Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The
full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine,
speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
Why am I using ACARBOSE VIATRIS?
ACARBOSE VIATRIS contains the active ingredient acarbose. ACARBOSE VIATRIS is used
for the treatment of diabetes.
What should I know before I use ACARBOSE VIATRIS?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to acarbose or any of the ingredients
listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines,
or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with ACARBOSE VIATRIS and affect how it works.
How do I use ACARBOSE VIATRIS?
Your doctor will determine the correct dose for you depending on your condition, other
medicines and your response to the treatment.
The average adult dose is one ACARBOSE VIATRS 100 mg tablet taken three times daily.
What should I know while using ACARBOSE VIATRIS?
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Things you should do
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Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using ACARBOSE VIATRIS.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist
that you are taking acarbose.
Take ACARBOSE VIATRIS exactly as instructed by your doctor.
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Things you should not do
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Do not stop using this medicine suddenly or lower the dosage without checking with
your doctor.
Do not take ACARBOSE VIATRIS to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells
you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as
you.
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Looking after your medicine
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Keep your tablets in a cool dry place below 25°C. Protect from moisture.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
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Are there any side effects?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
flatulence (wind), abdominal “rumbling” noises, a feeling of fullness, softer stools
or have diarrhoea; particularly if you have eaten foods containing sugar.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice jaundice (yellowing of the skin), swelling
from fluid retention, inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), intestinal obstruction,
decrease in platelet count, skin reactions such as redness, rash and urticaria (hives).
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects: shortness
of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or
other parts of the body, rash, itching or hives on the skin. They may be the signs
of an allergic reaction.
ACARBOSE VIATRIS tablets may cause an increase in the results of certain liver function
tests.
Active ingredient:
acarbose
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using ACARBOSE VIATRIS. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about using ACARBOSE VIATRIS.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
Why am I using ACARBOSE VIATRIS?
ACARBOSE VIATRIS contains the active ingredient acarbose.
ACARBOSE VIATRIS is used for the treatment of diabetes. Acarbose helps to control your blood sugar levels in conjunction with diet, exercise,
weight loss and other measures by slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates (complex
sugars) from your diet. This reduces the abnormally high blood sugar levels that occur
after each meal.
What should I know before I use ACARBOSE VIATRIS?
Warnings
Do not use ACARBOSE VIATRIS if:
you are allergic to acarbose, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this
leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing
or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the
body, rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
you have a severe kidney disorder (creatinine clearance <25 mL/min).
you suffer from intestinal obstruction, inflammation or ulceration of the bowel, e.g.
ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
you have a hernia or have had previous abdominal surgery. If so, consult your doctor
first.
Do not give this medicine to a child under the age of 18 years.
Do not take this medicine if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
Check with your doctor if you:
have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
take any medicines for any other condition.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Like most medicines of this kind, acarbose is not recommended to be used during pregnancy.
Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using it if you are pregnant.
Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
It is not known whether acarbose passes into breast milk.
What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with ACARBOSE VIATRIS and affect how it works.
Neomycin (Neosulf™)
Colestyramine (Questran Lite™)
Intestinal adsorbents (e.g. charcoal)
Digestive enzyme preparations (Cotazym-S Forte™, Creon™, Pancrease™, Viokase™)
Digoxin
(™ indicates trademark of the original manufacturer/ supplier)
These medicines may be affected by ACARBOSE VIATRIS or may affect how well it works.
You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different
medicines.
You should avoid taking cane sugar (sucrose) and products containing sugar. They may
cause stomach discomfort or even diarrhoea if taken while you are on ACARBOSE VIATRIS
tablets.
If you are taking other medicines containing sulfonylureas or metformin or tend to
have low blood sugar levels, tell your doctor before using ACARBOSE VIATRIS.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect ACARBOSE VIATRIS.
How do I use ACARBOSE VIATRIS?
How much to take
To gain the maximum benefit from ACARBOSE VIATRIS it is important that you follow
the prescribed diet as well as taking the exact dose prescribed by your doctor. This
will help control your blood sugar levels and reduce side effects experienced.
At the start of treatment, your doctor may prescribe a low dose of ACARBOSE VIATRIS.
Your doctor will determine the correct dose for you depending on your condition, other
medicines and your response to the treatment.
The average adult dose is one ACARBOSE VIATRIS 100 mg tablet taken three times daily.
Follow the instructions provided and use ACARBOSE VIATRIS until your doctor tells
you to stop.
When to take ACARBOSE VIATRIS
ACARBOSE VIATRIS should be used at about the same time each day with breakfast, lunch
and dinner.
Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you
remember when to take it.
When you first start your treatment, your doctor may recommend that you take your
tablets once or twice a day, before increasing your dose to three times a day.
