Acarbose 100 mg Tablet, 100-count
🆔 Identity & classification
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🏷️ RxNorm drug class
This medicine belongs to the alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor class.
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🏭 Manufacturer & labeler
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🩺 Clinical
Acarbose is used (with diet only or diet and other medications) to treat type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood) . Acarbose works by slowing the action of certain chemicals that break down food to release glucose (sugar) into your blood. Slowing food digestion helps keep blood glucose from rising very high after meals. Over time, people who have diabetes and high blood sugar can develop serious or life-threatening complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, nerve damage, and e...
Read the full MedlinePlus article ↗- 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...
- What exactly does acarbose do, and why do I need to take it with meals?
- 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 combina...
- Will I get low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) from acarbose?
Patient education
Supplement & herbal interactions
Some supplements/herbs that may interact with Acarbose — tap one for details:
Acarbose may be associated with lower levels of 1 nutrient — worth a chat with your pharmacist, not a cause for alarm.
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Ask a licensed pharmacist directly — free, answered by our team.
💊 What it looks like
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🧪 Inactive Ingredients / Excipients
Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.
💡 Tap an ingredient (hover on desktop) to see what it is and why it’s used.
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UNII 70097M6I30
Magnesium stearate is a salt made from magnesium and stearic acid, a fatty substance. It's used in tablets and capsules as a lubricant and glidant to help ingredients flow smoothly during manufacturing and prevent sticking.
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UNII OP1R32D61U
Microcrystalline cellulose is a purified form of cellulose, a natural fiber from plant sources. It acts as a binder and filler in tablets and capsules, helping hold ingredients together and give the medicine its shape and size.
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UNII ETJ7Z6XBU4
Silicon dioxide is a naturally occurring mineral used as a glidant and anti-caking agent. It helps powder ingredients flow smoothly and prevents clumping during manufacturing and storage.
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UNII O8232NY3SJ
A plant-based carbohydrate derived from corn kernels. It acts as a filler to add bulk, a binder to hold ingredients together, and a disintegrant to help the tablet break apart in your stomach for absorption.
4 inactive ingredients listed in the exact product block matched to this NDC.
Where does this data come from?
ingredient classCode="IACT" elements from the exact product block matched by this NDC. Label-section narrative from DailyMed / the openFDA label index is shown separately when available.Inactive ingredient FAQ
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💲 Pricing
A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.
| Price system | Per ea | Per package |
|---|---|---|
| Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly | $0.272 | $27.19 / 100 tablets |
| Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo | $0.3132 | $31.32 / 100 tablets |
| Medicare drug plans payPart D · Q2 2026 | $0.3008 | $30.08 / 100 tablets |
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🔁 Therapeutic equivalents
| Product | Labeler | Pack | NADAC/unit | TE | Status | Price vs. this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acarbose 100 mg 00054-0142-25 | Hikma | 100 tablets | $0.272 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Acarbose 100 mgthis 23155-0149-01 | Heritage | 100 tablets | $0.272 | — | Availability likely | — |
| Acarbose 100 mg 62135-0455-90 | Chartwell | 90 tablets | $0.272 | — | Availability likely | — |
| Acarbose 100 mg 64380-0760-06 | Strides | 100 tablets | $0.272 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Acarbose 100 mg 72789-0133-60 | PD-Rx | 60 tablets | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
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⏳ Availability & generic status
This product is an FDA-approved generic. Other versions of the same drug are listed under Therapeutic equivalents, least expensive first.
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🗺️ Medicaid utilization & spend
💊 Medicaid utilization by pack size
📊 Medicare Part D spend CMS · PART D · 2026 (Q1)
📦 Packaging — all sizes for this product
| Package NDC | Description | Per unit | Per pack | Marketing start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23155-0149-01 You're viewing this | 100 TABLET in 1 BOTTLE (23155-149-01) | $0.2719 / ea | $27.19 | 2021-04-16 | Active |
| 23155-0149-05 | 500 TABLET in 1 BOTTLE (23155-149-05) | — | — | 2021-04-16 | Active |
| 23155-0149-10 | 1000 TABLET in 1 BOTTLE (23155-149-10) | — | — | 2021-04-16 | Active |
You're viewing the smallest of 3 pack sizes for this product.
In Medicaid, this is the most-dispensed pack of this product — about 100% of fills over the last four reported quarters. See all packs ↓
Pack size FAQ
What quantity is in NDC 23155-0149-01?
