Compare Starlix vs. Precose
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Lowers blood sugar.
Starlix (nateglinide) can quickly lower your blood sugar, but needs to be timed with your meals.
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.
Upsides
- Can quickly lower blood sugar.
- Good alternative if you have poor kidney function.
- Can be safely used in people 65 and older.
- Widely available in generic (cheaper) form.
- 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.
Downsides
- Take during mealtime.
- May need to take as often as three times daily.
- Can easily cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if you don't maintain a consistent diet or exercise schedule.
- 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.
Used for
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Pill
Price
Lowest price
$27.72
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$15.16
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Reviews
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Side effects
10possible side effects
- Common cold11%
- Back pain4%
- Flu symptoms4%
- Dizziness4%
- Joint problems3%
- Diarrhea3%
- Accidental trauma3%
- Inflammation of the airways3%
- Coughing2%
- Low blood sugar2%
Risks and risk factors
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Changes in meal pattern
- Changes in how much exercise you do
- Taking other antidiabetic medications
- Bad liver or renal function
- 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