Pancreatic Enzyme Products + Acarbose
Acarbose brand names: Precose, Prandase, Glucobay.
Pancreatic Enzyme Products has a moderate interaction with Acarbose. Theoretically, pancreatic enzyme products may reduce the effects of acarbose.
Read the full interaction reportPancreatic Enzyme Products and Acarbose
Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.
ACARBOSE (Precose, Prandase)
The digestive enzymes present in pancreatic enzyme products may break down acarbose, reducing its effects.
Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
Here's the gist with these two: acarbose works right in your gut, where it slows the enzymes that break carbs down into sugar. That's how it keeps your blood sugar from spiking after meals. Pancreatic enzyme products add more of those digestive enzymes into the mix, so in theory they could work against acarbose and chip away at how well it controls your after-meal sugars.
I want to be honest about the strength of this one. It's a theoretical concern based on how the two work, not something well documented in patients. If you happen to need both, a good move is to mention it to your pharmacist or doctor and keep an eye on your post-meal glucose readings. Please don't stop or change either medicine on your own.
- Martindale W. Martindale the Extra Pharmacopoeia. Pharmaceutical Press, 1999.
What These Ratings Mean
Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.
Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.
Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.
Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.
- LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
- ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
- PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
- UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
- AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
- BCase-control study.
- CConsensus.
- DAnecdotal evidence.
These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.
Questions About Pancreatic Enzyme Products or Acarbose
These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Pancreatic Enzyme Products or Acarbose, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:
Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acarbose
This page covers Pancreatic Enzyme Products only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acarbose page lists 281 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major) and Acai (moderate).
By severity: 4 major · 240 moderate · 37 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Acarbose page
“Acarbose (Precose, Glucobay) is taken with meals to blunt the blood sugar rise after eating, and its supplement list calls for genuine care, starting with the four major-rated entries: heavy alcohol and the herb Siberian cocklebur can strain the liver alongside acarbose, while activated charcoal can soak up oral drugs and cut what reac…”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
Taking Pancreatic Enzyme Products as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions
We hold 26 real supplement products containing Pancreatic Enzyme Products, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Pancreatic Enzyme Products. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Acarbose too, on top of Pancreatic Enzyme Products — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:
Where Pancreatic Enzyme Products and Acarbose Sit Against Everything Else
Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.
#1,024 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#253 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.
About Pancreatic Enzyme Products
What is Pancreatic Enzyme Products?
- Trouble digesting food (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Chronic pancreatitis
- After pancreas surgery or removal
- Pancreatic cancer-related digestion problems
- Bloating and gas (over-the-counter products)
Pancreatic enzyme products supply the digestive enzymes (lipase, protease, and amylase) that some people cannot make enough of, helping them break down and absorb food. Prescription versions are well-proven and FDA-approved for conditions like cystic fibrosis and chronic pancreatitis, while over-the-counter 'pancreatin' supplements are not as tightly regulated. Always work with a doctor or pharmacist to get the right product and dose.
About Acarbose
What Is Acarbose Used For?
Brand names: Precose, Prandase, Glucobay
Acarbose tablets are used to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is always used together with a proper diet and regular exercise — not as a replacement for them.
Acarbose can be used on its own or combined with other diabetes medicines, such as sulfonylureas, insulin, or metformin, to further improve blood sugar control.
Other Drugs & Pancreatic Enzyme Products
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Pancreatic Enzyme Products — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Pancreatic Enzyme Products against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Apixaban ›
- Levothyroxine ›
- Amlodipine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Warfarin ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Abemaciclib ›
- Testosterone ›
- Losartan Potassium ›
- Sertraline ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Aspirin ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Clopidogrel ›
- Atorvastatin ›
- Rivaroxaban ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Warfarin Sodium ›
- Amlodipine Besylate ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Docusate ›
- Prednisone ›
- Metformin ›
- Amitriptyline ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Tadalafil ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Propranolol ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Bupropion ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Caffeine ›
- Naproxen ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Quetiapine ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Buspirone ›
- Omeprazole ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Letrozole ›
- Citalopram ›
- Methylene Blue ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Pancreatic Enzyme Products list.
Sources & How We Checked
Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference for vitamins, herbs and supplements — the basis for our interaction data.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine — NIH consumer drug information, used for the medication overviews.
- NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — Official supplement product labels.
Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.
Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.
DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.
© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Acarbose Is Linked to Lower Levels of One Nutrient
Natural Medicines records Acarbose as a medicine that can lower these. This is not an interaction with Pancreatic Enzyme Products — it is a separate effect of the medicine, and it is a reason some people are advised to supplement rather than to avoid one:
Read the full Acarbose nutrient depletion report ›
Depletion records come from the licensed Natural Medicines database. Do not start a supplement on the strength of this page — ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it applies to you.
Taking Pancreatic Enzyme Products and Acarbose Together: Common Questions
Can you take Pancreatic Enzyme Products with Acarbose?
How serious is the Pancreatic Enzyme Products and Acarbose interaction?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
Still Have a Question About Acarbose and Pancreatic Enzyme Products?
Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.
This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.