What is the difference between NDC 23155-0149-01 and NDC 23155-0149-05?
What NDC number is used to bill for this package of Acarbose 100 mg Tablet?
Prices are the latest CMS NADAC pharmacy acquisition cost per NDC; per-pack figures are per-unit × pack quantity, shown only when the pack is denominated in the same measure NADAC prices.
📄 Full prescribing information FDA SPL
🎯 Indications and Usage ▾
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Acarbose tablets, USP are indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
⏱️ Dosage and Administration ▾
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 4-8 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.
However, since patients with low body weight may be at increased risk for elevated serum transaminases, only patients with body weight > 60 kg should be considered for dose titration above 50 mg t.i.d. (see PRECAUTIONS ). If no further reduction in postprandial glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin levels is observed with titration to 100 mg t.i.d., consideration should be given to lowering the dose.
Once an effective and tolerated dosage is established, it should be maintained. Maximum Dosage The maximum recommended dose for patients ≤ 60 kg is 50 mg t.i.d. The maximum recommended dose for patients > 60 kg is 100 mg t.i.d.
Patients Receiving Sulfonylureas or Insulin Sulfonylurea agents or insulin may cause hypoglycemia. Acarbose tablets 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, appropriate adjustments in the dosage of these agents should be made.
⛔ Contraindications ▾
CONTRAINDICATIONS Acarbose tablets are contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug. Acarbose tablets are contraindicated in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis or cirrhosis. Acarbose tablets are also contraindicated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, colonic ulceration, partial intestinal obstruction or in patients predisposed to intestinal obstruction.
In addition, acarbose tablets are contraindicated in patients who have chronic intestinal diseases associated with marked disorders of digestion or absorption and in patients who have conditions that may deteriorate as a result of increased gas formation in the intestine.
🤒 Adverse Reactions ▾
ADVERSE REACTIONS Digestive Tract Gastrointestinal symptoms are the most common reactions to acarbose tablets. In U.S. placebo-controlled trials, the incidences of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flatulence were 19%, 31%, and 74% respectively in 1255 patients treated with acarbose tablets 50-300 mg t.i.d., whereas the corresponding incidences were 9%, 12%, and 29% in 999 placebo-treated patients. In a one-year safety study, during which patients kept diaries of gastrointestinal symptoms, abdominal pain and diarrhea tended to return to pretreatment levels over time, and the frequency and intensity of flatulence tended to abate with time.
The increased gastrointestinal tract symptoms in patients treated with acarbose tablets are a manifestation of the mechanism of action of acarbose and are related to the presence of undigested carbohydrate in the lower GI tract. 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.
Elevated Serum Transaminase Levels See PRECAUTIONS . Other Abnormal Laboratory Findings Small reductions in hematocrit occurred more often in acarbose-treated patients than in placebo-treated patients but were not associated with reductions in hemoglobin. Low serum calcium and low plasma vitamin B 6 levels were associated with acarbose tablets therapy but are thought to be either spurious or of no clinical significance.
Postmarketing Adverse Event Reports Additional adverse events reported from worldwide postmarketing experience include fulminant hepatitis with fatal outcome, hypersensitive skin reactions (for example rash, erythema, exanthema and uticaria), edema, ileus/subileus, jaundice and/or hepatitis and associated liver damage, thrombocytopenia, and pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (see PRECAUTIONS ). Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis There have been rare postmarketing reports of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis associated with the use of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, including acarbose tablets.Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis may present with symptoms of diarrhea, mucus discharge, rectal bleeding, and constipation.Complications may include pneumoperitoneum, volvulus, intestinal obstruction, intussusception, intestinal hemorrhage, and intestinal perforation.
If pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is suspected, discontinue acarbose tablets and perform the appropriate diagnostic imaging. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc. at 1-866-901-DRUG (3784) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
🔄 Drug Interactions ▾
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 ).
🤰 Pregnancy ▾
Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects: Pregnancy Category B. The safety of acarbose tablets in pregnant women has not been established. Reproduction studies have been performed in rats at doses up to 480 mg/kg (corresponding to 9 times the exposure in humans, based on drug blood levels) and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to acarbose.
