Insulatard Penfill
100 IU/ml suspension for injection in a cartridge
Insulin human (rDNA)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using your insulin.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, diabetes nurse or your pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
- If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor, diabetes nurse or your pharmacist.
What Insulatard is and what it is used for
Insulatard is human insulin to treat diabetes. Insulatard is a long-acting insulin. This means that it will start to lower your blood sugar about 1½ hours after you take it, and the effect will last for approximately 24 hours. Insulatard is often given in combination with fast-acting insulin products.
Before you use Insulatard
Do not use Insulatard
If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to this insulin product, metacresol or any of the other ingredients (see 7 Further information). Look out for the signs of allergy in 5 Possible side effects
If you feel a hypo coming on (a hypo is short for a hypoglycaemic reaction and is a symptom of low blood sugar). See 4 What to do in an emergency for more about hypos.
Take special care with Insulatard
If you have trouble with your kidneys or liver, or with your adrenal, pituitary or thyroid glands
If you are drinking alcohol: watch for signs of a hypo and never drink alcohol on an empty stomach
If you are exercising more than usual or if you want to change your usual diet
If you are ill: carry on taking your insulin
If you are going abroad: travelling over time zones may affect your insulin needs and the timing of your injections.
Using other medicines
Many medicines affect the way glucose works in your body and they may influence your insulin dose. Listed below are the most common medicines which may affect your insulin treatment. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you take or have recently taken any other medicines, even those not prescribed.
Your need for insulin may change if you also take: oral antidiabetic products; monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI); beta-blockers; ACE-inhibitors; acetylsalicylic acid; anabolic steroids; sulphonamides; oral contraceptives; thiazides; glucocorticoids; thyroid hormone therapy; beta-sympathomimetics; growth hormone; danazol; octreotide or lanreotide.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breast-feeding: please contact your doctor for advice.
Driving and using machines
If you drive or use tools or machines: watch out for signs of a hypo. Your ability to concentrate or to react will be less during a hypo. Never drive or use machinery if you feel a hypo coming on. Discuss with your doctor whether you can drive or use machines at all, if you have a lot of hypos or if you find it hard to recognise hypos.
How to use Insulatard
Talk about your insulin needs with your doctor and diabetes nurse. Follow their advice carefully. This leaflet is a general guide. If your doctor has switched you from one type or brand of insulin to another, your dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor. It is recommended that you measure your blood glucose regularly.
Before using Insulatard
Check the label to make sure it is the right type of insulin
Always check the cartridge, including the rubber plunger (stopper). Don’t use it if any damage is seen or if there is a gap between the rubber plunger and the white label band. Take it back to your supplier. See your delivery system manual for further instructions
Disinfect the rubber membrane with a medicinal swab
Always use a new needle for each injection to prevent contamination.
Do not use Insulatard
In insulin infusion pumps
If Penfill or the device containing Penfill is dropped, damaged or crushed there is a risk of leakage of insulin
If it hasn’t been stored correctly or been frozen (see 6 How to store Insulatard)
If it’s not uniformly white and cloudy when it’s resuspended.
Do not refill Insulatard Penfill.
Penfill cartridges are designed to be used with Novo Nordisk insulin delivery systems and NovoFine needles.
If you are treated with Insulatard Penfill and another insulin Penfill cartridge, you should use two insulin delivery systems, one for each type of insulin.
Resuspending the insulin
Resuspending is easier when the insulin has reached room temperature.
Before you put the Penfill cartridge into the insulin delivery system, move it up and down between positions a and b and back (see the picture) so that the glass ball moves from one end of the cartridge to the other at least 20 times. Repeat this movement at least 10 times before each injection. The movement must always be repeated until the liquid appears uniformly white and cloudy. Complete the other stages of injection without delay.
Check there are at least 12 units of insulin left in the cartridge to allow even resuspending. If there are less than 12 units left, use a new one.
How to use this insulin
Insulatard is for injection under the skin (subcutaneously). Never inject your insulin directly into a vein or muscle. Always vary the
sites you inject, to avoid lumps (see 5 Possible side effects). The best place to give yourself an injection are: the front of your waist (abdomen); your buttocks: the front of your thighs or upper arms may be used. Your insulin will work more quickly if you inject it around the waist.
How to inject this insulin
Inject the insulin under the skin. Use the injection technique advised by your doctor or diabetes nurse and described in your delivery system manual
Keep the needle under your skin for at least 6 seconds to make sure that the full dose has been delivered
After each injection be sure to remove and discard the needle and store Insulatard without the needle attached. Otherwise, the liquid may leak out which can cause inaccurate dosing.
What to do in an emergency
If you get a hypo
A hypo means your blood sugar level is too low.
The warning signs of a hypo may come on suddenly and can include: cold sweat; cool pale skin; headache; rapid heart beat; feeling sick; feeling very hungry; temporary changes in vision; drowsiness; unusual tiredness and weakness; nervousness or tremor; feeling anxious; feeling confused; difficulty in concentrating.
If you get any of these signs. eat glucose tablets or a high sugar snack (sweets, biscuits, fruit juice), then rest.
Don’t take any insulin if you feel a hypo coming on.
Carry glucose tablets, sweets, biscuits or fruit juice with you, just in case.
