miglitol

What is the most important information I should know about miglitol?

What is miglitol?

Miglitol delays the digestion of carbohydrates (forms of sugar) in your body. This decreases the amount of sugar that passes into your blood after a meal and prevents periods of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).

Miglitol is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Miglitol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking miglitol?

• an inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease;
• a chronic intestinal disorder that affects your digestion;
• blockage in your intestines;
• a stomach disorder that causes excess gas; or
• diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).

To make sure miglitol is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease.

Miglitol is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

How should I take miglitol?

Miglitol is usually taken 3 times per day at the start of a meal. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

To quickly treat low blood sugar while you are taking miglitol, use a dextrose-based source of sugar (such as honey, dates, raisins, plums, or apricots). A sucrose-based source of sugar may not work because miglitol can inhibit the action of sucrose in the body. Sucrose-based sugar sources include cane sugar, candy, table sugar, chocolate, syrup, and non-diet soda or other sweetened foods.

Your doctor can prescribe a glucagon emergency injection kit to use in case you have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink. Be sure your family and close friends know how to give you this injection in an emergency.

Miglitol is only part of a complete treatment program that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, regular blood sugar testing, and special medical care. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take your dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking miglitol?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What are the possible side effects of miglitol?

• severe diarrhea or constipation;
• bloody or tarry stools;
• rectal bleeding; or
• diarrhea that contains blood or mucus.

Common side effects may include:

• stomach discomfort;
• diarrhea;
• gas; or
• mild rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect miglitol?

Certain digestive-enzyme supplements may decrease the effects of miglitol and should not be taken at the same time, including:

• pancreatin (amylase, protease, lipase); or
• products such as Arco-Lase, Cotazym, Donnazyme, Pancrease, Creon, Ku-Zyme, and others.

You may be more likely to have low blood sugar if you take miglitol with other drugs that can lower blood sugar, including insulin or other oral diabetes medications.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

• propranolol; or
• ranitidine.

These lists are not complete and many other medicines can increase or decrease the effects of miglitol on lowering your blood sugar. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about miglitol.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.01. Revision date: 8/9/2016.