Compare Precose vs. Glucovance
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Lowers blood sugar.
Precose (acarbose) helps lower your post-mealtime blood sugar levels, but it must be taken at the beginning of each main meal in order for it to be most effective.
Lowers blood sugar.
Glyburide / Metformin is an effective combination medicine for lowering blood sugar, but it is likely to cause diarrhea in the first few weeks.
Upsides
- Precose (acarbose) helps control meal-time blood sugar levels without causing weight gain.
- When used alone it doesn't normally cause blood sugar levels to be too low unlike other anti-diabetes medicines.
- Safe to be used in people age 65 or older.
- Has relatively few interactions with other medicines.
- Glyburide / Metformin effectively lowers blood sugar levels more so than if each of the individual medicines it contains are taken alone.
- Protects your organs and blood vessels from the harmful effects of high blood sugar levels.
- Can potentially lower your "bad cholesterol" levels.
- Glyburide / Metformin is available in a generic form and is cheaper than many other combination diabetes medicines.
Downsides
- Not a first choice medicine because it isn't as effective at lowering blood sugar compared to other treatment options.
- Associated with bothersome side effects like excessive gas and diarrhea.
- Relatively more expensive than other diabetes medicines.
- Has to be taken three times a day with each meal.
- Might cause episodes of low blood sugar when taken together with insulin or medicines that stimulate insulin release.
- Has a higher risk than other diabetes medicine for causing blood sugar levels to be too low.
- Glyburide / Metformin is likely to cause nausea, stomach upset, or diarrhea in the first few weeks.
- Not a good treatment option for those with kidney and/or liver problems.
- Drinking large amounts of or frequently using alcohol while taking Glyburide / Metformin can cause harm to your body.
- Can cause some weight gain.
Used for
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Pill
Price
Lowest price
$21.35
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$14.87
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Reviews
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Side effects
6possible side effects
- Upper respiratory infection17%
- Diarrhea17%
- Headache9%
- Nausea/vomiting8%
- Stomach pain7%
- Dizziness6%
Risks and risk factors
- Low blood sugar
- Using insulin or other medicines that stimulate insulin release
- Kidney function
- Those with kidney problems
- Interactions with other medicines
- Taking multiple medicines together
- Lactic acid build up in blood
- History of kidney problems
- History of liver problems
- Those with congestive heart failure
- Using contrast dye for procedures
- Undergoing surgery
- Drinking large amounts or frequent use of alcohol
- Serious heart problems
- Low blood sugar
- Skipping meals or having inconsistent meal times
- Drinking alcohol
- Using other blood sugar-lowering medicine
- People age 60 or older
- Those with kidney and/or liver problems
- Severe allergic reaction
- History of allergy to sulfa-containing medicine
- Breakdown of red blood cells
- People with G6PD deficiency