Tell your relatives, friends and close colleagues that if you pass out (become unconscious), they must: turn you on your side and seek medical advice straight away. They must not give you any food or drink as it could choke you.
If severe hypoglycaemia is not treated, it can cause brain damage (temporary or permanent) and even death
If you have a hypo that makes you pass out, or a lot of hypos, talk to your doctor. The amount or timing of insulin, food or exercise may need to be adjusted.
Using glucagon
You may recover more quickly from unconsciousness with an injection of the hormone glucagon by someone who knows how to use it. If you are given glucagon you will need glucose or a sugary snack as soon as you are conscious. If you do not respond to glucagon treatment, you will have to be treated in a hospital. Seek medical advice after an injection of glucagon; you need to find the reason for your hypo to avoid getting more.
Causes of a hypo
You get a hypo if your blood sugar gets too low. This might happen:
- If you take too much insulin
- If you eat too little or miss a meal
- If you exercise more than usual.
If your blood sugar gets too high
Your blood sugar may get too high (this is called hyperglycaemia).
The warning signs appear gradually. They include: increased urination; feeling thirsty; losing your appetite; feeling sick (nausea or vomiting); feeling drowsy or tired; flushed, dry skin; dry mouth and a fruity (acetone) smell of the breath.
If you get any of these signs. test your blood sugar level and test your urine for ketones if you can. Then seek medical advice straight away.
These may be signs of a very serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. If you don’t treat it, this could lead to diabetic coma and death.
Causes of hyperglycaemia
- Having forgotten to take your insulin
- Repeatedly taking less insulin than you need
- An infection or a fever
- Eating more than usual
- Less exercise than usual.
Insulatard Penfill Side Effects
Like all medicines, Insulatard can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Insulatard may cause hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar). See the advice in 4 What to do in an emergency.
Side effects reported uncommonly
(in less than 1 patient in 100)
Changes at the injection site (Lipodystrophy). If you inject yourself too often at the same site, fatty tissue under the skin at this site may shrink (lipoatrophy) or thicken (lipohypertrophy). Changing the site with each injection may help to prevent such skin changes. If you notice your skin pitting or thickening at the injection site, tell your doctor or diabetes nurse because these reactions can become more severe, or they may change the absorption of your insulin if you inject in such a site.
Signs of allergy. Reactions (redness, swelling, itching) at the injection site may occur (local allergic reactions). These reactions usually disappear after a few weeks of taking your insulin. If they do not disappear, see your doctor.
Seek medical advice immediately:
- if signs of allergy spread to other parts of the body, or
- if you suddenly feel unwell and you start sweating; start being sick (vomiting); have difficulty in breathing; have a rapid heart beat; feel dizzy; feel like fainting.
You may have a very rare serious allergic reaction to Insulatard or one of its ingredients (called a systemic allergic reaction). See also warning in 2 Before you use Insulatard.
Diabetic retinopathy (eye background changes). If you have diabetic retinopathy and your blood glucose levels improve very fast, the retinopathy may get worse. Ask your doctor about this.
Swollen joints. When you start taking insulin, water retention may cause swelling around your ankles and other joints. This soon disappears.
Side effects reported very rarely
(in less than 1 patient in 10,000)
Vision problems. When you first start your insulin treatment, it may disturb your vision, but the reaction usually disappears.
Painful neuropathy (nerve related pain). If your blood glucose levels improve very fast it may cause a burning, tingling or electric pain. This is called acute painful neuropathy and it usually disappears. If it does not disappear, see your doctor.
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor, diabetes nurse or pharmacist.
How to store Insulatard
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not use Insulatard after the expiry date which is stated on the label and the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
The Penfill that is not being used is to be stored in a refrigerator (2°C - 8°C).
Do not store them in or too near the freezer section or cooling element.
Do not freeze.
Keep the Penfill in the original package.
The Penfill that is being used or about to be used is not to be kept in a refrigerator. After removing the Penfill from the refrigerator it is recommended to let it reach room temperature before resuspending the insulin as instructed for the first time use. See 3 How to use Insulatard. You can carry it with you and keep it at room temperature (not above 30°C) for up to 6 weeks.
Always keep your cartridge in the outer carton when you’re not using it in order to protect it from light.
Insulatard must be protected from excessive heat and sunlight.
Insulatard should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
Further information
What Insulatard contains
The active substance is insulin human made by recombinant biotechnology. Insulatard is an isophane insulin suspension (NPH). 1 ml contains 100 IU of insulin human. 1 cartridge contains 3 ml equivalent to 300 IU
The other ingredients are zinc chloride, glycerol, metacresol, phenol, disodium phosphate dihydrate, sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, protamine sulphate and water for injections.
What Insulatard looks like and contents of the pack
The suspension for injection comes as a cloudy, white, aqueous suspension.
It is supplied in packs of 1, 5 or 10 cartridges of 3 ml. Not all packs may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Manufacturer
The manufacturer can be identified by the batch number printed on the slip of the carton and on the label:
- If the second and third characters are S6, P5, K7, R7 or ZF
is the manufacturer.
- If the second and third characters are H7 or T6
is the manufacturer
This leaflet was last approved in 11/2009
Insulatard
Penfill
and NovoFine
are trademarks owned by Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark
© 2010
Novo Nordisk A/S
8-0264-01-084-9
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