How to take ACARBOSE VIATRIS
Swallow the tablets whole with a little liquid immediately before the meal.
If you prefer not to swallow the tablets then chew the tablets with the first few
mouthfuls of food.
How long to take ACARBOSE VIATRIS
Do not stop taking the tablets unless you are told to do so by your doctor.
This medicine helps to control your condition, but does not cure it. It is important
to keep taking your medicine even if you feel well.
When treatment with ACARBOSE VIATRIS is to be stopped, your doctor may need to alter
the dose of other medication(s) accordingly and monitor your condition.
If you forget to use ACARBOSE VIATRIS
ACARBOSE VIATRIS should be used regularly about at the same time each day.
If you miss your dose at the usual time, do not take the tablets between meals. Wait
until it is time for you to take your next dose and take ACARBOSE VIATRIS with your
meal and continue as before.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
If you use too much ACARBOSE VIATRIS
If you think that you have used too much ACARBOSE VIATRIS, avoid foods or drinks containing
carbohydrates.
When ACARBOSE VIATRIS is taken with drinks and/or meals containing carbohydrates,
overdosage can lead to diarrhoea and other intestinal symptoms such as flatulence
(wind) and abdominal cramps.
You should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(Australia telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
What should I know while using ACARBOSE VIATRIS?
Things you should do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist
that you are taking acarbose.
Take ACARBOSE VIATRIS exactly as instructed by your doctor. If you do not follow your
doctor’s instructions, your blood sugar level may not be controlled.
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using ACARBOSE VIATRIS.
Things you should not do
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly or lower the dosage without checking with
your doctor.
If you stop taking it suddenly, your condition may worsen or you may have unwanted
side effects.
Do not take ACARBOSE VIATRIS to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells
you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as
you.
What to be careful of
Treating hypoglycaemia (“hypos” or low blood sugar):
As a diabetic, you may also be receiving other medicines for your diabetes. If ACARBOSE
VIATRIS is prescribed for you in addition to sulfonylureas, metformin or insulin to
control your diabetes, your doctor may need to adjust the dosages of these drugs to
avoid the occurrence of “hypos” (low blood sugar levels).
When taking ACARBOSE VIATRIS together with these drugs, do not treat a “hypo” with
ordinary sugar (sucrose). It will not work fast enough. Instead, you should take some
GLUCOSE (also known as dextrose) tablets, honey, syrup or sweets which should be available
from your local chemist.
Looking after your medicine
Keep your tablets in the pack until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets
out of the pack, they may not keep well.
Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.
Store it in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C away from moisture,
heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it:
in the bathroom or near a sink, or
in the car or on window sills.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a half metres above the ground is a good place
to store medicines.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy
for safe disposal.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.
Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
The side effects are more common at the start of the treatment, but some may persist
or develop after treatment, or when dosage of acarbose is adjusted by your doctor.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
More common side effects
Normally these symptoms will disappear if you continue treatment and keep to your
prescribed diet. These symptoms may get worse if you do not keep to your prescribed
diet.
If your symptoms persist for more than 2 or 3 days, or if they are severe, consult
your doctor or nearest emergency department particularly in the case of diarrhoea.
Do not take antacids to treat these symptoms as they are unlikely to give you any
relief.
Rare side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as early as possible if you notice anything else that
may be making you feel unwell.
You may need medical treatment in some cases.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
ACARBOSE VIATRIS tablets may cause an increase in the results of certain liver function
tests. Therefore, your doctor may conduct blood tests to monitor your liver function
during the first 6 to 12 months of treatment with ACARBOSE VIATRIS.
These effects go away when treatment is stopped.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What ACARBOSE VIATRIS contains
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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acarbose
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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microcrystalline cellulose
pregelatinised maize starch
colloidal anhydrous silica
magnesium stearate
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Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What ACARBOSE VIATRIS looks like
ACARBOSE VIATRIS 50 mg tablets are round, biconvex, white to off-white, marked with
“ACA 50” on one side. (AUST R 226796).
ACARBOSE VIATRIS 100 mg tablets are round, biconvex, white to off-white, marked with
a score line on one side, and “ACA 100” on the reverse side (AUST R 226797).
Who distributes ACARBOSE VIATRIS
Sponsor
Generic Partners Pty Ltd
313 Burwood Road
Hawthorn VIC 3122
Australia
Distributor
ACARBOSE VIATRIS is distributed in Australia by:
Alphapharm Pty Ltd trading as Viatris
Level 1, 30 The Bond
30-34 Hickson Road
Millers Point NSW 2000
www.viatris.com.au
This leaflet was prepared in February 2022.
ACARBOSE VIATRIS_cmi\Feb22/00