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.

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:

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

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

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.

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.

Insulin requirements may be decreased in the presence of drugs that increase insulin sensitivity or have hypoglycemic (lower blood sugar) activity, such as:

• oral antidiabetic agents
• salicylates (Aspirin, Trilisate, Dolobid, salsalate)
• sulfa antibiotics (Bactrim, Septra, Gantrisin)
• MAO inhibitors (Marplan, Nardil, Azilect, Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar, Parnate)
• angiotensin–converting–enzyme inhibitors (enalapril, lotensin,monopril, lisinopril)
• angiotensin II receptor blocking agents (losartan, valsartan, Avapro, Atacand, Micardis, Benicar)
• beta–adrenergic blockers (atenolol, metoprolol, nadolol, propranolol, sotalol, timolol, carvedilol, labetalol)
• inhibitors of pancreatic function (octreotide) 
• alcohol

Beta–adrenergic blockers (atenolol, metoprolol, nadolol, propranolol, sotalol, timolol, carvedilol, labetalol) may mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in some patients.

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 should be injected just under the skin, 15 minutes before or after meals.

Insulin lispro can cause low blood sugar. Make sure you know the signs and 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.

Only use insulin lispro that is clear and colorless. Do not use if your insulin lispro is cloudy, colored, or has solid particles or clumps in it.

Inject insulin lispro under your skin (subcutaneously) in your upper arm, abdomen (stomach area), thigh (upper leg), or buttocks. Change (rotate) your injection site with each dose.