Pramlintide



Symlin®







Pramlintide

(PRAM lin tide)

U.S. Brand Names
Symlin®
Pharmacologic Category
Amylinomimetic; Antidiabetic Agent
What key warnings should I know about before taking this medicine?
  • Severely low blood sugar may occur when taking this medicine with your insulin. You should not operate dangerous or heavy machinery until you know the effects of this medication on your blood sugar.
  • Please read the medication guide given to you.
Reasons not to take this medicine
  • If you have an allergy to pramlintide or any other part of this medicine.
  • Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
  • If you have slow stomach emptying.
  • If you can not tell when your blood sugar is low.
What is this medicine used for?
  • This medicine is used to lower blood sugar in diabetic patients.
How does it work?
  • Pramlintide works like amylin, a hormone necessary for the body's use of food. Type 1 diabetics may have no amylin of their own and require complete replacement. Type 2 diabetics still make amylin, but may require supplementation.
How is it best taken?
  • Use prescription as directed, even if feeling better.
  • Throw away needles in needle/sharp disposal box and return box to healthcare provider when full.
  • Inject this medication at a different site from where you inject your insulin.
  • Do not mix this medicine in the same syringe with your insulin.
  • Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare provider.
  • This medicine is given as a shot right before a meal into the fatty part of the skin.
  • You may need to decrease the dose of insulin you normally take, talk with healthcare provider.
What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)
  • Never try to make up a missed dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
  • If it is almost time for the next dose and you have already eaten, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
  • Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
  • If you stop taking this medicine, talk to your healthcare provider. You may need to be restarted at a lower dose and increased slowly.
What are the precautions when taking this medicine?
  • Wear disease medical alert identification.
  • If you are 80 or older, use this medicine with caution. You could be more sensitive to low blood sugar.
  • Do not drive if blood sugar has been low. There is a greater risk of an accident.
  • Tell your healthcare provider if you have had repeated episodes of low blood sugar or if you cannot feel or are unable to recognize symptoms of very low blood sugar.
  • Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
  • Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any other medication to speed up your stomach emptying.
  • Limit alcohol intake (includes wine, beer, and liquor).
  • Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
  • Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.
What are some possible side effects of this medicine?
  • Low blood sugar. Signs include anger, shaking, fast heartbeat, confusion, or sweating. Keep hard candies, liquid glucose, or milk on hand for low blood sugar.
  • Headache.
  • Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help. This may improve once you are on a stable dose of medicine.
  • Weight loss.
  • Not hungry.
  • Irritation where the shot is given.
What should I monitor?
  • Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
  • Check blood sugar as directed by healthcare provider.
  • Check blood work regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.
  • Have a yearly eye exam and visit to the foot doctor.
  • Take good care of your teeth. See a dentist regularly.
Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately
  • If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center immediately or dial 911.
  • Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
  • Signs or symptoms of infection. These include a fever of 100.5 degrees or higher, chills, severe sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, increased sputum or change in color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.
  • Severe nausea or vomiting.
  • Very low blood sugar or very high blood sugar.
  • Low blood sugar that needs medical treatment.
  • Any rash.
  • No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
How should I store this medicine?
  • Store unopened vials in a refrigerator. Do not freeze.
  • Store opened vials at room temperature. Throw away any unused portion after 1 month.
  • Protect opened vials from heat.
  • Protect opened vials from light.
General statements
  • If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
  • Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
  • Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
  • Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
  • Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
Brand Names: