Symlin pramlintide FAQ

Pramlintide is taken as a subcutaneous injection , meaning that it is injected – either by syringe or with a SymlinPen – into the fatty tissue underneath the skin. It is taken before meals that include either: 250 calories or greater 30 grams of carbohydrate If you miss a dose, monitor your blood glucose levels and wait until before your next meal to resume your treatment. Taking symlin can reduce the amount of insulin you need to take. If you have any questions regarding insulin doses and Symli, speak to your diabetes care team. What to do if you take an overdose of Symlin Call your healthcare team for advice immediately if you take a larger-than-recommended dose of Symlin. In the event of an overdose, you may notice signs including diarrhoea, vomiting and dizziness. It is important to be careful with taking the right dose of insulin when on symlin to prevent the risk of hypoglycemia occurring.

Pramlintide can significantly increase the likelihood of hypoglycemia and so care needs to be taken when taking pramlintide. Before taking pramlintide, your doctor must know if you:

Symlin can be helpful for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who have difficulty keeping blood sugar levels within the target guidelines after meals. Symlin can also help to improve satiety after meals and reduce appetite which may be useful for people struggling to maintain a healthy body weight.

Pramlinitide can be taken by people with either type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes that are on insulin and have persistent hyperglycemia after meals. It is currently available to diabetic patients in the United States but is yet to be recommended for use on the NHS.

Symlin acts like a natural hormone in your body called amylin. It works to lower blood sugar levels by slowing stomach emptying, decreasing the amount of glucose (sugar) made by the liver, and regulating appetite.

If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and use the next dose at your next meal. Do not use double or extra doses.

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use Symlin.

If you or someone else has used too much Symlin, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

Unopened Pen. Symlin should be stored in the refrigerator, between 36 F and 46 F (2 C and 8 C) before using it. Protect from light, and do not freeze. Do not use your pen if it has been frozen. Opened Pen. Once opened, Symlin can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator, between 36 F and 86 F (2 C and 30 C) for up to 30 days. Throw away the pen after 30 days, even if there is still medicine left. Do not use unopened or opened Symlin after the expiration date on the carton and prescription label.

For more information about Symlin, you can call the drugmaker at 800-236-9933.

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if Symlin is right for you. In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following. Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.

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The most common side effects of Symlin are listed below. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before using Symlin.

Symlin (pramlintide) is commonly used as an add-on to insulin to help lower blood sugar in people with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. Symlin may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

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.

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.

Serious side effects of Symlin include severe hypoglycemia when used with insulin. Nausea decreases with continued administration of pramlintide and is less severe when pramlintide is slowly increased to the desired dose. When used with insulin, especially in patients with type 1 diabetes, severe hypoglycemia may occur. If severe hypoglycemia occurs, it usually manifests within 3 hours after receiving pramlintide.

Symlin (pramlintide) is an anti-diabetic medication that lowers the level of sugar (glucose) in blood used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Symlin 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, Symlin-treated patients achieved lower blood glucose levels and experienced weight loss. Drug interactions of Symlin include other drugs that slow down the intestine (for example, atropine) or slow the absorption of food (for example, acarbose).