Pramlintide

Pramlintide is a man-made version of a hormone that happens naturally in your body. Pramlintide lowers blood sugar in three ways. It slows down how fast food moves from your stomach to your intestines, which helps prevent your blood sugar from rising too quickly. Pramlintide also reduces the amount of glucose (sugar) that your liver makes. Lastly, pramlintide helps you feel full after meals, which can help control your appetite and reduce how much food you eat.

Pramlintide is used with insulin to treat type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It is usually prescribed after other diabetes medicines have not worked.

Pramlintide may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may change your dose from time to time to ensure you get the best results. When you first start using pramlintide, your insulin dose will change. Do not use your medicines in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Pramlintide is injected under the skin at the same time as your insulin injection, but in a separate injection. Do not self-inject your medicines if you do not fully understand how to give the injections and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

Do not mix pramlintide and insulin together in the same syringe.

pramlintide comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Pramlintide is usually given just before each major meal. If you skip a meal, you should also skip your pramlintide dose.

Use a different area on your stomach or thigh each time you give the injection. Inject your insulin in a separate skin area. Do not inject insulin or pramlintide into the same area two times in a row.

Do not use pramlintide if it has changed colors or looks cloudy. Call your pharmacist for new medication.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can happen to anyone with diabetes. Symptoms include headache, hunger, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, or feeling shaky. Always keep a source of sugar with you in case you have low blood sugar. Sugar sources include fruit juice, hard candy, crackers, raisins, and non-diet soda. Make sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency.

Take care not to let your blood sugar get too low. Severely low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) may occur within 3 hours after your pramlintide injection. If you have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink, use a glucagon injection. Your doctor can prescribe a glucagon emergency injection kit and tell you how to use it.

Also watch for signs of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) such as increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, and weight loss.

Check your blood sugar carefully during times of stress, travel, illness, surgery or medical emergency, vigorous exercise, or if you drink alcohol or skip meals. These factors can affect your glucose levels, and your dose needs may also change. Do not change your medication dose or schedule without your doctor's advice.

Use a disposable needle and syringe only once. Follow any state or local laws about throwing away used needles and syringes. Use a puncture-proof "sharps" disposal container (ask your pharmacist where to get one and how to throw it away). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.

Never share an injection pen with another person. Sharing injection pens can allow diseases such as hepatitis or HIV to pass from one person to another.

Call your doctor if you have severe nausea that lasts for several days. This may be a sign that your dose is too high.

Pramlintide is only part of a treatment program that also includes diet, exercise, weight control, regular blood sugar testing, and special medical care. Keep a regular schedule when using your injections and testing your blood sugar. It is also important to plan your meals and physical activity. You may not be able to keep using pramlintide if you do not follow the dosing instructions.

If you stop using pramlintide for a short time, you may need to restart the medicine at a lower dose. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Storing unopened injection pens: Keep in the carton and store in a refrigerator, protected from light. Throw away any pramlintide not used before the expiration date on the medicine label. Do not freeze pramlintide, and throw away the medication if it has become frozen.

Take an injection pen out of the refrigerator and allow it to reach room temperature before injecting your dose. Do not remove pramlintide from an injector pen and put the medicine in a syringe. You may receive too high a dose.

Storing after your first use: You may keep "in-use" injection pens in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Use within 30 days.

You should not use pramlintide if you have a digestive condition called "delayed gastric emptying."

You should not use pramlintide if you cannot recognize symptoms of low blood sugar. Severely low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) may happen within 3 hours after your pramlintide injection. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, drowsiness, vision problems, hunger, weakness, sweating, confusion, irritability, fast heart rate, or feeling jittery.

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to pramlintide or metacresol, or:

• if you have a digestive condition called "delayed gastric emptying"; or
• if you cannot recognize symptoms of low blood sugar.

To make sure pramlintide is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• a history of delayed gastric emptying;
• problems with vision (blindness, trouble reading);
• if you are unable to check your blood sugars regularly; or
• if you have had severe hypoglycemia more than once in the past 6 months.

It is not known whether pramlintide will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

It is not known whether pramlintide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Pramlintide should not be used in children.

Get emergency medical help if you notice any signs of an allergic reaction: hives; trouble breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Pramlintide may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor right away if you experience:

• severe ongoing nausea; or
• severe hypoglycemia—headache, dizziness, drowsiness, vision problems, hunger, weakness, sweating, confusion, irritability, fast heart rate, feeling jittery.

Common side effects of pramlintide may include:

• nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite; or
• headache.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may happen. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Usual Adult Dose for Diabetes Type 1:

15 mcg subcutaneously, injecting immediately prior to each major mealComments:-Mealtime insulin doses (including premixed insulins) should be reduced by 50%.-Dose should be increased to next increment (30, 45, or 60 mcg) when no clinically significant nausea has occurred for at least 3 days.-If significant nausea persists at the 45 or 60 mcg dose level, dose should be decreased to 30 mcg.-If the 30 mcg dose is not tolerated, discontinuation should be considered.Use: Adjunctive treatment in patients with type 1 diabetes who use mealtime insulin therapy and who have failed to achieve desired glucose control despite optimal insulin therapy.

Usual Adult Dose for Diabetes Type 2:

60 mcg subcutaneously, injecting immediately prior to each major mealComments:-Mealtime insulin doses (including premixed insulins) should be reduced by 50%.-Dose should be increased from 60 to 120 mcg prior to each major meal when no clinically significant nausea has occurred for at least 3 days.-If significant nausea persists at the 120 mcg dose, dose should be decreased to 60 mcg.Use: Adjunctive treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes who use mealtime insulin therapy and who have failed to achieve desired glucose control despite optimal insulin therapy.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, but only if you are about to eat a meal. Skip the missed dose if it is nearly time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to compensate for the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical help or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose may cause diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, cold sweats, or a warm or tingling feeling.

Severe hypoglycemia may affect your thinking or reactions, which could lead to an injury if you have an accident. Be careful if you drive, operate machinery, or do anything dangerous that requires you to be alert.

Pramlintide can slow down your digestion, and it may take longer for your body to absorb any oral medications. Avoid taking any oral medicines within 1 hour before or 2 hours after you have used pramlintide.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can lower your blood sugar.

Other drugs may interact with pramlintide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Inform each of your health care providers about all the medicines you are currently using and any medicine you begin or stop using.