pramlintide fda approval year symlin 2005 FAQ

There are no known interactions between Symlin and foods or drinks. Avoid drinking alcohol while using Symlin. Alcohol can increase your risk of having severely low blood sugar.

While less common, the most serious side effects of Symlin are described below, along with what to do if they happen. Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia). Symlin can cause severely low blood sugar when used with insulin. Low blood sugar can be serious and may lead to death. The risk of low blood sugar is higher in people with type 1 diabetes, but it can also happen in people with type 2 diabetes. You may need to check your blood sugar more often if you have changes to your diet, exercise regimen, or medicines for diabetes. Do not use Symlin, and call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of hypoglycemia.

Pramlintide is an injectable drug that lowers the level of sugar (glucose) in blood. It is used for treating type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Pramlintide is a synthetic (man-made) hormone that resembles human amylin. Amylin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas and released into the blood after meals where it helps the body to regulate levels of blood glucose. Amylin acts in several ways to control blood glucose. It slows the rate at which food (including glucose) is absorbed from the intestine. Amylin reduces the production of glucose by the liver by inhibiting the action of glucagon, a hormone produced by the pancreas that stimulates the production of glucose by the liver. Amylin also reduces appetite. In studies, pramlintide-treated patients achieved lower blood glucose levels and experienced weight loss. Pramlintide was approved by the FDA in March 2005.

Do not use Symlin unless it has been prescribed to you by a health care provider. Use it as prescribed. This medicine is injected under the skin (subcutaneously). Read and follow the instructions and make sure that you or a caregiver understands how to properly prepare and use Symlin. If you have any questions, talk to your health care provider. Symlin should be given right before each meal that has at least 250 calories or at least 30 grams of carbohydrates. Symlin is not a replacement for insulin. However, you may need to use less insulin while using Symlin. Follow your health care provider’s instructions on how much of each medicine to use, how often to check your blood sugar, and how to change your dose. Tell your health care provider if you have nausea or low blood sugar while using Symlin. Ask your health care provider how to prevent, recognize, and treat low blood sugar. Do not mix Symlin and insulin in one syringe. They must be given as separate injections at different injection sites. Your health care provider will monitor you closely while you are using Symlin. Keep all appointments, including for blood tests. Do not share Symlin with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them. Use a new needle for each injection, and do not share needles or pens with other people. This could increase your risk of getting a serious infection. Throw away needles and used pens in a sharps container. Keep Symlin out of the reach of children. When storing this medicine in a refrigerator, take special precautions to keep it away from children who also use the refrigerator. Symlin can cause low blood sugar, which can affect your alertness or coordination. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how Symlin affects you.