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Acarbose

Acarbose is an oral diabetes medicine used alongside diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Brand names PrandasePrecose
Drug classes Alpha Glucosidase Inhibitors
Rx Form 1
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026 Content updated Oct 2, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 8 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

✓No current FDA shortage listed · checked Oct 6, 2026
Acarbose at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Acarbose is an older type 2 diabetes medicine that blocks gut enzymes that digest carbohydrates, blunting the blood sugar spike after meals; on the U.S. market for well over a decade and available as a generic, it is usually an add-on rather than a first choice. On its own it rarely causes low blood sugar, but gas, bloating and diarrhea are very common at first and often ease over time, especially if you go easy on sugary foods. The one thing to watch is your liver, so get prompt care for yellowing skin or eyes, dark urine or severe fatigue, and expect liver blood tests in the first year.

Clinical pearls

  • Take it with the first bite of each main meal, and if you skip a meal, skip that dose too.
  • On insulin or a sulfonylurea, treat low blood sugar with glucose tablets or gel, since acarbose slows table sugar’s breakdown.
  • Persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding or mucus in your stool is not ordinary gas; stop acarbose and call your doctor promptly.
  • Avoid activated charcoal and digestive enzyme supplements such as pancreatin alongside acarbose, since they weaken its effect.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
How you get itPrescription only
Comes asTablet
Earliest FDA record1995
Companies listing it with the FDA6
FDA label last updatedSep 23, 2020
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)None on the label

Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Acarbose, written from its FDA label.

What Acarbose is used for

▾

Acarbose tablets are approved for one main use in adults:

  • Type 2 diabetes: Acarbose tablets are used as an add-on to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glycemic) control in adults with type 2 diabetes. They can be used alone or combined with sulfonylureas, insulin, or metformin.

How Acarbose works

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Acarbose works entirely inside your digestive tract. It blocks two key enzymes — pancreatic alpha-amylase and intestinal alpha-glucosidase — that normally break complex carbohydrates down into glucose. By slowing this breakdown, acarbose delays how quickly sugar enters your bloodstream after a meal, reducing the post-meal blood sugar spike. Importantly, it does not stimulate insulin release the way some other diabetes medicines do.

Because acarbose's action happens locally in the gut and very little is absorbed into the body, its blood-sugar-lowering effect adds on top of other diabetes medicines without overlapping their mechanisms — making it a useful combination partner.

Acarbose dosage

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Acarbose tablets are taken by mouth three times a day, always at the very start of a main meal — with the first bite. Timing with food is essential; the medicine must be present when carbohydrates arrive in the gut to work properly.

  • Your doctor will start you at a low dose and increase it gradually over weeks to months based on your blood sugar response and how well you tolerate it.
  • Your dose may be adjusted every 4 to 8 weeks based on after-meal blood sugar readings or your hemoglobin A1c level.
  • If stomach side effects are bothersome, do not stop on your own — talk to your doctor, who may temporarily lower the dose.

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Acarbose prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • Initial dosage (type 2 diabetes mellitus)
    • 25 mg given orally three times daily at the start (with the first bite) of each main meal
    • Some patients may benefit from starting at 25 mg once per day and subsequently increasing the frequency to achieve 25 mg t.i.d
    • More gradual titration may minimize gastrointestinal side effects
  • Maintenance dosage
    • Once 25 mg t.i.d. is reached, adjust at 4 to 8 week intervals based on one-hour postprandial glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin levels and tolerance
    • May increase from 25 mg t.i.d. to 50 mg t.i.d., and some patients may benefit from 100 mg t.i.d
    • Maintenance dose ranges from 50 mg t.i.d. to 100 mg t.i.d
    • Maximum: 100 mg t.i.d.
    • Only patients with body weight > 60 kg should be considered for dose titration above 50 mg t.i.d.
  • Patients with body weight ≤ 60 kg
    • Maximum recommended dose is 50 mg t.i.d
    • Maximum: 50 mg t.i.d.
    • Low body weight may be at increased risk for elevated serum transaminases
  • Patients with body weight > 60 kg
    • Maximum recommended dose is 100 mg t.i.d
    • Maximum: 100 mg t.i.d.
  • Patients receiving sulfonylureas or insulin
    • Acarbose given in combination with a sulfonylurea or insulin will cause a further lowering of blood glucose and may increase the potential for hypoglycemia
    • If hypoglycemia occurs, make appropriate adjustments in the dosage of these agents
Read the label’s full dosing text

