Lispro PRC

Insulin lispro is a prescription medication used to treat type 1 and 2 diabetes. Insulin lispro is a fast-acting form of insulin. It is usually given with a long-acting insulin to provide a steady amount of insulin to control blood glucose (sugar) levels.

This medication comes in an injectable form available in vials and prefilled pens. Insulin lispro should be injected just under the skin, 15 minutes before or after meals.

Common side effects include low blood sugar, reaction at the injection site, and dizziness.

Insulin lispro is a prescription medicine used to treat type 1 and 2 diabetes in adults and children.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is a side effect you should watch for while using this medication. Symptoms of low blood sugar may include:

• sweating
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• shakiness
• hunger
• fast heart beat
• tingling of lips and tongue
• trouble concentrating or confusion
• blurred vision
• slurred speech
• anxiety, irritability or mood changes
• headache

Severe low blood sugar can cause unconsciousness (passing out), seizures, and death. Low blood sugar may affect your ability to drive a car or use mechanical equipment, risking injury to yourself or others. Know your symptoms of low blood sugar. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions for treating low blood sugar. Talk to your healthcare provider if low blood sugar is a problem for you.

Get medical help right away if a serious allergic reaction (whole body reaction) occurs. A rash over your whole body, trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat, or sweating are all symptoms of a whole body reaction.

Reactions at the injection site (local allergic reaction) have occurred with insulin lispro injections. You may get redness, swelling, and itching at the injection site. If you keep having skin reactions or they are serious, talk to your healthcare provider. You may need to stop using insulin lispro and use a different insulin. Do not inject insulin to skin that is red, swollen or itchy.

Another possible side effect of insulin lispro injections is skin thickening or pits at the injection site (lipodystrophy). Change (rotate) when you inject your insulin to help to prevent these skin changes from happening. Do not inject insulin into this type of skin.

Other possible side effects of insulin lispro are:

• Swelling of your hands and feet
• Low potassium in your blood (hypokalemia)
• Weight gain

Tell your doctor about all the medications you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may increase your insulin requirements. Examples include: corticosteroids, isoniazid, certain lipid–lowering drugs (e.g., niacin), estrogens, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), phenothiazines, and thyroid replacement therapy.

Do not take insulin lispro if:

• your blood sugar is too low (hypoglycemia). After treating your low blood sugar, follow your healthcare provider's instructions on the use of insulin lispro.
• you are allergic to insulin lispro

If you have kidney or liver disease, careful glucose monitoring and dose adjustments may be required. Tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems.

Follow dietary (food) recommendations made by your doctor and dietitian which should include a healthy diet. Skipping meals should be avoided as this can cause problems maintaining blood sugar control. There are no specific foods to avoid while using insulin lispro.

Tell your doctor:

• about all your medical conditions, including liver or kidney problems. Your dose may need to be adjusted.
• if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. You and your healthcare provider should talk about the best way to manage your diabetes while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Insulin lispro has not been studied in pregnant or nursing women.
• about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Your insulin lispro dose may need to change if you take other medicines.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Insulin lispro falls into category B. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given insulin lispro, and some babies had problems.

It is very important to maintain control of your blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Your doctor will decide which insulin is best for you during your pregnancy.

It is not known if insulin lispro crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using insulin lispro.

• Insulin lispro can be used with a syringe, prefilled pen, reusable pen or external insulin pump. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions.
• Read the instructions for use that comes with your insulin lispro product. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions. Your doctor should show you how to inject insulin lispro before you start taking it.
• Insulin lispro is a rapid-acting insulin. You should take insulin lispro within fifteen minutes before eating or right after eating a meal.
• Only use insulin lispro that is clear and colorless. If your insulin lispro is cloudy, colored, or has solid particles or clumps in it, return it to your pharmacy for a replacement.

Do not mix insulin lispro:

• with any type of insulin other than NPH when used with injections by syringe.
• with any other insulin or liquid when used in a pump.

If your doctor recommends diluting insulin lispro, follow your doctor's instructions exactly so that you know:

• how to make insulin lispro more dilute (that is, a smaller number of units of insulin lispro for a given amount of liquid) and
• how to use this more dilute form of insulin lispro. Do not use dilute insulin in a pump.

Inject insulin lispro under your skin (subcutaneously) in your upper arm, abdomen (stomach area), thigh (upper leg), or buttocks. Never inject it into a vein or muscle. Change (rotate) your injection site with each dose.

• If you have type 1 diabetes, you need to take a longer-acting insulin in addition to insulin lispro (except when using an external insulin pump).
• If you have type 2 diabetes, you may be taking oral anti-diabetic medicines and/or a longer-acting insulin in addition to insulin lispro.

If you forget to take your dose of insulin lispro, your blood sugar may go too high (hyperglycemia). If high blood sugar is not treated it can lead to serious problems like loss of consciousness (passing out), coma or even death. Follow your doctor's instructions for treating high blood sugar.

Symptoms of high blood sugar which may include:

• increased thirst
• frequent urination
• drowsiness
• loss of appetite
• a hard time breathing
• fruity smell on the breath
• high amounts of sugar and ketones in your urine
• nausea, vomiting (throwing up) or stomach pain

Your insulin dosage may need to change because of:

• illness
• stress
• other medicines you take
• change in diet
• change in physical activity or exercise

Take insulin lispro exactly as prescribed. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you based on several factors. 

Your dose of insulin lispro may need to be changed because of:

Do not adjust your dose unless your doctor tell you to do so. 

If you take too much insulin lispro, your blood sugar may fall low (hypoglycemia).

You can treat mild low blood sugar by drinking or eating something sugary right away (fruit juice, sugar candies, or glucose tablets).

It is important to treat low blood sugar right away because it could get worse and you could pass out (become unconscious).

If you pass out, you will need help from another person or emergency medical services right away, and will need treatment with glucagon injection or treatment at a hospital.

• Store all unopened (unused) insulin lispro in the original carton in a refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).
• Do not freeze. Do not use insulin lispro if it has been frozen.
• Keep unopened insulin lispro in the carton to protect from light.

Vials:

• Keep in the refrigerator or at room temperature below 86°F (30°C) for up to 28 days.
• Keep vials away from direct heat or light.
• Throw away an opened vial after 28 days of use, even if there is insulin left in the vial.
• Unopened vials can be used until the expiration date on the insulin lispro carton and label, if the medicine has been stored in a refrigerator.

Cartridge and Prefilled Pens:

• Keep at room temperature below 86°F (30°C) for up to 28 days.
• Do not store a cartridge or prefilled pen that you are using in the refrigerator.
• Keep cartridges and prefilled pens away from direct heat or light.
• A cartridge used in the D-Tron1 or D-Tronplus1 pump may be used for up to 7 days.
• Throw away a used cartridge or prefilled pen after 28 days, even if there is insulin left in the cartridge or the pen.