What are Insulin, glargine, and lixisenatide?
Insulin works by lowering the levels of sugar in the blood. Insulin glargine works for up to 24 hours. It starts working several hours after the injection. Lixisenatide helps the pancreas produce insulin more effectively.
Combination medicine: insulin glargine lixisenatide can be used with diet and physical activity to control blood sugar in adults who have type 2 diabetes. The combination of insulin glargine with lixisenatide does not treat type 2 diabetes.This medication guide does not list all possible uses for insulin glargine or lixisenatide.
Side effects of Insulin, glargine, and lixisenatide
If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek emergency medical attention: hives, itching, or a severe skin rash. You may also notice rapid heartbeats, difficulty swallowing, breathing difficulties, feeling lightheaded, and swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat.
This medicine can cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- Pancreatitis: severe pain spreading from your upper stomach to your back. Nausea, and vomiting.
- Low sugar—headache; sweating; irritability; and dizziness. Rapid heart rate.
- Heart problems: swelling, rapid weight gain, or feeling short of breath.
- Low sodium—leg cramps, constipation, increased thirst, increased urination or numbness, muscle weakness, or a limp feeling.
Some of the common side effects associated with insulin glargine or lixisenatide include:
- Low blood sugar
- Nausea, diarrhea;
- Headache
- Cold symptoms include congestion and sneezing.
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Warnings
If you experience nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain that spreads to your back and upper abdomen, stop using insulin glargine or lixisenatide immediately and contact your doctor.Do not share an injection pen, syringe, or syringe, even if the needle has been changed.
Take this medication only if you have been prescribed it.
This medicine should not be used if you have an allergy to insulin, lixisenatide, or:
- You are experiencing low blood sugar.
- You can also use a mealtime insulin that is short-acting.
- You can also use lixisenatide (Adlyxin) or a medicine like lixisenatide (albiglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, Byetta, Bydureon, Saxenda, Tanzeum, Trulicity, and Victoza).
Discuss any of the following with your physician:
- Gallstones or pancreatitis
- Alcoholism;
- Problems digesting food;
- Heart failure;
- Liver or kidney disease
- Low levels of potassium (hyperkalemia) in the blood
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).
Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing.If you're pregnant or plan to become pregnant, follow your doctor's advice about this medicine.
How to take Insulin glargine and lixisenatide?
Carefully follow all instructions or guides included with your medication and take all measures required by them.Sometimes, your doctor will change the dose. Follow the instructions on how to use your medicine. Use no more than 60 units per day of insulin glargine or lixisenatide.Insulin glargine or lixisenatide are injected into the skin about an hour before the first meal of the morning. You will be taught how to use the medication properly by a healthcare provider.
Please read and follow all instructions for use that come with your medication. If you do not understand the instructions, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.Only prepare an injection when you're ready to administer it. If the medicine is cloudy, has changed color, or contains particles, do not use it. For new medicine, call your pharmacist.This medicine should not be injected into damaged, bruised, or pitted skin.
If you have low blood glucose (hypoglycemia), then you may feel very hungry or dizzy. You might also be confused, anxious, or shaky. If you want to treat hyperglycemia quickly, consume or drink sugary foods or drinks (such as fruit juice, crackers, or raisins).In the event of severe hypoglycemia, your doctor may prescribe a glucagon injectable kit. Make sure that your family and friends are familiar with how to administer this injection if you need it in an emergency.
Watch for signs of hyperglycemia (hyperglycemia), such as increased thirst and urination.Stress, illness, surgery, or alcohol consumption can affect blood sugar levels. Consult your doctor before changing the dose or schedule of your medication.If you experience diarrhea or vomiting that continues, or if your sweating is greater than normal, call your doctor. Dehydration can cause renal failure. Drink lots of water every day.
How to store the injection pen that has not been opened (and is not in use): Keep it cool and away from the light.Insulin glargine or lixisenatide should not be frozen. If it has been, throw the medicine away.
Store an opened (in-use) injection pen Store the pen at room temperature with the cap on (but without the needle), and use it within 28 days.Do not share an injection pen or cartridge with anyone else, even if you have changed the needle. This can cause infection or disease.
Details on dosage
Adult dosage for diabetes type 2:
Insulin glargine (100 units)/lixisenatide (33 mcg/ml; 100/33); the dosage is expressed as insulin glargine units.
Before starting this drug, discontinue basal insulin or GLP-1 receptor agonists.
For patients who are naive to basal insulin or GLP-1 receptor antagonists, currently on a GLP-1 receptor antagonist, or receiving less than 30 units of basal insulin per day:
Initial dose: 15 subcutaneous units once daily.
For patients receiving 30–60 units of basal insulin with or without a GLP-1 receptor antagonist:
Initial dosage: 30 units once daily subcutaneously
The dose of TITRATE can be increased or decreased by 2 to 4 units/week depending on the metabolic needs, blood sugar monitoring results, and glycemic goals until the desired fasting plasma glucose level is reached.
Maintenance dose: 15–60 units per day.
Maximum dose: insulin glargine 60 units/lixisenatide 20 mcg once a day.
Comments:
-Administer once daily, within an hour of your first meal.
This drug should be adjusted until the desired fasting blood glucose level is reached.
Additional titration is needed to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, e.g., with changes in activity level, diet, or timing of meals, or during acute illness.
Use: To improve the glycemic level in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
What happens if I miss the dose?
Do not take the missed dose. Use your next dose as usual. Do not take two doses in one go.
What happens if I overdose?
Call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222 or seek emergency medical care. Overdoses can lead to life-threatening hypoglycemia and hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood).Severe nausea and vomiting are symptoms of an overdose.
What should be avoided?
Check the label of your medicine before injecting.Avoid alcohol. Alcohol can cause low sugar levels and interfere with diabetes treatment.
Interaction with other drug
Inform your doctor if, in addition to pioglitazone and rosiglitazone, you are also taking glimepiride (or metformin). Certain oral diabetes medications can increase the risk of heart problems if you use insulin.
Lixisenatide may make it more difficult for you to absorb medicines that you take orally. Take any of these medicines at least one hour before you receive insulin, glargine, or lixisenatide.
- Anti-biotic
- Acetaminophen; Tylenol
- Birth-control pills (taken 1 hour before or after an insulin glargine injection and lixisenatide).
Other medicines can also affect blood sugar levels and can either increase or decrease insulin glargine or lixisenatide's effects. You may also experience fewer hypoglycemia symptoms if you take certain drugs. This makes it more difficult to detect low blood sugar. Inform your healthcare providers of all the medicines you are taking and those you plan to take. You can include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