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION There is no fixed dosage regimen for the management of diabetes mellitus with Acarbose Tablets or any other pharmacologic agent. Dosage of Acarbose Tablets must be individualized on the basis of both effectiveness and tolerance while not exceeding the maximum recommended dose of 100 mg t.i.d. Acarbose Tablets should be taken three times daily at the start (with the first bite) of each main meal. Acarbose Tablets should be started at a low dose, with gradual dose escalation as described below, both to reduce gastrointestinal side effects and to permit identification of the minimum dose required for adequate glycemic control of the patient. If the prescribed diet is not observed, the intestinal side effects may be intensified. If strongly distressing symptoms develop in spite of adherence to the diabetic diet prescribed, the doctor must be consulted and the dose temporarily or permanently reduced. During treatment initiation and dose titration (see below), one-hour postprandial plasma glucose may be used to determine the therapeutic response to Acarbose Tablets and identify the minimum effective dose for the patient. Thereafter, glycosylated hemoglobin should be measured at intervals of approximately three months. The therapeutic goal should be to decrease both postprandial plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels to normal or near normal by using the lowest effective dose of Acarbose Tablets, either as monotherapy or in combination with sulfonylureas, insulin or metformin. Initial Dosage: The recommended starting dosage of Acarbose Tablets is 25 mg given orally three times daily at the start (with the first bite) of each main meal. However, some patients may benefit from more gradual dose titration to minimize gastrointestinal side effects. This may be achieved by initiating treatment at 25 mg once per day and subsequently increasing the frequency of administration to achieve 25 mg t.i.d. Maintenance Dosage: Once a 25 mg t.i.d. dosage regimen is reached, dosage of Acarbose Tablets should be adjusted at 4 to 8 week intervals based on one-hour postprandial glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin levels, and on tolerance. The dosage can be increased from 25 mg t.i.d. to 50 mg t.i.d. Some patients may benefit from further increasing the dosage to 100 mg t.i.d. The maintenance dose ranges from 50 mg t.i.d. to 100 mg t.i.d.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Acarbose side effects

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Stomach and digestive symptoms are by far the most common side effects of acarbose, and they're directly tied to how the medicine works:

Common side effects

  • Gas (flatulence) — very common
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach pain or discomfort
  • Small drop in hematocrit (red blood cell volume)
  • Low serum calcium levels
  • Low vitamin B6 levels
  • Abdominal pain or cramping

When to get medical help

  • Call your doctor if you develop severe or persistent stomach pain, rectal bleeding, or mucus in your stool — these could be signs of a rare but serious bowel condition
  • Get medical help right away if you notice yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or severe fatigue — these may signal liver problems
  • If you experience signs of low blood sugar (shakiness, sweating, confusion) while also taking a sulfonylurea or insulin, contact your doctor — dose adjustments may be needed
  • Seek emergency care for any rash, swelling, or severe allergic skin reaction

These digestive symptoms often improve over time with continued use and strict adherence to your prescribed diet. However, contact your doctor promptly if you notice yellowing of the skin or eyes, severe or persistent belly pain, rectal bleeding, rash, or any signs of a serious allergic reaction — these need medical attention right away.

