Patient Information Sheet
Insulin Detemir [rDNA origin] Injection (marketed as Levemir)
PDF Print Version
This is a summary
of the most important information about Levemir. For details, talk
to your healthcare professional.
What Is Levemir?
- Levemir
(insulin detemir [recombinant DNA origin]) is a long-acting
insulin used to treat adult patients with diabetes for the control
of high blood sugar.
-
Because
Levemir
is made by recombinant DNA technology (rDNA) and is chemically
different from the insulin made by the human body, it is called an
insulin analog.
Who Should Not Use
Levemir?
Do not
take Levemir
if:
-
your blood
sugar is too low (hypoglycemia)
-
you are
allergic to insulin detemir
or any of its ingredients.
What
Are The Risks?
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
can occur with:
-
the wrong
insulin dose.
-
medicines
that directly lower glucose or increase sensitivity to insulin.
-
medical
conditions that limit
the body’s glucose reserve, lengthen the time insulin stays in the
body, or that increase sensitivity to insulin.
-
not
enough carbohydrate (sugar or starch) intake.
-
too much
glucose use by the body.
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)
can
occur with:
-
the wrong
insulin dose.
-
medicines
that directly increase glucose or decrease sensitivity to insulin.
-
medical
conditions that increase the body’s production of glucose or
decrease sensitivity to insulin.
-
too much
carbohydrate intake.
Talk to your
healthcare professional about symptoms of hypoglycemia or
hyperglycemia.
Other possible side
effects include the following:
- Serious allergic
reaction. Get
medical help right away if you develop a rash over your whole
body, have trouble breathing, a
fast heartbeat, or sweating.
- Reaction at the
injection site (local allergic reaction). You may get redness, swelling, and itching at the injection site.
If you have serious or continuing reactions, you may need to stop
using Levemir and use another insulin.
- Skin thickens or
pits at the injection site,
especially if the injection site is not rotated.
- Vision changes
that may
require evaluation by an ophthalmologist (medical doctor
specializing in eye disease) or changes in your eyeglasses or
contact lens prescription.
- Fluid retention or
swelling of your hands and feet.
- Low potassium in
your blood (hypokalemia).
What Should I Tell My
Healthcare Professional?
Before
starting Levemir,
tell your healthcare professional about all your medical conditions
including if you:
- have liver or kidney
problems.
- are pregnant, are
trying to become pregnant,
or are
breast-feeding or planning to breast-feed.
- take any other
medicines.
Are There Any
Interactions With Drugs Or Foods?
Tell your healthcare
professional about all the medicines you are taking including
prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal
supplements. Certain medicines may increase or decrease glucose or
may increase or decrease sensitivity to insulin.
Do not
start any new medicines until you know how they may affect your
insulin dose.
- Many medicines may affect
your insulin needs.
Other medicines can
change the way insulin works. You may need a different dose of
insulin when you are taking certain other medicines. Keep a list
to show to your health care professional. Do not start any new
medicines until you know how they may affect your insulin dose.
- The amount of food you
eat can affect your insulin needs.
Talk to your doctor if
you change your diet so that you know how to adjust your Levemir
and other insulin doses.
- Alcohol, including
beer and wine, may affect your blood sugar levels. Talk to
your healthcare professional about drinking alcohol.
How Do I Take Levemir?
- Follow your healthcare
professional’s instruction about monitoring your blood sugar. Do
not make any changes with your insulin unless you have talked to
your doctor. Your insulin needs may change because of illness,
stress, other medicines, or changes in diet or activity level.
Talk to your doctor about how to adjust your insulin dose.
- Levemir can be taken once
or twice daily. Your Levemir dose and frequency of dosing should
be individualized based on your doctor’s advice.
- Before injecting Levermir
make sure that you have the correct type and strength of insulin.
- Carefully follow the
instructions on how to use your insulin syringe or insulin pen.
- Levemir
should NOT be
mixed with any other insulin or solution.
- Levemir is NOT to be used
in insulin infusion pumps.
Levemir FDA Approved June 2005
Patient Information Sheet Revised 06/2005
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Date created: July 18, 2005 |