Precose Side Effects

Although most people tolerate Precose well, there are some potential side effects of the medication, such as gas, diarrhea, and abdominal pain (or stomach pain). In many cases, the side effects of Precose are minor and can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. However, there are more serious Precose side effects that you should report to your healthcare provider, including symptoms of high or low blood sugar, signs of an allergic reaction, and severe diarrhea.

 

Precose Side Effects: An Introduction

As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with Precose® (acarbose). However, not everyone who takes Precose will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate Precose well. When Precose side effects do occur, in most cases they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
 
(The Precose side effects discussed below are not a complete list of side effects reported with Precose. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of Precose side effects with you.)
 

Common Precose Side Effects

Precose has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials.
 In these studies, side effects occurring in a group of people taking the drug are documented and compared to side effects that occur in another group of people not taking the medicine. Based on these studies, the most common side effects of Precose include:
 
  • Gas -- up to 74 percent of people
  • Diarrhea -- up to 31 percent of people
  • Abdominal pain (or stomach pain) -- up to 19 percent of people.
     
Undigested carbohydrates in the intestines cause these side effects. Starting with a low Precose dose and slowly increasing the dose can reduce your risk of these side effects. Also, eating fewer carbohydrates can reduce these symptoms.
 
(Precose Side Effects Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;