For treatment and management of diabetes type II (used in combination therapy as a second or third line agent)
Acarbose reversibly bind to pancreatic alpha-amylase and membrane-bound intestinal alpha-glucoside hydrolases. These enzymes inhibit hydrolysis of complex starches to oligosaccharides in the lumen of the small intestine and hydrolysis of oligosaccharides, trisaccharides, and disaccharides to glucose and other monosaccharides in the brush border of the small intestine.
Extremely low bioavailability.
2 hours
The fraction of acarbose that is absorbed as intact drug is almost completely excreted by the kidneys.