Insulatard Flexpen 3ml

Description

Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml contains human insulin, used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. It maintains blood sugar levels in both adults and children. Diabetes mellitus is a condition that affects the way your body processes glucose. In Diabetes Mellitus Type 1, the body does not make enough insulin to control blood sugar levels. In Diabetes Mellitus type 2, either the body stops producing enough insulin (the hormone which helps to decrease sugar levels in the blood) or there is resistance to the action of insulin. As a result, insulin is produced in large amounts but it is not able to act on the organs of the body.

Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml works by ensuring rapid and consistent sugar control. Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml is a fast-acting type of insulin which helps to decrease blood sugar levels after the intake of meals. It prevents the chances of developing serious complications of diabetes. It facilitates the reuptake of sugar in muscle and fat cells and thus, suppresses the production of sugar in the liver.

Your doctor will advise you on how to use this medicine. It is advised to get it administered by a healthcare professional. It should be taken 15 minutes prior to the meal or within 20 minutes after you start having a meal. In some cases, you may experience injection site reactions like redness or swelling. Some people gain weight while taking insulin. You may also experience symptoms of hypoglycemia such as cold sweat, cool pale skin, nervousness or tremor, anxious feeling, unusual tiredness or weakness, confusion, difficulty in concentration, drowsiness, excessive hunger, temporary vision changes, headache, nausea and palpitation. Most of these side effects of Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.

Try not to stop taking this medicine of your own. Let your doctor know about this, as it may cause withdrawal symptoms. Do not take this medicine if you have any low blood glucose levels, kidney, liver or heart problems or problems with alcohol or other prescription recreational drugs. Along with this medicine, you should take a healthy diet, do regular exercise and maintain weight as advised by your doctor. Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml is a cold chain medicine and so it has to be stored in the refrigerator between 2-8 degrees Celsius else its efficiency may be lost. Do not store in the freezer of the refrigerator.

Uses of Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml

Type 1 diabetes mellitus, Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Medicinal Benefits

When you take Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml, it works by ensuring rapid and consistent sugar control. It facilitates the reuptake of sugar in muscle and fat cells and thus, suppresses the production of sugar in the liver.  It helps to decrease blood sugar levels after the intake of meals. It prevents the chances of developing serious complications of diabetes. Besides this, Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml can be safely prescribed to the diabetic mother in the pregnancy as well as lactation stage. Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml helps in improving the glycaemic control which in turn decreases the risk of progression of complications of diabetes like damage of retina (retinopathy), damage of kidney (nephropathy), damage of nerve cells (neuropathy), delayed wound healing, diabetic foot ulcer and others.

Directions for Use

Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml should never be administered intravenously or in the vein. It is administered subcutaneously in the abdomen or thigh region. However subcutaneous injection of Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml in the abdomen region ensures faster absorption compared to other injection sites. Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml is usually given once or twice daily when both rapid and prolonged effect of insulin is desired. An injection of Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml should be followed within 30 minutes by a meal or snack containing sugar/glucose (carbohydrates). If you are not well trained to self-administer Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml, ask healthcare professional to administer it. Procedure for self-injecting insulin:•You should wash your hand first before injecting insulin.•Then roll the insulin bottle and wipe the bottle top. •Now pull the plunger of syringe down to appropriate number of units your doctor has prescribed.•Push the needle into the bottle and push syringe plunger down.•Now once again pull the plunger down to appropriate number of units as prescribed by the doctor. •Pick the injection site and wipe it with alcohol swab. Now, pinch up skin and push the needle into skin and then push the plunger in.•The needle should be kept under the skin for at least 6 seconds to make sure the entire dose is injected.•After injecting the insulin pull out the needle and dispose the syringe safely. And then you can have meal or snack.

Storage

Store in a cool and dry place away from sunlight

Side Effects of Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The following side effects may happen with Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml: Hypoglycemia - It is a frequently occurring undesirable effect of insulin therapy. Symptoms of hypoglycemia usually occur suddenly. They may include cold sweat, cool pale skin, nervousness or tremor, anxious feeling, unusual tiredness or weakness, confusion, difficulty in concentration, drowsiness, excessive hunger, temporary vision changes, headache, nausea and palpitation. Severe hypoglycemia may lead to unconsciousness and may result in temporary or permanent impairment of brain function or even death. Serious side effects include Generalized hypersensitivity reactions include generalized skin rash, itching, sweating, gastrointestinal upset, angioneurotic edema, difficulties in breathing, palpitation and reduction in blood pressure. These are potentially life-threatening. It is not necessary for everyone to experience the above side effects. Please consult your doctor immediately if you experience worsening of any of the side-effects.

In-Depth Precautions and Warning

Drug Warnings

Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml is for subcutaneous use only and should never be administered intravenously (IV) or in the veins. If you are changing the brand of insulin, it should be done under strict medical supervision. Cases of heart failure have been reported when pioglitazone was used with insulin especially in patients who are at high risk of cardiac heart failure. The first symptoms of hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar level) may include symptoms like excessive thirst, dry mouth, increased frequency of urination, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, flushed dry skin, loss of appetite and acetone odour of breath. You should closely monitor these symptoms. Symptoms like heart failure, weight gain and oedema (fluid deposition in tissue) should not be overruled. You are recommended not to consume alcohol as it may increase or decrease your blood glucose level. Care should be taken when you are traveling across more than 2 time zones. Your doctor may adjust your insulin schedule. Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml may decrease level of potassium leading to state of hypokalaemia that, if left untreated, may lead to respiratory paralysis, irregular heartbeat rhythm, coma and even death. Do not take this medicine if you have any low blood glucose levels, kidney, liver, or heart problems, or problems with alcohol or other prescription recreational drugs.

Drug Interactions

Drug-Drug Interaction: This medicine may have an interaction with anti-depressants (phenelzine, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, nialamide, imipramine, desipramine, tranylcypromine, moclobemide), anti Parkinson’s drug (selegiline), antibiotic (linezolid), (lithium, tryptophan), migraines drug (sumatriptan), pain killer (tramadol), anti-ulcer (cimetidine, lansoprazole, omeprazole), anti-fungal (fluconazole), anti-stroke pills (ticlopidine), blood-thinners (warfarin, dipyridamole, and phenprocoumon), antimalarial (mefloquine), heart-related drug (flecainide, propafenone), and medicines that decrease blood levels of potassium or magnesium, as these increase the risk of life-threatening heart rhythm disorder. Besides this, the use of oral antidiabetic pills like pramlintide and antibiotics (pentamidine) may cause hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar level).

Drug-Food Interaction: Try to avoid intake of alcoholic beverages with Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml as it may increase or decrease your blood sugar level.

Drug-Disease Interaction: Insulatard 100IU Flexipen 3 ml should not be given to patients with kidney disease, liver disease, low potassium level (hypokalaemia) and low blood sugar/glucose level (hypoglycaemia).