Suggest Alternative Drugs For Glycobay M50

Posted on Tue, 16 Sep 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 16 Sep 2014 Answered on

Wed, 8 Oct 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi Doc,

I am originally from XXXXXXX and moved to the US recently. I had the doc in XXXXXXX prescribe Glycomet for keeping my blood sugar in control. What is the alternative that I can find here in paramacy stores in the US ?
Oh sorry, the medicine name is Glucobay M50 and not Glycomet.

Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Diabetes medicine

Detailed Answer:
First of all, we need to be certain you have diabetes.

1 Were you seen by a qualified MD DM Endocrinologist in Bangalore?

2 Were you formally diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes?

3 Or were you told you have Pre diabetes?

To specifically answer your question, the equivalent of Glucobay M 50 is not available in the US.

Glucobay M50 contains two different medications in one tablet. One of them is Acarbose 50 mg and the other is Metformin.
These 2 medications are available separately in USA.

Acarbose is available under the brand name Precose but you can check with local pharmacies if generic acarbose is also available or not.

Metformin is available as generic as well as under various brand names.

To know what dose of metformin you were prescribed, look at your Glucobay M50 tablet. Most likely it will say Metformin 500.

How many times a day were you taking Glucobay M50?

You will need to see a licensed medical doctor in USA in order to obtain a prescription for these medications. Endocrinologists are most qualified to manage diabetes/pre diabetes

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar