Type of medicine: antihyperglycemic; antidiabetic
Generic and brand names: pramlintide acetate, injection; SYMLIN
This medicine is given by injection (shots) along with insulin to treat diabetes mellitus. It helps maintain the proper amount of sugar in the blood.
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.
This medicine is injected before meals. Talk with your healthcare provider for specific instructions.
Do not mix this medicine with insulin.
Your healthcare provider will adjust your dosage based on your blood sugar levels. Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Measure your dosage very carefully to avoid an overdose, which can lead to a coma.
This medicine is available in a prefilled injection pen or vials. Your healthcare provider will decide which type is best for you. If you do not understand how to use the prefilled pen, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist to demonstrate. You will need to buy needles separately to use in the prefilled injection pen. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist what type of needles you will need to inject your medicine.
These shots are given just under the skin in your abdomen or thigh. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions carefully regarding dosage and times of injection. Inject this medicine at a site that is more than 2 inches away from your insulin injection. Do not inject this medicine and insulin in the same site.
Measure your doses carefully to avoid overdose (which can cause insulin shock). Be sure you know how and when to have these shots and how much medicine to use.
Use sterile, disposable syringes and needles. Use them only once and dispose of them safely, following your healthcare provider's instructions.
Do not use this medicine if the liquid looks cloudy.
Wash your hands before using this medicine. Warm the medicine to room temperature before you use it. Follow these steps to give yourself the shots from the vial:
If you are not sure of how to give yourself the shots, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for help.
Your healthcare provider may adjust the dose of your other diabetes medicines while you are taking this medicine. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take.
Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. If you stop taking this medicine for any reason, such as surgery or illness, talk to your healthcare provider about how to re-start this medicine.
If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and take your next one at the next prescribed time. Do not use double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.
If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.
Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, flushing, dizziness.
Follow the diet and exercise program prescribed by your healthcare provider. Eat regular meals and do not skip meals, even when you travel or are sick. Your dosage of this medicine is based on your food intake. Also, your blood sugar must be tested regularly. Follow your healthcare provider's advice exactly.
Alcohol may affect your response to medicine and food. Do not drink alcohol unless your healthcare provider approves.
Do not drive or operate machinery unless you know how this medicine affects your blood sugar.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can occur if you miss or delay meals, drink too much alcohol, use too much of this medicine or too much insulin, or exercise more than usual. Symptoms of low blood sugar include confusion, shaking, weakness, strong hunger, cold sweats, headache, nausea, vision problems, and feeling faint. Treat the condition quickly by eating or drinking something with sugar in it such as candy, juice, or nondiet soda. Taking glucose tablets or gels (available in drug stores) is another quick way to treat hypoglycemia.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine. Carry an ID card or a Medic Alert bracelet. If you become unconscious, the ID tells emergency healthcare providers that you are a diabetic and need special care.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).
Serious (report this to your healthcare provider if these symptoms happen often): Symptoms of hypoglycemia (confusion, shaking, weakness, strong hunger, cold sweats, headache, nausea, vision problems, and feeling faint), constant nausea.
Other: Mild nausea; mild headache; loss of appetite; vomiting; stomach pain; tiredness; dizziness; indigestion; redness, itching, or pain at the spot where an injection has been given; joint pain.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
This medicine can slow down how other medicines pass through your stomach and may affect how much of them get into your body. You may have to change the times you take certain medicines, such as acetaminophen. Talk with your healthcare provider if you should take other oral medicines at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after this medicine.
Many nonprescription products contain sugar, alcohol, or other ingredients that may interfere with this medicine or increase your blood sugar. Check product labels for warnings for diabetics or ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for advice.
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
Refrigerate unopened vials or prefilled pens but do not freeze them. Take the medicine out of the refrigerator and allow it to warm to room temperature before using it.
This medicine may be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature for up to 1 month. Mark the date it was opened. Discard opened medicine after a month, even if the bottle is not empty.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicines in the trash.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
