Miglitol

Miglitol is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes.

Miglitol belongs to a group of drugs called alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. These work by slowing the action of certain chemicals that digest sugars, which results in decreased blood sugar after meals.

This medication comes in tablet form and is taken three times a day, with the first bite of each main meal.

Common side effects of miglitol include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flatulence.

In combination with other medications to treat diabetes, miglitol can also cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can cause blurred vision and dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how miglitol affects you.

Miglitol is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes along with diet and exercise.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Miglitol may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Glyset

Serious side effects have been reported with miglitol. See the "Miglitol Precautions" section.

Common side effects of miglitol include:

• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• flatulence
• skin rash

This is not a complete list of miglitol side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• other medications for diabetes
• digestive enzymes (Viokase, Pancrease, or Ultrase)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• propranolol (Inderal)
• ranitidine (Zantac)
• vitamins

This is not a complete list of miglitol drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with acarbose including the following:

• Hypoglycemia. When used in combination with other medications to treat type 2 diabetes, acarbose can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of hypoglycemia:
  • shakiness
  • dizziness or lightheadedness
  • sweating
  • nervousness or irritability
  • sudden changes in behavior or mood
  • headache
  • numbness or tingling around the mouth
  • weakness
  • pale skin
  • hunger or thirst
  • clumsy or jerky movements
  • confusion
  • weakness
  • blurred vision

Do not take miglitol if you:

• are allergic to miglitol or to any of its ingredients
• have diabetic ketoacidosis
• have cirrhosis
• have inflammatory bowel disease, colonic ulceration, or partial intestinal obstruction
• have chronic intestinal diseases or disorders of digestion or absorption
• have conditions that may deteriorate as a result of increased gas formation in the intestine

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of miglitol, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking miglitol, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to miglitol or to any of its ingredients
• have kidney problems
• have liver problems
• have gastrointestinal problems
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Miglitol falls into category B.

There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with miglitol. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Miglitol has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from miglitol, it is recommended that miglitol not be administered to nursing women.

Take miglitol exactly as prescribed.

Miglitol comes in tablet form and is taken three times daily, with the first bite of each main meal.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of miglitol at the same time.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication

The recommended starting dose of miglitol for the treatment of type 2 diabetes is 25 mg three times daily. Dose increases should be individualized on the basis of effectiveness and tolerance. The maximum recommended dose of miglitol is 100 mg three times daily.

If you take too much miglitol, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If miglitol is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Store miglitol at room temperature.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.