Miglitol

Miglitol is a prescription medication indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

• Miglitol is available under the following different brand names: Glyset

Common side effects of Miglitol include:

• diarrhea
• gas
• upset stomach
• stomach or abdominal pain
• skin rash
• iron deficiency anemia in the first few weeks of treatment as the body adjusts to this medication but these side effects usually improve with time

Serious side effects of Miglitol include:

• hives
• difficult breathing
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• severe diarrhea or constipation
• bloody or tarry stools
• rectal bleeding
• diarrhea that contains blood or mucus

Rare side effects of Miglitol include:

• none 

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, coordination loss, unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights
• Serious heart symptoms include fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult dosage

Tablet

• 25 mg
• 50 mg
• 100 mg

T2D (Monotherapy or With Sulfonylurea)

Adult and geriatric dosage

• Initial: 25 mg orally every 8 hours at meals (with the first bite)
• Maintenance: Usually, 50 mg orally every 8 hours, increase after 4-8 weeks
• Not more than 100 mg orally every 8 hours

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, healthcare provider, or pharmacist first.

• Miglitol has severe interactions with no other drugs
• Miglitol has serious interactions with the following drugs:
  • ethanol
  • pramlintide
• Miglitol has moderate interactions with at least 59 other drugs
• Miglitol has minor interactions with at least 72 other drugs

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your healthcare professional or doctor for additional medical advice, health questions, or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to miglitol
• Diabetic ketoacidosis, inflammatory bowel disease, colonic ulceration, and partial intestinal obstruction
• Disorders of gastrointestinal (GI) digestion or absorption
• Conditions that may deteriorate owing to increased GI gas
• Severe renal impairment

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Miglitol?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Miglitol?”

Cautions

• Concurrent use with sulfonylureas may result in hypoglycemia; treat hypoglycemia with oral glucose, not sucrose

Pregnancy and Lactation

• May be acceptable during pregnancy
• Lactation
  • Enters slightly into breast milk; not recommended