Insuman rapid

How does it work?

Insuman rapid prefilled pens (OptiSet) and cartridges (for use with OptiPen Pro pen) contain human soluble insulin. They are used to treat diabetes.

People with diabetes have a deficiency or absence of a hormone manufactured by the pancreas called insulin. Insulin is the main hormone responsible for the control of sugar (glucose) in the blood.

People with type one diabetes need to have injections of insulin to control the amount of glucose in their bloodstream. Insulin injections act as a replacement for natural insulin, and allow people with diabetes to achieve normal blood glucose levels.

The insulin works in the same way as natural insulin, by binding to insulin receptors on cells in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle and fat tissue to increase their uptake of glucose from the bloodstream. It also decreases the production of glucose by the liver, and has various other effects that lower the amount of glucose in the blood.

Insuman rapid contains a type of insulin called soluble (or neutral) insulin. When it is injected under the skin it works rapidly, within 30 to 60 minutes, and its effects last for about eight hours. It is usually injected 15 to 30 minutes before a meal so that the increasing blood glucose levels after eating can be controlled.

Soluble insulin is often given in combination with intermediate or longer-acting types of insulin, which provide control over blood glucose throughout the day.

It is important to monitor your blood glucose regularly and adjust your insulin dose as required. Your doctor or diabetic team will explain how to do this. Keeping your blood glucose level as close to normal as possible, and not too high or too low, significantly reduces the risk of developing late-stage diabetic complications.

What is it used for?

Diabetes

Warning!

People treating their diabetes with insulin should regularly check their blood sugar level. Make sure you discuss how to do this and how often with your GP, pharmacist or diabetes specialist.

Your insulin requirements may increase when you are ill, especially if you have an infection or fever. Your insulin dose may also need adjusting during periods of emotional disturbance, or if you increase your physical activity or change your usual diet. Insulin requirements may be reduced if you have impaired kidney or liver function. Discuss this with your doctor or diabetes nurse to make sure you optimise control of your blood sugar.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) often occurs as a side effect of insulin therapy. Symptoms of hypoglycaemia usually occur suddenly and may include cold sweats, cool pale skin, tremor, anxious feeling, unusual tiredness or weakness, confusion, difficulty in concentration, excessive hunger, temporary vision changes, headache, nausea and palpitations. You should discuss this with your doctor to ensure you know what to do if you experience these symptoms.

Your ability to concentrate or react may be reduced if you have low blood sugar, and this can cause problems driving or operating machinary. You should take precautions to avoid low blood sugar when driving - discuss this with your doctor.

People with diabetes who are on insulin should only drink alcohol in moderation and accompanied by food. This is because alcohol can make your warning signs of low blood sugar less clear, and can cause delayed low blood sugar, even several hours after drinking.

You should only change your insulin on your doctor's advice. If you do transfer to a different insulin, eg different type (short, intermediate or long acting), different species (human or animal), different brand, or different strength of insulin, your doctor may need to alter your dose, and your warning symptoms of low blood sugar may be slightly different.

Each time you inject your insulin make sure you use a different site within the area you use. This helps to prevent the skin thickening and pitting, which can occur if the injection is repeatedly given in the same site.

Not to be used in

Low blood sugar levels

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

Insulin does not cross the placenta and provides no risk to the developing baby. Blood sugar levels need to be maintained as stable as possible during pregnancy, and you should consult your diabetic specialist to discuss how to acheive this. Your insulin requirements are likely to decrease in the first trimester and subsequently increase in the second and third trimesters. Discuss this with your doctor.

There is no risk to nursing infants from insulin taken by the mother. However, your insulin dose may need to be decreased during breastfeeding. Discuss this with your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Low blood glucose level (hypoglycaemia)

Redness, swelling or itching at the injection site

Allergic reaction to active ingredient

Skin thickening or pitting (lipodystrophy) if injection given too frequently into the same site

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

Insulin itself doesn't affect other medicines. However, it is important to be aware that many medicines can affect blood glucose levels and can therefore change your insulin requirements. For this reason, people with diabetes should always seek advice from their doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines or stopping existing ones.

The following medicines may decrease blood sugar levels. If you start treatment with any of these your insulin dose may therefore need decreasing:

ACE inhibitors, eg captopril (these can cause unpredictable drops in blood sugar)

anabolic steroids, eg testosterone, nandrolone, stanozolol

antidiabetic medicines taken by mouth

fibrates, eg gemfibrozil

fluoxetine

disopyramide

MAOI antidepressants, eg phenelzine

octreotide

large doses of salicylates, eg aspirin (small pain relieving doses do not normally have this effect).

Beta-blockers, eg propranolol (including eye drops containing beta-blockers) can mask some of the signs of low blood sugar, such as increased heart rate and tremor. They also prolong episodes of low blood sugar and impair recovery back to normal glucose levels.

The following medicines may increase blood glucose levels. If you start treatment with any of these your insulin dose may therefore need increasing:

some antipsychotic medicines, eg chlorpromazine, olanzapine

corticosteroids, eg hydrocortisone, prednisolone

danazol

diuretics, especially thiazide diuretics, eg bendrofluazide

lithium

isoniazid

protease inhibitors, eg ritonavir

somatropin (human growth hormone).

Oestrogens and progesterones, such as those contained in oral contraceptives, may affect blood sugar levels, and women taking these may need small adjustments up or down in their insulin dose.

People with diabetes who smoke normally need more insulin, as smoking reduces the amount of insulin that is absorbed into the blood from an injection under the skin. If you give up smoking, you may subsequently need a reduction in your insulin dose. Discuss this with your doctor.

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