Manufacturer: Novo Nordisk India Pvt Ltd
Salt Composition : Human insulin(100IU)
Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen is normally prescribed along with a long-acting type of insulin or other diabetes medicines. Your doctor or nurse will teach you the correct way of injecting it under the skin. It should be taken 20-30 minutes before a meal. Do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to. It is only a part of the treatment program that should also include a healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight reduction as advised by your doctor.
This medicine lowers blood sugars by stimulating glucose uptake by cells, tissue and muscles, especially by skeletal muscles and fat and by inhibiting glucose production by the liver.
The pharmacokinetics of insulin comprise the absorption process, the distribution including binding to circulating insulin antibodies, if present, and to insulin receptors, and its ultimate degradation and excretion. The distribution and metabolism of absorbed insulin follow that of endogenous insulin.
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Actrapid
Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level)
Weight gain
Edema (swelling)
Injection site reactions (pain, swelling, redness)
Diarrhea, fever, infection, surgery, thyroid disease, trauma, vomiting.
Hepatic disease, renal failure, renal impairment.
Intramuscular administration, intravenous administration.
Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) administration.
Hypoglycemia.
Hypokalemia.
Cresol hypersensitivity.
Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen is generally considered safe to use during pregnancy. Animal studies have shown low or no adverse effects to the developing baby; however, there are limited human studies.
It is unsafe to consume alcohol with Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen.
Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen is safe to use during breastfeeding. Human studies suggest that the drug does not pass into the breastmilk in a significant amount and is not harmful to the baby.
Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen is a short-acting insulin used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is used together with a healthy diet and regular exercise to control blood sugar levels after meals. This helps to prevent serious complications of diabetes like kidney damage and blindness.
Drug-Food Interactions: Try to avoid alcoholic beverages with Actrapid 100IU/ml Flexpen 3 ml as it may alter your blood glucose levels. Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform your doctor if you have kidney disease, liver disease, low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia), and low potassium level (hypokalaemia).
Store in a refrigerator (2 - 8°C). Do not freeze.
If you forget to take Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen, your blood sugar may get too high (hyperglycemia). Take it as soon as you remember. If it's time for your next dose then skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed one.
Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
Take it 20 to 30 minutes before a meal.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) is a common side-effect. Learn how to identify and manage its symptoms (sweating, rapid heartbeat, weakness, blurry vision, headache) and teach your family as well.
Injection below the skin of the abdomen results in faster absorption than other injection sites.
Injection sites must be rotated to prevent hard lumps from developing at one site.
Opened vials/cartridges are good at room temperature for up to 4 weeks, while unopened vials must be placed in the refrigerator (2°C–8°C).
Your doctor or nurse will guide you how to use this medicine.
Q. Will I need Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen for the rest of my life?
If you are a type 1 diabetes patient, then yes, you have to take Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen for the rest of your life because your body is unable to produce sufficient insulin. Therefore, you would need Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen as an external source of insulin. However, if you are a type 2 diabetes patient, sometimes your doctor may ask you to stop Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen if you are able to manage your diabetes with proper exercise, diet and oral medicines.
Q. Can Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen be used with other diabetes medicine?
Yes, Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen can be used alone or in combination with other diabetes medicines like long-acting insulin or oral diabetes medicines, along with proper diet and exercise. Follow your doctor’s advice and treatment plan to get the maximum benefit.
Q. How should Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen be used?
Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen is injected under the skin (subcutaneously). Your doctor will show you the area of your skin where you should inject it. Try not to inject on the same spot every time. Rotate between the typical injection sites, such as abdomen, buttocks, upper legs or upper arms. Never inject Humalog into a muscle or vein. Move to a new injection site every week or two. Inject in the same area of the body, making sure to move around within that area with each injection, for one or two weeks. You can then move to another area of your body and repeat the process. Use the same area for at least a week to avoid extreme blood sugar variations.
Q. Is Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen safe to use in pregnancy?
Yes. Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen is safe to use in pregnancy if prescribed by a doctor. However, please inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding before using Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen. You may require dose modifications and your doctor will advise you to monitor your blood sugar levels regularly. You must follow the instructions of your doctor to get maximum benefits.
Q. Is Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen safe to use in type 2 diabetes?
Yes, insulin is safe to use in type 2 diabetes if used according to your doctor's advice. Keep monitoring your blood sugar levels regularly as advised. Your dosage may need to be adjusted as per your needs. Follow the lifestyle changes as advised by your doctor. Talk to your doctor about the side effects and ways to prevent and manage them.
Q. What are the side effects of Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen? How to prevent them?
The side effects of Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen are injection site reactions such as redness, itching, pain and swelling. However, these are temporary and usually resolve on their own. Rarely, it can also cause lipodystrophy, which means abnormal changes in the fat tissues due to repeated insulin injections in the same area of the skin. It includes lipohypertrophy (thickening of adipose tissue) and lipoatrophy (thinning of adipose tissue), and may affect insulin absorption. Rotate insulin injection or infusion sites within the same region to reduce the risk of lipodystrophy.
Q. Can Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen cause hypoglycemia? How do I prevent it?
Yes, the most common side effect of Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen is hypoglycemia. It happens more often if you miss or delay your food, drink alcohol, over-exercise or take other antidiabetic medicine along with it. So, do not skip meals and be consistent in the timing and amount of your meals. Take some snacks as per your requirement if you over exercise. Regular monitoring of the blood sugar level is important. Always carry some sugary candies, glucose/glucon-D or fruit juice with you. Take all the medicines prescribed by the doctor on time and consult your doctor if you notice any fluctuations in your blood sugar levels.
Q. Is Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen given as an injection into a vein (intravenous)?
Yes, sometimes, in specific situations like diabetic ketoacidosis, severe hyperglycemia etc, Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen may be given as an injection into a vein (intravenous). However, in such cases, it is only given by a doctor, under continuous monitoring of blood sugar levels in a hospital setting.
Q. When does the dosage of Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen need to be changed?
You should consult your doctor for dose adjustment if you experience weight gain or loss, increased stress, illness, changes in diet such as missed meals or if you are taking alcohol. Your dose may also change if you have recently changed your exercise regime or are taking any medicines. Also, you must be vigilant for certain side effects that you may experience while using Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen. Your doctor will tell you ways to prevent them. These side effects are usually temporary but if they are very severe, you may need dose modifications.
Q. Does Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen need to be refrigerated?
Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen needs to be refrigerated before its first use. Unopened cartridges and unused pre-filled pens of Humalog must be stored in a refrigerator where the temperature is between 2°C to 8°C. Do not freeze and do not use Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen if it has been frozen. When the cartridge has been inserted into the injection pen, it should not be refrigerated and should be kept at room temperature, below 86°F (30°C) and must be used within 28 days or be discarded, even if they still contain Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen.
Q. What is Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen? How is it made?
Actrapid 100 IU/ml Flexpen is a man-made version of human insulin, produced by the process of biotechnology called recombinant DNA technology. It is sold as a sterile, aqueous, clear, and colorless solution that contains insulin aspart along with other constituents like glycerin, phenol, metacresol, zinc, sodium chloride etc.
