Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are used to slow down the absorption of carbohydrates into the bloodstream. This process helps to control how much glucose is released into the blood and helps diabetics to maintain their blood glucose levels. The most common side effects experienced when taking alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and gas. The two most common alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are Acarbose and Miglitol.
When taking a drug from this family it is important to take it with food. In fact, Acarbose should be taken with your first bite of food in order to ensure that it affects every gram of carbohydrates in your meal. There are several medical conditions that impact the effectiveness and safety of this drug including: Crohn's disease, intestinal disorders, colon ulcers, liver disease, kidney disease, and most other digestive tract disorders and diseases. One beneficial aspect of this drug is that it is safe to take when pregnant, as it doesn't seem to have any negative effects on the developing fetus. However, it is possible to pass this drug to an infant through breast milk so nursing is not recommended when taking an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor.
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors also have a tendency to impact blood glucose levels so it may be necessary to take other steps to insure that your glucose levels are effectively managed. You should also be aware that alpha-glucosidase may also interact with, or impact the effectiveness of the following drugs:
Diuretics
Steroid based medications
Estrogen
Thyroid medications
Phenothiazine
Phenytoin
Calcium channel blockers
Thiazolidinediones
Thiazolidinediones are used to increase the body's cells' sensitivity to insulin. This helps to reduce their resistance to insulin and helps to maintain a healthier blood glucose level. The drugs found in this family include Pioglitazone and Rosiglitazone. The most important things that you should know about these drugs are that they may negatively impact the health of your liver function, it may make you gain weight rapidly, and it may increase your chances of developing heart problems. However, unlike the other oral medications featured in this article thiazolidinediones, this one doesn't usually cause hypoglycemia.
You should also be aware that drugs in this family have a tendency to reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. In order to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this drug you will probably need to switch from a hormonal birth control devise to a barrier method. In addition to reducing the effectiveness of birth control pills, this drug also has a tendency to react negatively with over-the-counter supplements and drugs and therefore you shouldn't take any OTC product without first talking with your doctor.