Acarbose

USDailyMed:Acarbose AU:B3 A10BF01(WHO) UK:POM(Prescription only)US:℞-only 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-glucopyranose 56180-94-0Y 444254 6791 DB00284Y 392239Y T58MSI464G D00216Y ChEMBL1566Y DTXSID8046034 Interactive image O([C@H]1[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)O[C@@H]1CO)[C@H]4O[C@@H]([C@@H](O[C@H]3O[C@H](C)[C@@H](N[C@H]2/C=C(/CO)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H]2O)[C@H](O)[C@H]3O)[C@H](O)[C@H]4O)CO InChI=1S/C25H43NO18/c1-6-11(26-8-2-7(3-27)12(30)15(33)13(8)31)14(32)19(37)24(40-6)43-22-10(5-29)42-25(20(38)17(22)35)44-21-9(4-28)41-23(39)18(36)16(21)34/h2,6,8-39H,3-5H2,1H3/t6-,8+,9-,10-,11-,12-,13+,14+,15+,16-,17-,18-,19-,20-,21-,22-,23-,24-,25-/m1/s1YKey:XUFXOAAUWZOOIT-SXARVLRPSA-NY Acarbose(INN)is ananti-diabetic drugused to treatdiabetes mellitus type 2and (in some countries),prediabetes. It is sold in Europe and China asGlucobay(Bayer AG), in North America asPrecose(Bayer Pharmaceuticals), and in Canada asPrandase(Bayer AG). Acarbose is a starch blocker that works byinhibiting alpha glucosidase, an intestinal enzyme that releasesglucosefrom largercarbohydratessuch as starch andsucrose. It is composed of anacarviosinmoietywith amaltoseat the reducing terminus. It can be degraded bygut bacteria. Acarbose is inexpensive and popular in China, but not in the U.S. One physician explains that U.S.use is limited, because it is not potent enough to offset side effects of diarrhea and flatulence.However, a large 2013 study reported that "acarbose is effective, safe and well tolerated in a large cohort of Asian patients with type 2 diabetes."One possible explanation for the differing claims is that acarbose is significantly more effective in patients eating a relatively high-starch, Eastern diet.