Acarbose Coupons & Prices

Looking for an acarbose coupon? Acarbose is an FDA-approved generic oral medicine that helps adults with type 2 diabetes control the rise in blood sugar after meals. Because it is a generic, it is already one of the lower-cost diabetes medicines, but the cash price still varies widely from one pharmacy to the next, so comparing before you fill is worth it. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price and print or text yourself a free Rx.com discount card that is accepted at more than 60,000 pharmacies nationwide.

What is acarbose and how does it work?

Acarbose is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, an oral antidiabetic medicine. It is FDA-approved as an addition to diet (and, when needed, other diabetes medicines) to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It works in the gut, not the bloodstream: it slows the breakdown and absorption of carbohydrates from a meal, which blunts the spike in blood glucose that normally follows eating.

Because it targets the after-meal sugar rise specifically, acarbose is often used alongside other treatments rather than on its own. It has been studied for longevity and healthspan, but that is investigational and not an FDA-approved use, so acarbose should only be used as prescribed for diabetes.

Acarbose cost and savings without insurance

Acarbose is available as an FDA-approved generic (the former brand Precose has been discontinued in the US), which is why it is already an affordable option compared with newer, brand-only diabetes drugs. That said, the cash price is not the same everywhere. Two pharmacies in the same town can charge very different amounts for the identical prescription, so the pharmacy you choose matters.

There is no manufacturer copay savings card for generic acarbose. Instead, Rx.com compares the cash price across more than 60,000 pharmacies and shows you a free discount card you can use whether or not you have insurance. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price near you and compare pharmacies before you fill.

Acarbose alternatives and related diabetes medicines

Acarbose is one of several oral options for type 2 diabetes, and providers often choose based on how a person's blood sugar behaves and what other conditions they have. Related medicines include:

• metformin — the usual first-line oral medicine for type 2 diabetes
• miglitol — another alpha-glucosidase inhibitor that works much like acarbose
• glipizide and glimepiride — sulfonylureas that prompt the body to release more insulin
• pioglitazone — improves the body's response to insulin
• sitagliptin — a DPP-4 inhibitor

Only your provider can decide which medicine or combination is right for you. This list is for price comparison and is not a recommendation to switch.

Safety, side effects and things to know

Acarbose has no boxed warning. The most common effects are dose-related digestive symptoms such as gas, diarrhea, and stomach pain; these often improve over time. Dose-related, usually reversible increases in liver enzymes can occur, especially at higher doses, so your provider may check liver enzymes periodically during the first year. Acarbose is not recommended in severe kidney impairment.

It should not be used by people with diabetic ketoacidosis, cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease, colon ulceration, intestinal blockage or a tendency toward it, or other chronic intestinal conditions that affect digestion and absorption. Acarbose by itself does not cause low blood sugar, but it raises that risk when combined with a sulfonylurea or insulin. Importantly, if low blood sugar happens on acarbose, treat it with glucose (dextrose) tablets or gel, not table sugar, because acarbose blocks the breakdown of table sugar. This is general information, not medical advice; talk with your provider or pharmacist about your situation.