Acarbose Product Guide

Acarbose is generally considered a safe and well-tolerated treatment to limit the impact of glucose spikes and thereby reduce our risk for diabetes, atherosclerosis, and more – both for diabetics and non-diabetics alike. See below for important usage instructions.

Getting started

Follow these general guidelines to get the most out of Acarbose:

  • Take 1-2 tablets with your heaviest meal of the day
  • Can be chewed or swallowed with water
  • Use with diet and exercise for best results

Consider wearing a CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) to track the impact of your outcomes.

Acarbose pill bottle

Navigating your protocol

Acarbose is available in 3 unique protocols that determine not only how many tablets you receive quarterly, but also how frequently you take it. Read below for tips specific to your protocol.

Taking Acarbose (As Needed)?

You will receive quarterly shipments of 24 tear-away packets, which contain 2x25mg tablets of Acarbose each. This is equivalent to up to 8 doses of Acarbose per month, to be used at your discretion with a carb-heavy meal. With this plan, there is no doctor-guided titration schedule; just take 1-2 as you need.

Taking Acarbose (Daily)?

Acarbose Daily features 2 distinct plans, depending on whether you will be taking Acarbose with 1 meal a day or with 2 meals a day. Both have specific, doctor-guided titration plans recommended to gradually introduce Acarbose to your body and minimize potential side effects.

For those taking Acarbose (1 Meal/Day), follow the instructions on your Rx bottle. You will start by taking 1 tablet/day (25mg) with the first bite of your heaviest meal of the day for the first 2 weeks, then 2 tablets/day (50mg) from then on.

WeekTabs per DayStrengthTotal Daily Dose
Weeks 1-2125mg per tab25mg per day
Weeks 3+225mg per tab50mg per day

For those taking Acarbose (2 Meals/Day), follow the instructions on your Rx bottle. Your first 90-day supply will contain 25mg tablets that will last for your first 12 weeks of dosing. Starting at week 13, your quarterly shipments will contain 50mg tablets for the remainder of your subscription.

You will start by taking 1 tablet/day (25mg) with the first bite of your heaviest meal of the day for the first 2 weeks, then 2 tablets/day (50mg) for the following 2 weeks. 

From weeks 5-12, you will take 2 tablets with 2 meals each day, for a total of 4 tablets/day (100mg). 

For weeks 13 and beyond, the tablet strength will double to 50mg each and you’ll take 2 tabs per meal for 2 meals per day, for a total of 200mg per day.

WeekTabs per DayStrength# of Tabs/Day
Weeks 1-2125mg per tab25mg per day
Weeks 3-4225mg per tab50mg per day
Weeks 5-12425mg per tab100mg per day
Weeks 13+450mg per tab200mg per day

Common side effects

During the first week or so of taking Acarbose, you may experience mild to moderate levels of the below side effects, which typically lessen and diminish on their own with time:

  • Diarrhea
  • Bloating
  • Abdominal (stomach) pain
  • Flatulence
  • Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

Serious side effects

Stop using Acarbose and tell your doctor right away if you notice signs of liver problems, including:

  • Nausea and vomiting that doesn’t stop
  • Loss of appetite
  • Yellowing eyes/skin
  • Dark urine

If any of these persist or get worse, stop using Acarbose and tell your prescriber immediately. Should you experience symptoms of low blood sugar, try eating fruit or honey to restore your levels. Additionally, altering your diet may help relieve unwanted gastrointestinal effects.

For a full list of possible side effects, click here.

Potential interactions

Acarbose should not be taken with excessive amounts of alcohol, as this can severely lower your blood sugar levels. Additionally, Acarbose may interact with the following medications:

  • Charcoal products taken orally
  • Aspirin
  • Digestive enzyme products (i.e. amylase)
  • Beta-blocker medications
  • Certain diabetes drugs
  • Diuretics
  • Hormonal medications (i.e. estrogen)

For a full list of possible drug interactions, click here.

FAQs

How many carbs are in a carb-heavy meal?

A carb-heavy meal has about 30 grams of starch or more. This is roughly equivalent to half a bagel.

Some may find that even less starch can make their meals seem “heavy.” In fact, those taking Acarbose daily may find that they aren’t consuming “heavy” meals on a daily basis, making it difficult to choose which meals should be supplemented with Acarbose.

Though your meals may not always be as heavy as 30 grams of starch, it’s up to you to decide which of your meals will be the heaviest for that day. So, when considering whether to take Acarbose with your meal, 30 grams of starch should be your reference.

What if I miss a dose?

Acarbose must be taken with a carb-heavy meal to work properly. If you missed taking it at the beginning of your meal, just wait to take your next dose as you normally would. Taking your dose after your meal or doubling your dose during your next meal won’t compensate for the dose you missed.

How can I measure the effectiveness of Acarbose?

A Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) is one of the most convenient ways to track your progress. You can compare sugar spikes after eating starchy carbs (with and without Acarbose!) to visibly see the impact Acarbose has on preventing spikes.

See all FAQs

Additional resources