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Common name
Actrapid (Insulin Human Injection (rDNA origin))
Description
Actrapid is a solution for injection. It is available in a vial, a cartridge (PenFill) or in a prefilled pen (NovoLet, FlexPen or InnoLet). Actrapid contains the active substance insulin human (rDNA).
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Active Ingredients:
Insulin Human Injection (rDNA origin)
Therapeutic actions:
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce enough insulin to control the blood glucose. Actrapid is a replacement insulin that is identical to the insulin made by the pancreas.
The active substance in Actrapid, insulin human (rDNA), is produced by a method known as recombinant technology: the insulin is made by a yeast that has received a gene (DNA), which makes it able to produce insulin. The replacement insulin acts in same way as naturally produced insulin and helps glucose enter cells from the blood. By controlling the blood glucose, the symptoms and complications of diabetes are reduced.
What is it used for?: (Indications:)
Actrapid is used in patients who have diabetes.
The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.
Contraindications and cautions:
As with all insulins, Actrapid may cause hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose). For the full description of all side effects reported with Actrapid, see the Package Leaflet.
Actrapid should not be used in people who may be hypersensitive to insulin human (rDNA) or any of the other ingredients. Actrapid doses might also need to be adjusted when given with a number of other medicines which may have an effect on blood glucose. The full list is available in the Package Leaflet.
Side effects:
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not.
You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Hypoglycaemia
Human insulin may cause hypoglycaemia
Allergy
Some people may notice redness, swelling and itching at the site of injection (local allergy). Usually these symptoms disappear within a few weeks during continued use. If you have serious or continuing reactions, you may need to stop using your current insulin and use another insulin. If the symptoms do not disappear, spread to other parts of your body or if you suddenly feel sick (i.e. sweating, vomiting, difficulty breathing, rapid heart beat, feeling dizzy) you should contact your doctor immediately. You may have a general allergic reaction which is rare but could be serious.
Other
When you first start your insulin treatment you may get visual problems or swollen hands and feet.If you inject too often in the same site, this may result in skin changes (called lipodystrophy). To avoid this, you should change your injection site regularly as shown to you by your doctor or diabetes educator.
You should tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you notice any side effects or do not feel well while you are using human insulin.
Interactions:
Your dose of insulin may need to change if you take other medicines. You should tell your doctor if you are currently taking any medicines, especially the following:
oral hypoglycaemic agents - used for the treatment of noninsulin dependent diabetes (type 2 diabetes)
monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) - used for the treatment of depression
non-selective beta-blocking agents - used for the treatment of certain heart conditions and high blood pressure
alpha-blocking agents - used for the treatment of high blood pressure and to relieve difficulty in passing urine caused by an enlarged prostate
angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors - used for the treatment of certain heart conditions, high blood pressure or elevated protein/albumin in the urine
salicylates e.g. aspirin - used to relieve pain and lower fever
anabolic steroids and glucocorticoids (except topical administration) used to treat inflammatory conditions
oral contraceptives (the pill) - used for birth control
thiazides, frusemide or ethacrynic acid - used for the treatment of high blood pressure or fluid retention (oedema)
thyroid hormones - used for the treatment of malfunction of the thyroid gland
sympathomimetics - used for the treatment of asthma
sulphonamides used to treat bacterial infections
Or other specific medicines including:
danazol - used to treat certain female conditions
oxymetholone used to treat certain blood disorders
octreotide - used to treat gastrointestinal endocrine tumours
diazoxide - used for the treatment of high blood pressure
nicotinic acid - used for the treatment of high cholesterol levels in the blood
asparaginase - used to treat leukaemia and lymph gland tumours
quinine used for the prevention of malaria and the relief of muscle cramps
quinidine used for the control of heart problems
growth hormone used to treat persons with growth hormone deficiency
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