In rabbits, reduced maternal body weight gain, probably the result of the pharmacodynamic activity of high doses of acarbose in the intestines may have been responsible for a slight increase in the number of embryonic losses. However, rabbits given 160 mg/kg acarbose (corresponding to 10 times the dose in man, based on body surface area) showed no evidence of embryotoxicity and there was no evidence of teratogenicity at a dose 32 times the dose in man (based on body surface area). There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies of acarbose tablets in pregnant women.
Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of the human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Because current information strongly suggests that abnormal blood glucose levels during pregnancy are associated with a higher incidence of congenital anomalies as well as increased neonatal morbidity and mortality, most experts recommend that insulin be used during pregnancy to maintain blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible.
🧒 Pediatric Use ▾
Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness of acarbose tablets in pediatric patients have not been established.
🧓 Geriatric Use ▾
Geriatric Use Of the total number of subjects in clinical studies of acarbose tablets in the United States, 27 % were 65 and over, while 4 % were 75 and over. No overall differences in safety and effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects. The mean steady-state area under the curve (AUC) and maximum concentrations of acarbose were approximately 1.5 times higher in elderly compared to young volunteers; however, these differences were not statistically significant.
🆘 Overdosage ▾
OVERDOSAGE Unlike sulfonylureas or insulin, an overdose of acarbose tablets will not result in hypoglycemia. An overdose may result in transient increases in flatulence, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort which shortly subside. In cases of overdosage the patient should not be given drinks or meals containing carbohydrates (polysaccharides, oligosaccharides and disaccharides) for the next 4-6 hours.
🧬 Clinical Pharmacology ▾
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Acarbose is a complex oligosaccharide that delays the digestion of ingested carbohydrates, thereby resulting in a smaller rise in blood glucose concentration following meals. As a consequence of plasma glucose reduction, acarbose tablets reduce levels of glycosylated hemoglobin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Systemic non-enzymatic protein glycosylation, as reflected by levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, is a function of average blood glucose concentration over time.
Mechanism of Action In contrast to sulfonylureas, acarbose tablets do not enhance insulin secretion. The antihyperglycemic action of acarbose results from a competitive, reversible inhibition of pancreatic alpha-amylase and membrane-bound intestinal alpha-glucoside hydrolase enzymes. Pancreatic alpha-amylase hydrolyzes complex starches to oligosaccharides in the lumen of the small intestine, while the membrane-bound intestinal alpha-glucosidases hydrolyze oligosaccharides, trisaccharides, and disaccharides to glucose and other monosaccharides in the brush border of the small intestine.
In diabetic patients, this enzyme inhibition results in a delayed glucose absorption and a lowering of postprandial hyperglycemia. Because its mechanism of action is different, the effect of acarbose tablets to enhance glycemic control is additive to that of sulfonylureas, insulin or metformin when used in combination. In addition, acarbose tablets diminish the insulinotropic and weight-increasing effects of sulfonylureas.
Acarbose has no inhibitory activity against lactase and consequently would not be expected to induce lactose intolerance. Pharmacokinetics: Absorption In a study of 6 healthy men, less than 2% of an oral dose of acarbose was absorbed as active drug, while approximately 35% of total radioactivity from a 14 C-labeled oral dose was absorbed. An average of 51% of an oral dose was excreted in the feces as unabsorbed drug-related radioactivity within 96 hours of ingestion.
Because acarbose acts locally within the gastrointestinal tract, this low systemic bioavailability of parent compound is therapeutically desired. Following oral dosing of healthy volunteers with 14 C-labeled acarbose, peak plasma concentrations of radioactivity were attained 14-24 hours after dosing, while peak plasma concentrations of active drug were attained at approximately 1 hour. The delayed absorption of acarbose-related radioactivity reflects the absorption of metabolites that may be formed by either intestinal bacteria or intestinal enzymatic hydrolysis.
Metabolism Acarbose is metabolized exclusively within the gastrointestinal tract, principally by intestinal bacteria, but also by digestive enzymes. A fraction of these metabolites (approximately 34% of the dose) was absorbed and subsequently excreted in the urine. At least 13 metabolites have been separated chromatographically from urine specimens.
The major metabolites have been identified as 4-methylpyrogallol derivatives (that is, sulfate, methyl, and glucuronide conjugates). One metabolite (formed by cleavage of a glucose molecule from acarbose) also has alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity. This metabolite, together with the parent compound, recovered from the urine, accounts for less than 2% of the total administered dose.
