ACTIVE LEARNING TEMPLATE:
Medication
STUDENT NAME______________________________________
Acarbose
MEDICATION___________________________________________________________________________
REVIEW MODULE CHAPTER____________
inhibitors
CATEGORY CLASS__Alpha-glucosidase
_____________________________________________________________________
PURPOSE OF MEDICATION
Expected Pharmacological Action
Works in the small intestine and pancreas,
Decreases the rate of complex CHO metabolism
and glucose absorption postprandially
Therapeutic Use
Used for type 2 with significant postprandrial
hyperglycemia; Used in combination with insulin
and metformin in pt with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Complications
sleepiness, weakness, headache, dizziness, vertigo,
hypoglycemia, diarrhea, abdominal distention, increased
liver function tests, anemia, uticaria
Medication Administration
Oral
Contraindications/Precautions
Gi distress, liver disorders, pregnancy, inflammatory bowel
disease, colon ulcers, partial bowel obstruction, patients
under 18, lactation
Interactions
Nursing Interventions
- Periodically monitor blood
glucose, HBA1c liver, enzymes,
Hct, and Hbg
- Treat hypoglycemia with
dextrose, not sucrose
sulfonylureas, thiazides, corticosteroids, estrogensm,
phenytoin, garlic, ginseng, phenothiazines
Client Education
Evaluation of Medication Effectiveness
Reduces blood sugar
ACTIVE LEARNING TEMPLATES
- Acarbose prevents the breakdown of
table sugar; have a source of dextrose
available to treat low blood sugar
- Monitor blood glucose closely
- Monitor weight and report significant
changes
- Report abdominal distress