

Oral Diabetes Medicines

Fortunately, there are many different types of oral medications available to treat type 2 diabetes. Some of these oral medications include:
 
  • Alpha glucosidase inhibitors
  • Biguanides
  • Sulfonylureas  
  • Meglitinides
  • Thiazolidinediones
  • Dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors
  • Combination medications.

 

Alpha Glucosidase Inhibitors

These medications prevent the breakdown of sugar and carbohydrates in the digestive tract, which slows their absorption. These drugs are used to decrease blood sugar levels after meals. In addition to acarbose, there is one other alpha glucosidase available -- miglitol (Glyset®).

(Acarbose Alternatives Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;