Acarbose warnings and precautions

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  • Liver injury: Elevated liver enzymes have been seen with acarbose, and rare but serious cases of hepatitis — including deaths — have been reported after the drug came to market. Your doctor may check your liver function periodically, especially at higher doses or if you weigh 60 kg (about 132 lbs) or less.
  • Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis: A rare condition where gas-filled cysts form in the intestinal wall has been reported. Symptoms include persistent diarrhea, mucus discharge, rectal bleeding, or constipation. If these occur, stop acarbose and seek evaluation immediately.
  • Low blood sugar when combined with other diabetes medicines: Acarbose alone does not cause low blood sugar, but combining it with a sulfonylurea or insulin raises that risk. If low blood sugar occurs, it must be treated with glucose (dextrose), NOT sucrose (table sugar), because acarbose blocks sucrose breakdown.
  • Not for everyone: Acarbose must not be used if you have diabetic ketoacidosis, cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease, bowel obstruction, or chronic digestive absorption disorders.

Acarbose interactions

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Several medicines and supplement types can interact with acarbose — either reducing its effect or increasing your risk of side effects:

  • Sulfonylureas and insulin: Increase the risk of low blood sugar when combined with acarbose; dose adjustments may be needed.
  • Digoxin: Acarbose can lower digoxin blood levels, potentially requiring a digoxin dose adjustment — your doctor should monitor this.
  • Digestive enzyme supplements (amylase, pancreatin) and activated charcoal: Can reduce acarbose's effectiveness and should not be taken at the same time.
  • Blood-sugar-raising medicines — including thiazide diuretics, corticosteroids, estrogens, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, thyroid products, nicotinic acid, sympathomimetics, and calcium channel blockers — may weaken acarbose's blood sugar control; close monitoring is needed.
  • Metformin: Acarbose may slightly delay metformin absorption but does not have a clinically meaningful interaction overall.

Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label

From the Acarbose prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.

  • Thiazides and other diuretics, corticosteroids, phenothiazines, thyroid products, estrogens, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, sympathomimetics, calcium channel-blocking drugs, and isoniazid: These drugs tend to produce hyperglycemia and may lead to loss of blood glucose control. When given with acarbose, closely observe the patient for loss of blood glucose control; when withdrawn from patients receiving acarbose with sulfonylureas or insulin, observe closely for any evidence of hypoglycemia.
  • Sulfonylureas or insulin: Acarbose in combination may cause a further lowering of blood glucose and may increase the potential for hypoglycemia; very rarely, individual cases of hypoglycemic shock have been reported. If hypoglycemia occurs, make appropriate adjustments in the dosage of these agents.
  • Intestinal adsorbents (for example, charcoal) and digestive enzyme preparations containing carbohydrate-splitting enzymes (for example, amylase, pancreatin): May reduce the effect of acarbose tablets. Should not be taken concomitantly.
  • Digoxin: Acarbose has been shown to change the bioavailability of digoxin when co-administered. May require digoxin dose adjustment.
Read the label’s full interactions text

Drug Interactions Certain drugs tend to produce hyperglycemia and may lead to loss of blood glucose control. These drugs include the thiazides and other diuretics, corticosteroids, phenothiazines, thyroid products, estrogens, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, sympathomimetics, calcium channel-blocking drugs, and isoniazid. When such drugs are administered to a patient receiving acarbose tablets, the patient should be closely observed for loss of blood glucose control. When such drugs are withdrawn from patients receiving acarbose tablets in combination with sulfonylureas or insulin, patients should be observed closely for any evidence of hypoglycemia. Patients Receiving Sulfonylureas or Insulin: Sulfonylurea agents or insulin may cause hypoglycemia. Acarbose tablets given in combination with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause a further lowering of blood glucose and may increase the potential for hypoglycemia. If hypoglycemia occurs, appropriate adjustments in the dosage of these agents should be made. Very rarely, individual cases of hypoglycemic shock have been reported in patients receiving acarbose tablets therapy in combination with sulfonylureas and/or insulin. Intestinal adsorbents (for example, charcoal) and digestive enzyme preparations containing carbohydrate-splitting enzymes (for example, amylase, pancreatin) may reduce the effect of acarbose tablets and should not be taken concomitantly. Acarbose tablets has been shown to change the bioavailability of digoxin when they are co administered, which may require digoxin dose adjustment. (See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY , Drug-Drug Interactions ).

Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →

Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

🌿281 supplements and herbs with documented Acarbose interactions, ranked by severity Check Acarbose against a supplement or herb →

Before taking Acarbose

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  • Do not take acarbose if you have diabetic ketoacidosis, cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease, colonic ulceration, or a bowel obstruction.
  • Do not take acarbose if you have chronic intestinal diseases that seriously affect digestion or absorption, or conditions that could worsen with increased intestinal gas.
  • Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease — people with severe kidney impairment have much higher blood levels of acarbose, which may not be safe.
  • If you weigh 60 kg (about 132 lbs) or less, higher doses carry increased risk of elevated liver enzymes; your doctor may limit your dose and monitor your liver.
  • Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, especially other diabetes drugs, digoxin, digestive enzyme supplements, or activated charcoal products.
  • Older adults may have somewhat higher acarbose levels in the blood, though this difference has not been found to be statistically significant in studies.

Acarbose overdose

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An overdose of acarbose — unlike overdoses of insulin or sulfonylureas — will not cause dangerous low blood sugar on its own. The most likely effects are temporary worsening of gas, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort.

If an overdose occurs, the label advises avoiding any drinks or foods containing carbohydrates (starches, sugars) for the next 4 to 6 hours, to prevent intensifying digestive symptoms.

What Acarbose does in the body

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Acarbose's main measurable effect is blunting the rise in blood sugar that normally follows a meal — known as postprandial hyperglycemia (high blood sugar after eating). By doing this consistently over time, it also lowers hemoglobin A1c (a marker of average blood sugar over roughly 3 months). It does not stimulate insulin secretion, and it does not cause weight gain — in fact, it may reduce the weight-gaining effect of sulfonylureas.

How your body processes Acarbose

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Acarbose is designed to act locally in the gut, and very little of the active drug — less than 2% of an oral dose — is absorbed into the bloodstream. It is broken down almost entirely within the gastrointestinal tract by intestinal bacteria and digestive enzymes. The small amount of active drug that does reach the blood is cleared quickly, with a half-life of about 2 hours, so it does not build up in the body with regular three-times-daily dosing.

People with severe kidney disease clear acarbose much more slowly, leading to significantly higher blood levels; this is an important consideration when prescribing. Older adults may also have modestly higher exposure, though this is not considered clinically significant based on available data.

How to store Acarbose

▾

Store at 20 o to 25 o C (68 o to 77 o F) . Protect from moisture.

Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

281

Supplements & herbs that interact with Acarbose

281 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Acarbose in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.

Severity mix
  • Major · 4
  • Moderate · 240
  • Minor · 37
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Major BEER Major SIBERIAN COCKLEBUR Major WINE Major ACAI Moderate AFRICAN WILD POTATO Moderate AGARICUS MUSHROOM Moderate AGMATINE Moderate +273 more
Every supplement checked against Acarbose — ranked by severity The full interaction hub: 4 major · 240 moderate · 37 minor · every one linked to its full report. Check Acarbose against your exact supplements

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

1

Nutrient depletion considerations

Acarbose has been associated with lower levels of 1 nutrient in the clinical literature. This does not mean a deficiency will occur — it means these may be worth discussing with your pharmacist or healthcare provider, especially with long-term use.

COENZYME Q10 Insignificant Depletion
See the full Acarbose nutrient depletion report

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — not medical advice. Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

Acarbose: pharmacist answers to common questions

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Acarbose — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What exactly does acarbose do, and why do I need to take it with meals?

▾
Acarbose works in your gut — it blocks enzymes that break down carbohydrates into sugar, which slows how fast glucose gets into your blood after you eat. That's why timing matters so much: you need to take it with your very first bite of a meal, so it's already there when the carbs arrive. Taking it at the wrong time, or without food, means it can't do its job.

Will I get low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) from acarbose?

