Levemir Flexpen Solution For Injection 5x3ml

• If you are allergic to insulin or other ingredients of Levemir Flexpen injection.
• If you suffer from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level).

• Low blood sugar (Hypoglycaemia)
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Feeling hungry
• Headache
• Sweating
• Pain, redness, swelling at the injection site.

Other General Warnings

• You suffer from recurrent low blood sugar levels. Be careful about symptoms of low blood sugar like sweating, anxiety, fast heartbeat, headache, intense hunger, restlessness, dizziness, irritability. If you experience these, have sugar (Avoid artificial sweeteners). Eat as soon as possible. Avoid insulin in such a scenario. If still the symptoms persist, seek medical help.
• You suffer from frequent fever and infections.
• You suffer from diseases related to the liver and kidney.
• You suffer from thyroid disorders.
• You are taking a different insulin medicine brand.
• You have pain, itching and swelling at the injection site, you must change the site of injection. Consult the doctor if you have skin changes at the injection site.
• You are changing your diet preferences.
• You must carry a sugar candy with you.
• You are using insulin but not taking adequate meals, the blood glucose drop drastically.
• Avoid heavy exercise.

• Take injection as per the technique suggested by the doctor or nurse.
• The injection is to be taken under the skin of the thigh or upper arm or abdomen.
• Avoid taking the injection in the vein or muscles.
• Pull a skin, fold up to take the injection.
• Wait for 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 away from children and pets.

Overdose

• Excess of injection leads to low blood sugar levels, called hypoglycemia.
• Symptoms like dizziness, fainting, sweating and tremors may be seen.
• If you have the blood glucometer with you, test and confirm.
• Whether or not you test the levels, it is important to take some glucose water/juice/eat sugar or chocolates and rush to the doctor.

Missed a Dose

• A missed dose may lead to high blood sugar levels that cause symptoms like feeling thirsty, excessive urination, loss of appetite, drowsiness, the fruity smell from breath, etc.
• If you have missed taking a dose of the injection take it as soon as you remember.
• If it's time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with the regular dose schedule.
• Avoid taking a double dose of medicine to compensate for the missed as taking a double dose cause a drastic fall in blood glucose which is dangerous.

How Does It Work?

• Insulin is important to allow the entry of blood glucose into each cell of the body, where glucose is used as fuel.
• In type 1 diabetes mellitus, the body fails to produce enough insulin.
• This leads to glucose accumulating in the blood and cause high blood glucose.
• Levemir Flexpen lowers blood sugars by stimulating glucose uptake by cells, tissue and muscles, by skeletal muscles and fat and inhibit glucose production by the liver.

Interactions with other medicines

• Some medicines affect the way Levemir Flexpen injection works or the medicine itself reduce the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time.
• Inform the physician regarding the medicines, supplements or herbals you take or might take to avoid possible interaction.
• You may have symptoms of low blood sugar if you are taking other medicines for diabetes, depression (fluoxetine), medicines for fever and pain (salicylates), ramipril, lisinopril.
• You may experience high blood sugar if you are taking oral contraceptives, thiazide, steroids, thyroxine, medicines used to treat diarrhoea and abnormal growth of body organs like octreotide, lanreotide.
• If you are using the medicine pioglitazone to treat diabetes, be cautious, as some cases of heart attack and heart failure have been reported.
• Some medicines block the body's response to low blood sugar, you may not experience symptoms like headache, hunger pangs, sweating, anxiety when the blood sugar drops. This lead to a serious fall in blood sugar. Inform the doctor if you are using medicines like Betablockers (Metoprolol, Propranolol, Atenolol), Clonidine, Guanethidine and Reserpine.

Interactions with food items

• The injection is to be taken 15 mins before meals or after meals.
• Maintain a constant meal pattern is advisable when you are taking insulin.
• Avoid skipping or delaying meals when you are taking insulin.