Do not use LYUMJEV U200 KWIKPEN:
- if you think your blood sugar is dropping (hypoglycaemia). Further on, this leaflet tells you how to deal with low blood sugar (see section 3 under “If you take more LYUMJEV U200 than you need”).
- if you are allergic to insulin lispro or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
Warnings and precautions
The LYUMJEV U200, 200 units/ml solution for injection in your pre-filled pen (the KwikPen) should ONLY be injected with this pre-filled pen. Do not transfer the insulin lispro from your LYUMJEV U200 KwikPen to a syringe. The markings on the insulin syringe will not measure your dose correctly. A severe overdose can result, causing low blood sugar which may put your life in danger. Do not transfer insulin from your LYUMJEV U200 KwikPen to any other insulin delivery devices like insulin infusion pumps. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using LYUMJEV U200. If you cannot see very well, you will need help from someone who has been trained to give injections.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia). Low blood sugar can be serious and untreated hypoglycaemia may even lead to death. LYUMJEV U200 starts to lower blood sugar faster than some other mealtime insulins. If hypoglycaemia occurs, you may experience it earlier after an injection of LYUMJEV U200. If you often have hypoglycaemia or have difficulty recognising it, please discuss this with your doctor or nurse. If your blood sugar levels are well controlled by your current insulin therapy or after long duration of diabetes, you may not feel the warning symptoms when your blood sugar is falling too low. Warning signs are listed later in this leaflet. For symptoms, please see “Common problems of diabetes”. You must think carefully about when to have your meals, how often to exercise and how much to do. You must also keep a close watch on your blood sugar levels by testing your blood sugar often. Making changes to the types of insulin you use may cause your blood sugar to rise or fall too much. It may be necessary to increase the frequency of blood sugar testing if you are at risk of low blood sugars. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your other diabetes medicine.
High blood sugar (hyperglycaemia). Stopping or not taking enough insulin may lead to high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) and diabetic ketoacidosis, serious conditions that can even lead to death. For symptoms, please see “Common problems of diabetes”.
If your insulin treatment is being combined with one of a class of diabetes medicine called thiazolidinediones or glitazones, such as pioglitazone, tell your doctor as soon as possible if you get signs of heart failure such as unusual shortness of breath or rapid increase in weight or localised swelling caused by fluid retention (oedema).
If you have a serious allergic reaction to insulin or any of the ingredients in LYUMJEV U200, stop using this medicine and contact emergency medical services straight away.
Always check the pack and the label for the name and type of the insulin when you get it from your pharmacy. Make sure you get the LYUMJEV U200 that your doctor has told you to use.
Keep the carton or keep a note of the batch number on the carton. If you have a side effect you can then provide that number when you report the adverse side effect, see “reporting of side effects”.
Always use a new needle for each injection to prevent infections and blocked needles. If a needle is blocked replace it with a new needle.
Skin changes at the injection site. The injection site should be rotated to prevent skin changes such as lumps under the skin. The insulin may not work well if you inject into a lumpy area (See How to use LYUMJEV U200 KwikPen). Contact your doctor if you are currently injecting into a lumpy area before you start injecting into a different area. Your doctor may tell you to check your blood sugar more closely, and to adjust your insulin or your other antidiabetic medications dose.
Children and adolescents
This medicine should not be used in children or adolescents, since there is no experience with this medicine in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
Other medicines and LYUMJEV U200
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Some medicines affect your blood sugar level – this may mean your insulin dose has to change. Your blood sugar levels may fall (hypoglycaemia) if you take:
- other medicines for diabetes (oral and injectable)
- sulphonamide antibiotics (for infections)
- acetylsalicylic acid (for pain and mild fever and to prevent blood clotting)
- some antidepressants (monoamine oxidase inhibitors or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
- some angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (for example captopril, enalapril) (for some heart problems or high blood pressure)
- angiotensin II receptor blockers (for high blood pressure or heart problems)
- somatostatin analogues (such as octreotide, which are used to treat a rare condition involving too much growth hormone)
Your blood sugar levels may rise (hyperglycaemia) if you take:
- danazol (for endometriosis)
- the contraceptive pill (birth control pills)
- thyroid hormone replacement therapy (for thyroid problems)
- human growth hormone (for growth hormone deficiency)
- diuretics (for high blood pressure or if you have a build-up of water in your body)
- sympathomimetic agents (for serious allergic reactions or used in some cold remedies)
- corticosteroids (to treat asthma or autoimmune conditions)
Beta-blockers (used for high blood pressure, arrhythmia or angina) make it harder to recognise the warning signs of low blood sugar.
LYUMJEV U200 with alcohol
Your blood sugar levels may either rise or fall if you drink alcohol. Therefore, the amount of insulin needed may change. You should therefore monitor your blood sugar level more often than usual.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility
If you are planning to have a baby, think you may be pregnant, are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. The amount of insulin you need usually falls during the first 3 months of pregnancy and increases for the remaining 6 months. After you have had your baby your insulin requirements will likely return to how much you needed before your pregnancy. There are no restrictions on treatment with LYUMJEV U200 during breastfeeding. If you are breastfeeding, you may need to alter your insulin intake or diet.
Driving and using machines
Your ability to concentrate and react may be reduced if you have hypoglycaemia. Please keep this possible problem in mind in all situations where you might put yourself and others at risk (e.g. driving a car or using machines). You should contact your doctor about driving if you have:
- frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia
- reduced or absent warning signs of hypoglycaemia
LYUMJEV U200 contains sodium. This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free.