▾
By itself, acarbose does not cause low blood sugar — that's actually one of its advantages. However, if you're also taking a sulfonylurea or insulin alongside acarbose, the combination can lower your blood sugar too much. One important thing to know: if you do get low blood sugar while on acarbose, you need to treat it with pure glucose (like glucose tablets or gel), not regular table sugar, because acarbose blocks your gut from breaking down sucrose properly.

Why am I so gassy and bloated since starting this medicine — is that normal?

▾
Yes, it's very common and actually expected with acarbose. Because it slows carbohydrate digestion, undigested carbs reach the lower gut, where bacteria ferment them and produce gas. Flatulence, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort affect many people, especially early on. The good news is these symptoms often improve over time, and sticking carefully to your prescribed diabetic diet makes a real difference. If symptoms are really distressing, call your doctor — they may adjust your dose.

Are there any serious warning signs I should call my doctor about?

▾
Yes — a few things warrant a prompt call. Watch for yellowing of your skin or eyes, very dark urine, or unusual fatigue, which could signal liver problems. Also let your doctor know right away if you develop persistent diarrhea, mucus or blood in your stool, or severe belly pain — there's a rare bowel condition associated with this medicine that needs to be ruled out. Any serious rash or allergic skin reaction should also be evaluated promptly.

Can I take my usual supplements or over-the-counter products while on acarbose?

▾
Some common products can actually interfere with acarbose. Digestive enzyme supplements — things like amylase or pancreatin — and activated charcoal can reduce acarbose's blood-sugar-lowering effect. It's best to check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding any new supplement, especially digestive aids. Also make sure all your prescribers know you're taking acarbose, since it can affect levels of other medicines like digoxin.

How will my doctor know if acarbose is actually working?

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Your doctor will track your after-meal blood sugar levels early on in treatment to see how you're responding and to find the right dose. After that, they'll check your hemoglobin A1c — a blood test that reflects your average blood sugar over the past 2 to 3 months — about every 3 months. If your numbers aren't improving at the highest dose you can tolerate, your doctor may consider changing your regimen.

Is Acarbose available over the counter?

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No. Acarbose is a prescription medicine: every Acarbose product listed with the FDA is prescription only, so it is not sold over the counter. Your prescriber decides whether it is appropriate for you, and your pharmacist dispenses it.

When was Acarbose first available?

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The earliest FDA record we hold for Acarbose is from 1995: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Acarbose was first used.

Who makes Acarbose?

▾
6 companies currently list Acarbose products in the FDA's NDC Directory, including Chartwell RX, LLC, Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. d/b/a Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc., Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.. That count includes repackagers and distributors as well as manufacturers (companies that sell only the raw ingredient are not counted), so fewer companies actually make it; the label on your bottle names the one that supplied yours.

Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

More about Acarbose on HelloPharmacist

📊Acarbose supplement interactions281 checked — ranked by severity 🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerAcarbose vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Acarbose NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
Detailed data & references for Acarbose Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

Acarbose forms and strengths (how it comes)

Acarbose is available in 1 form. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Need a version that does not list lactose, a gluten source, a dye or gelatin? Inactive ingredients differ by manufacturer: see Acarbose inactive ingredients by manufacturer.

Tablet

By mouth
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Acarbose tablets are used alongside diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes
  • Acarbose tablets may be used alone or combined with sulfonylureas, insulin, or metformin for additional blood sugar lowering
Important instructions
  • Acarbose tablets should be taken three times daily at the very start (first bite) of each main meal
  • Acarbose tablets should be started at a low dose and increased gradually to minimize stomach side effects — follow your prescriber's schedule
  • If you are also taking a sulfonylurea or insulin, watch for signs of low blood sugar and contact your doctor if they occur
  • Follow your prescribed diabetic diet closely — not doing so can worsen stomach-related side effects
Available strengths 3 strengths
25 mg 50 mg 100 mg
51 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Acarbose on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands

How Acarbose appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

6 companies list 17 Acarbose product records with the FDA, mostly as tablet; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 1995. Brand names on the directory include Prandase, Precose; the rest are generics.

1
Dose forms ⓘ
6
Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
1
Brand names
17
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
1995
Earliest FDA record ⓘ

Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (5) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.

