Key takeaways
Invokamet (canagliflozin/metformin) and acarbose are both medications used to manage Type 2 diabetes, but they work in different ways and have distinct characteristics. Invokamet is a combination of two drugs: canagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, and metformin, a biguanide. It helps lower blood sugar by causing your body to get rid of excess sugar through urine and by reducing sugar production in the liver. Acarbose, on the other hand, is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor that slows down the digestion of carbohydrates in your gut, leading to lower blood sugar levels after meals. Invokamet is available in both immediate-release (taken twice daily) and extended-release forms (taken once daily); acarbose is only available as a generic medication taken three times daily with meals. Invokamet can cause side effects like urinary tract infections and low vitamin B12 levels, whereas acarbose commonly causes gas and diarrhea. Additionally, Invokamet has a risk of serious conditions like lactic acidosis and ketoacidosis, while acarbose is less likely to cause low blood sugar when used alone but can affect liver labs.
