Losing weight can be difficult for anyone, but there are medications available that can help. Acarbose weight loss studies have gotten a lot of attention over the last few years, and for good reason. Studies have shown that the drug can help you lose weight with minimal side effects. Read on to learn more about acarbose.
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It is a Prescription Medication
Acarbose is a prescription drug, so you will not be able to get it from a pharmacy. You must go to your doctor and get a prescription. It is better known by the brand names that Bayer, the drug’s manufacturer, sells it under. These brand names include Precose and Glucobay.
It Helps Treat Multiple Conditions
It is frequently prescribed for diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It can be used for patients who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and patients who have PCOS are often overweight. An unhealthy weight can exacerbate these conditions.
Not only can it help people with these conditions lose weight, but it can also help with other symptoms of these serious diseases. For example, acarbose can reduce the acne that is often associated with PCOS.
How It Works
It works by slowing down the time it takes for carbs to enter the bloodstream. It accomplishes this by slowing digestion. This reduces the likelihood and severity of blood sugar spikes after a meal. Both patients with diabetes and patients with PCOS often have these spikes, which can be serious.
Studies show that acarbose can be even more effective when combined with other drugs like orlistat. This can result in increased effectiveness and decreased side effects. However, this combination is still in the research phase and is not available to patients yet.
Acarbose-Related Diabetes Studies
Researchers have been looking into the effects of acarbose on diabetic patients since the mid-1990s. Studies focused on diabetic patients showed that acarbose can help patients lose weight. These studies showed that this weight loss was not due to decreased appetite. Instead, it is due to a slower digestive process.
Acarbose-Related Studies for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Studies into acarbose’s effectiveness for PCOS symptoms began shortly after the studies into using acarbose to treat diabetes. These studies showed that acarbose can not only help PCOS patients lose weight, but it can also help treat some of the other symptoms of the disease. In addition to reducing acne, it can also slow excessive hair growth and increase fertility in PCOS sufferers. Acarbose can even help PCOS patients establish regular menstrual cycles.
The Side Effects Are Generally Mild
While many medications used for PCOS and diabetes have significant side effects, the side effects of acarbose are quite mild. You may experience mild gas or nausea. However, most people who take acarbose notice that any side effects they experience decrease in severity over time. This is because your body’s digestive system adjusts to the medication. Side effects may even completely disappear over time.
