Actrapid HM Penfill Solution For Injection

• If you are allergic to insulin or any of the ingredients of Actrapid HM 100IU/ml Penfill.
• If you have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level).

• Low blood sugar (Hypoglycaemia)
• Lightheadedness
• Dizziness
• Nervousness
• Tiredness
• Feeling hungry
• Visual disturbances
• Headache
• Skin rashes
• Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site

Other General Warnings

• You have recurrent low blood sugar levels.
• You have frequent fever and infections.
• You have diseases related to the liver and kidney.
• You have thyroid disorders.
• You are switching to a different insulin medicine brand.
• You have pain, itching and swelling at the injection site, you should continuously change the site of the injection.
• You are planning to change your diet preferences.
• You should always carry a sugar candy with you.
• You are taking insulin but not taking adequate meals, your blood glucose can drop drastically.
• Avoid doing heavy exercise.
• Be very careful about symptoms of low blood sugar like sweating, anxiety, fast heartbeat, headache, intense hunger, restlessness, dizziness and irritability. If you experience these, immediately have sugar (Do not consume artificial sweeteners). Eat something as soon as possible. Do not take insulin in such a scenario. If still the symptoms persist, seek emergency medical help.

• Take Actrapid HM 100IU/ml Penfill as per the technique suggested by your doctor or nurse.
• This injection is to be taken under the skin of the thigh, upper arm or abdomen.
• Do not take this injection in the vein or muscles.
• Pull a skin, fold up to take this injection.
• Wait for at least 6 seconds before removing the needle from the injection site.
• Always rotate the site of injection, do not take concurrent injections at the same site.

• Store between 2°C to 8°C in the refrigerator.
• Do not freeze it.
• Keep it out of the reach of children.
• Do not open the carton of vials to protect it from light.
• Any unused portion should not be stored and should be appropriately discarded.

Overdose

• Excess of Actrapid HM 100IU/ml Penfill can cause low blood sugar levels, called hypoglycemia characterized by dizziness, fainting, sweating and tremors may be experienced.
• If you have the blood glucometer with you, test immediately and confirm.
• Whether or not you test your levels, it is important to take some glucose water/juice/eat sugar or chocolates immediately and then rush to your doctor.

Missed a Dose

• A missed dose may lead to high blood sugar levels which can cause symptoms like feeling thirsty, excessive urination, loss of appetite, drowsiness, the fruity smell from breath, etc.
• If you missed any dose of medicine take it as soon as you remember.
• If it's time for your next dose then skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dose schedule.
• Do not take a double dose of medicine to compensate for the missed one as taking a double dose can cause a drastic fall in blood glucose which can be dangerous.

How Does It Work?

• Insulin is crucial to allow the entry of blood glucose into each cell of the body. Inside the cell, this glucose is used as fuel. In type 1 diabetes mellitus, the body fails to produce adequate insulin. This leads to glucose accumulating in the blood and causes high blood glucose.
• Actrapid HM 100IU/ml Penfill lowers blood sugars by stimulating glucose uptake by cells, tissue and muscles, especially by skeletal muscles and fat and by inhibiting glucose production by the liver.

Interactions with other medicines

• You may have symptoms of low blood sugar if you are taking other medicines for diabetes, medicines for fever and pain (salicylates), ramipril, lisinopril.
• You may have high blood sugar if you are taking oral contraceptives, thiazide, steroids, thyroxine, medicines used to treat severe diarrhoea and abnormal growth of body organs like octreotide, lanreotide.
• If you are taking the medicine pioglitazone to treat diabetes, be cautious, as some cases of heart attack and heart failure have been reported.
• Some medicines block your body's response to low blood sugar, so you may not experience symptoms like headache, hunger pangs, sweating, anxiety when your blood sugar drops. This can lead to a serious fall in blood sugar. Inform your doctor if you are on medicines like Beta-blockers (Metoprolol, Propranolol, Atenolol), Clonidine, Guanethidine and Reserpine.
• Tell your doctor about all the medicines, supplements or herbals you are currently taking or might take to avoid any possible interaction.

Interactions with food items