Dilitus 0.3

Indications

Voglibose is used in adults with type 2 diabetes to lower blood sugar, especially the rise in sugar after meals. It is used with diet and exercise, either alone or together with other diabetes medicines such as Metformin, sulfonylureas or insulin.

How It Works

Starchy foods and table sugar must be broken down into simple sugars in the gut before they can be absorbed. Voglibose blocks the gut enzymes (alpha glucosidases) that do this. Sugar from a meal is therefore absorbed more slowly, so blood sugar does not rise as sharply after eating.

Dosage and Administration

The usual adult dose is 0.2 mg three times a day, taken just before each main meal. If needed, the doctor may increase it to 0.3 mg three times a day. It must be taken immediately before eating to work; if you skip a meal, skip that dose.

Interactions

• Taken with sulfonylureas or insulin, it can increase the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia).
• Other medicines that affect blood sugar, such as steroids, thyroid hormones and some diuretics, may change its effect.
• Digestive enzyme products and charcoal may reduce its effect.

Contraindications

• Allergy to Voglibose.
• Severe diabetic ketoacidosis or diabetic coma.
• Type 1 diabetes treated without insulin.
• Severe infection, before or after surgery, or serious injury, where insulin is needed.

Side Effects

Common side effects come from undigested sugars reaching the lower bowel: bloating, wind, stomach rumbling, soft stools or diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort. These usually lessen with time. Rarely, liver problems or bowel blockage symptoms may occur, mainly in people with previous abdominal surgery.

Get urgent medical help if you have severe stomach pain with a swollen belly and vomiting, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or signs of severe low blood sugar (confusion, sweating, shaking, fainting) that do not improve.

Important: if low blood sugar occurs while you take Voglibose, treat it with glucose (dextrose) tablets or glucose drink, not with table sugar, because Voglibose slows the absorption of ordinary sugar.

Pregnancy and Lactation

Safety in pregnancy is not established; insulin is usually preferred for diabetes in pregnancy. Do not use while breastfeeding unless your doctor advises it.

Precautions and Warnings

• Use with care if you have had abdominal surgery, hernias or bowel obstruction.
• Take care if you have liver or kidney disease.
• Check blood sugar regularly as advised.
• Carry glucose tablets if you also take medicines that can cause low blood sugar.

Overdose

Overdose mainly causes bloating, wind and diarrhoea. On its own it rarely causes low blood sugar. Contact a doctor if a large amount is taken.

Therapeutic Class

Oral antidiabetic medicine; alpha glucosidase inhibitor.

Storage

Store below 30°C in a dry place, away from light and out of the reach of children.