Excretion The fraction of acarbose that is absorbed as intact drug is almost completely excreted by the kidneys. When acarbose was given intravenously , 89% of the dose was recovered in the urine as active drug within 48 hours. In contrast, less than 2% of an oral dose was recovered in the urine as active (that is, parent compound and active metabolite) drug.
This is consistent with the low bioavailability of the parent drug. The plasma elimination half-life of acarbose activity is approximately 2 hours in healthy volunteers. Consequently, drug accumulation does not occur with three times a day (t.i.d.) oral dosing.
Special Populations The mean steady-state area under the curve (AUC)…
📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling ▾
HOW SUPPLIED Acarbose Tablets, USP are supplied as follows: For 25 mg: White to yellow-tinged, round, biconvex tablets, debossed with "HP" on one side and "147" on other side. For 50 mg: White to yellow-tinged, round, biconvex tablets, debossed with "HP" and "148" on one side and plain on other side. For 100 mg: White to yellow-tinged, round, biconvex tablets, debossed with "HP" and "149" on one side and plain on other side.
Acarbose Tablets, USP 25 mg/50 mg/100 mg are available in Bottles of 100, 500 & 1,000. Strength NDC Table t Identificatio n Bottles of 100 with child-resistance closure Bottles of 500 with child-resistance closure Bottles of 1,000 with child-resistance closure 25 mg 25 mg 25 mg 23155-147-01 23155-147-05 23155-147-10 "HP" on one side and "147" on other side. Bottles of 100 with child-resistance closure Bottles of 500 with child-resistance closure Bottles of 1,000 with child-resistance closure 50 mg 50 mg 50 mg 23155-148-01 23155-148-05 23155-148-10 "HP" and "148" on one side and plain on other side.
Bottles of 100 with child-resistance closure Bottles of 500 with child-resistance closure Bottles of 1,000 with child-resistance closure 100 mg 100 mg 100 mg 23155-149-01 23155-149-05 23155-149-10 "HP" and "149" on one side and plain on other side. Store at 20 o to 25 o C (68 o to 77 o F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Protect from moisture.
For bottles, keep container tightly closed. Distributed by: Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc. East Brunswick, NJ 08816 1.866.901.DRUG(3784) 40332 Revised: 04/2024 avet=logo
📋 Description ▾
DESCRIPTION Acarbose Tablets, USP are an oral alpha-glucosidase inhibitor for use in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Acarbose is an oligosaccharide which is obtained from fermentation processes of a microorganism, Actinoplanes utahensis, and is chemically known as O -4,6-dideoxy- 4-[[(1S,4R,5S,6S)-4,5,6-trihydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-yl] amino]- α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)- O -α -D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-D-glucose. It is a white to off-white powder with a molecular weight of 645.6.
Acarbose is soluble in water and has a pK a of 5.1. Its empirical formula is C 25 H 43 NO 18 and its chemical structure is as follows: Acarbose Tablets, USP are available as 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg tablets for oral use. The inactive ingredients are starch (corn starch), microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, and colloidal silicon dioxide. structure
💬 Information for Patients ▾
Information for Patients Patients should be told to take acarbose tablets orally three times a day at the start (with the first bite) of each main meal. It is important that patients continue to adhere to dietary instructions, a regular exercise program, and regular testing of urine and/or blood glucose. Acarbose tablets itself do not cause hypoglycemia even when administered to patients in the fasted state.
Sulfonylurea drugs and insulin, however, can lower blood sugar levels enough to cause symptoms or sometimes life-threatening hypoglycemia. Because acarbose tablets given in combination with a sulfonylurea or insulin will cause a further lowering of blood sugar, it may increase the hypoglycemic potential of these agents. Hypoglycemia does not occur in patients receiving metformin alone under usual circumstances of use, and no increased incidence of hypoglycemia was observed in patients when acarbose tablets were added to metformin therapy.
The risk of hypoglycemia, its symptoms and treatment, and conditions that predispose to its development should be well understood by patients and responsible family members. Because acarbose prevents the breakdown of table sugar, patients should have a readily available source of glucose (dextrose, D-glucose) to treat symptoms of low blood sugar when taking acarbose tablets in combination with a sulfonylurea or insulin. If side effects occur with acarbose tablets, they usually develop during the first few weeks of therapy.
They are most commonly mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal effects, such as flatulence, diarrhea, or abdominal discomfort, and generally diminish in frequency and intensity with time.