Symlin

Symlin is a prescription medication used in the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in certain people who require additional blood glucose control despite optimal insulin therapy.

Symlin belongs to a group of drugs called amylin analogs. These work to lower blood sugar levels by slowing the movement of food from the stomach into the small intestine which keeps blood sugar levels from rising quickly. 

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly under the skin and is typically given prior to major meals.

Common side effects of Symlin include nausea and loss of appetite. 

Symlin can also cause dizziness and/or drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Symlin affects you.

Symlin is a prescription medication used in the treatment of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in certain people who require additional blood glucose control despite optimal insulin therapy.

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

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your age

The recommended starting dose of Symlin for the treatment of type 1 diabetes is 15 mcg injected under the skin (subcutaneously) prior to major meals. The doctor will increase the dose in 15 mcg increments to a maximum premeal dose of 30 or 60 mcg. 

The recommended starting dose of Symlin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes is 60 mcg injected under the skin (subcutaneously) before major meals. The docto can then increase the dose to 120 mcg before meals. 

Symlin is typically used along with insulin therapy and has been associated with an increased risk of insulin-induced severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), particularly in patients with type 1 diabetes. When severe hypoglycemia associated with Symlin use occurs, it is generally seen within 3 hours following a Symlin injection. If severe hypoglycemia occurs while you are operating a motor vehicle, heavy machinery, or while engaging in other high-risk activities, serious injuries may occur. Appropriate patient selection, careful patient instruction, and insulin dose adjustments are critical elements for reducing this risk.

Serious side effects have been reported with Symlin including the following:

Severe Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia). When used in combination with insulin therapy, Symlin can raise your risk for developing severe hypoglycemia, especially if you have type I diabetes. Severe hypoglycemia typically occurs within two or three hours following a dose of Symlin and can be dangerous if it occurs while you are operating a motor vehicle, heavy machinery, or engaged in any other high-risk activities. Symptoms of severe low blood sugar and low blood sugar include:

• lightheadedness
• dizziness
• shakiness
• sweating
• hunger
• fast heartbeat
• trouble concentrating or confusion
• change in vision
• headache
• irritability
• drowsiness

Certain things can affect your blood sugar. With this being said, your chance for having low sugar is higher in the following situations:

• changing your insulin dose without checking your blood sugar.
• eating less food than your usual meal.
• are sick and cannot eat.
• are more active than usual.
• have a low blood sugar level before eating.
• drink alcohol. Alcohol may increase the risk of low blood sugar. 

Consult with your physician about your risk for developing severe hypoglycemia, to learn about the early warning signs of hypoglycemia, and for information about how to correct hypoglycemia when it occurs. Your pharmacist can also advise you on how to treat and prevent hypoglycemia. You should have fast-acting sugar (such as hard candy, glucose tablets, juice) or glucagon with you at all times. Call your doctor if you have low blood sugar more often than normal or severe low blood sugar.

Do not use Symlin if you:

• cannot tell when your blood sugar is low (hypoglycemia unawareness)
• have a stomach problem called gastroparesis; this is when your stomach does not empty as fast as it should
• are allergic to Symlin or any ingredients in Symlin

Serious side effects have been reported with Symlin. See the “Symlin Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Symlin include the following:

• nausea. Mild nausea is more likely during the first weeks after starting this medication and usually does not last long. 
• loss of appetite
• vomiting
• headache
• fatigue
• dizziness
• cough
• sore throat
• stomach pain
• indigestion
• injection site reactions such as redness and swelling

This is not a complete list of Symlin side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• medications to lower blood sugar
• medications that affect the time it takes to empty the stomach 
• medications that affect the way glucose is metabolized such as oral antidiabetic products, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, propoxyphene, salicylates, somatostatin analogs, and sulfonamide antibiotic

This is not a complete list of Symlin drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

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.

Symlin falls into category C. There are no well-controlled studies in pregnant women. It is not known if Symlin will harm your unborn baby. Symlin should be used during pregnancy only if the possible benefit outweighs the possible risk to the unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. 

It is not known if Symlin 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, Symlin should be administered to nursing women only if it is determined by the healthcare professional that the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to the infant.