Chartwell RX, LLC18%
Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. d/b/a Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc.18%
Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.18%
PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.18%
Strides Pharma Science Limited18%
Bryant Ranch Prepack12%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

How widely Acarbose is used (Medicaid data)

A general measure of how commonly Acarbose is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Acarbose is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

39,489
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$1.1M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Acarbose prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Acarbose ranks #681 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 57% of them.

Where Acarbose ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #681 of 1,601
#676 Dapagliflozin / Metfor... 40,800 Rx #677 Calcium Gluconate 40,321 Rx #678 Dutasteride 40,080 Rx #679 Dextrose / Sodium Chlo... 39,776 Rx #680 Granisetron 39,710 Rx #681 Acarbose 39,489 Rx #682 Carisoprodol 38,921 Rx #683 Disulfiram 38,864 Rx #684 Rocuronium 38,861 Rx #685 Erythromycin and Benzo... 38,628 Rx #686 Ferric Carboxymaltose... 37,991 Rx

Utilization by Acarbose product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 50 mg oral tablet is the most-dispensed Acarbose product — about 35% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

acarbose 50 MG Oral Tablet Most dispensed

13,872 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 35% of Acarbose prescriptions shown $373,198 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $27 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 3 of 38 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 199149

acarbose 25 MG Oral Tablet

13,589 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 34% of Acarbose prescriptions shown $339,058 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $25 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 3 of 26 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 200132

acarbose 100 MG Oral Tablet

12,028 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 30% of Acarbose prescriptions shown $416,875 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $35 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 3 of 28 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 199150

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Acarbose, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 9 of 92 listed Acarbose NDCs with Medicaid activity.

Compare Acarbose products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Acarbose — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 17 of 17 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 17 Acarbose NDCs →

Acarbose recall history

A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Acarbose recalls since July 2021.

✅No Acarbose recalls on record since July 2021

Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Acarbose RxCUI 16681 1 dose form · 3 strengths
  1. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Tablet RxCUI 370504 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 25 MG RxCUI 200132 50 MG RxCUI 199149 100 MG RxCUI 199150

Look up RxCUI 16681 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

💵 What Acarbose costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)

The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.

FormStrengthPharmacy acquisition benchmark
Tablet · Oral 50 mg $0.169 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet · Oral 25 mg $0.180 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet · Oral 100 mg $0.274 per tablet NDC details & price history
Why show this? Your out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance, pharmacy markup, and discounts — but the acquisition benchmark tells you whether the medication itself is inexpensive or costly, which strengths cost more per dose, and whether a cash-price quote is in a reasonable range. Each row links to the NDC-level record with its full price history.

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.

Acarbose brand names

Acarbose is sold under 2 brand names in the FDA directory — Prandase, Precose. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

Prandase Precose

Who makes Acarbose: manufacturers and labelers

6 companies list Acarbose products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are Chartwell RX, LLC, Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. d/b/a Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc., Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

Chartwell RX, LLC 3 Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. d/b/a Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc. 3 Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. 3 PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 3 Strides Pharma Science Limited 3 Bryant Ranch Prepack 2

Acarbose drug class (RxNorm)

Acarbose belongs to the alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor class.

Pharmacologic class alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor
Drug family (ATC) Alpha glucosidase inhibitors
How it works alpha Glucosidase Inhibitors

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

Sources for this Acarbose page

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

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FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Sep 23, 2020
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Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Acarbose.
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Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
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Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Acarbose after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
8
Finished products in the current FDA directory
17
Companies listing them (makers, repackagers, distributors)
6
FDA labeler codes behind them ⓘ
7
Linked representative label ⓘ
Bryant Ranch Prepack
Linked label effective
Sep 23, 2020
Composite sections available
17
Linked SPL Set ID
c52016f3-98a0-455a-a1c8-0405b44208d7
Linked SPL Document ID
6abd4ad4-4989-4403-a971-35dac770b2f4
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How this page is built

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Bryant Ranch Prepack is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →