Insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine

What is the most important information I should know about insulin aspart-insulin aspart protamine?

Insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine is a fast-acting insulin that begins to work very quickly. After using it, you should eat a meal right away.

Take care to keep your blood sugar from getting too low, causing hypoglycemia. Symptoms of low blood sugar may include headache, nausea, hunger, confusion, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, blurred vision, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, or trouble concentrating. Carry a piece of non-dietetic hard candy or glucose tablets with you in case you have low blood sugar. Also be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency.

Also watch for signs of blood sugar that is too high (hyperglycemia). These symptoms include increased thirst, loss of appetite, increased urination, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dry skin, and dry mouth. Check your blood sugar levels and ask your doctor how to adjust your insulin doses if needed.

Insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, foot care, eye care, dental care, and testing your blood sugar. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely. Changing any of these factors can affect your blood sugar levels.

What is insulin aspart-insulin aspart protamine?

Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the body. It works by lowering levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine is a faster-acting form of insulin than regular human insulin.

Insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine is used to treat type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes in adults.

Insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using insulin aspart-insulin aspart protamine?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to insulin, or if you are having an episode of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Before using insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease, or a nerve disorder.

This medication is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, foot care, eye care, dental care, and testing your blood sugar. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely. Changing any of these factors can affect your blood sugar levels.

Your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I use insulin aspart-insulin aspart protamine?

Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine is given as an injection (shot) under your skin. Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will give you specific instructions on how and where to inject this medicine. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

Insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine must not be given with an insulin pump, or mixed with other insulins.

Insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine is a fast-acting medication that begins to work very quickly. After using insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine, you should eat a meal right away. This medication is usually given with 2 meals per day.

Insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine is a mixture that should appear white and cloudy before you inject it.

Just before using this medication, roll the injection pen or vial (medicine bottle) 10 times between the palms of your hands.

If you use the injection pen, turn it upside down so the glass ball inside it moves from one end to the other. Do this at least 10 times, until the medicine looks white and cloudy, then give the injection right away. Repeat this procedure each time you use the injection pen.

Choose a different place in your injection skin area each time you use this medication. Do not inject into the same place two times in a row.

Use each disposable needle only one time. Throw away used needles in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to dispose of it). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.

Check your blood sugar carefully during a time of stress or illness, if you travel, exercise more than usual, or skip meals. These things can affect your glucose levels and your insulin dose needs may also change.

Ask your doctor how to adjust your insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine dose if needed. Do not change your dose without first talking to your doctor.

Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you have diabetes, in case of emergency. Any doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider who treats you should know that you are diabetic.

Storing unopened vials or injection pens: Keep in the carton and store in a refrigerator, protected from light. Throw away any insulin not used before the expiration date on the medicine label.

Unopened vials or injection pens may also be stored at room temperature for up to 28 days, away from heat and bright light. Throw away any insulin not used within 28 days.

Storing after your first use: Keep the "in-use" vials, cartridges, prefilled syringes, or injection pens at room temperature and use within 14 days. Do not refrigerate.

Do not freeze this medication, and throw away the medication if it has become frozen.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine is used before meals, you may not be on a timed dosing schedule. Whenever you use this medication, be sure to eat a meal right away. Do not use extra insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine to make up a missed dose.

It is important to keep insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine on hand at all times. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An insulin overdose can cause life-threatening hypoglycemia.

Symptoms of severe hypoglycemia include confusion, extreme weakness, blurred vision, sweating, fruit-like breath odor, tremors, stomach pain, confusion, seizure (convulsions), or coma.

What should I avoid while using insulin aspart-insulin aspart protamine?

Do not change the brand of medication or syringes you are using without first talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

Avoid drinking alcohol. Your blood sugar may become dangerously low if you drink alcohol while using insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine.

Do not expose insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine to high heat. Throw the medication away if it becomes hotter than 98 degrees F.

What are the possible side effects of insulin aspart-insulin aspart protamine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of insulin allergy: itching skin rash over the entire body, wheezing, trouble breathing, fast heart rate, sweating, or feeling like you might pass out.

Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is the most common side effect of insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine. Symptoms of low blood sugar may include headache, nausea, hunger, confusion, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, blurred vision, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, trouble concentrating, confusion, or seizure (convulsions). Watch for signs of low blood sugar. Carry a piece of non-dietetic hard candy or glucose tablets with you in case you have low blood sugar.

Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, may also occur. Symptoms of hyperglycemia include increased thirst, loss of appetite, increased urination, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dry skin, dry mouth.

Tell your doctor if you have itching, swelling, redness, or thickening of the skin where you inject insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect insulin aspart-insulin aspart protamine?

Using certain medicines can make it harder for you to tell when you have low blood sugar. Tell your doctor if you use any of the following:

• clonidine (Catapres);
• reserpine;
• guanethidine (Ismelin); or
• beta-blockers such as albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin), atenolol (Tenormin), bisoprolol (Zebeta), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), timolol (Blocadren), and others.

There are many other medicines that can increase or decrease the effects of insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine on lowering your blood sugar. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2003 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.03. Revision date: 09/14/2007.