Introduction
Apidra Solostar Pen is used for the treatment of blood sugar control in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is a fast-acting type of insulin that helps to lower blood sugar levels after meals and reduce the chances of developing serious complications of diabetes.
Apidra Solostar Pen 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 15 minutes before a meal or within 20 minutes after starting a meal. Do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to. It is only part of a treatment program that should also include a healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight reduction as advised by your doctor.
Check your blood sugar levels regularly, keep track of your results and share them with your doctor. This is very important to work out the correct dose of the medicine for you.
The most common side effect of this medicine is low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). To prevent this, it is important to always inject the correct dose of medicine only, have regular meals (do not skip), and monitor your blood sugar levels regularly. Drinking excessive alcohol can also lead to a fall in your blood sugar levels. Other side effects include allergy at the injection site like redness, swelling, or hard lumps (lipodystrophy). Some people may also gain weight while taking insulin.
Do not use this medicine when you have low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). Tell your doctor if you have ever had kidney, liver or heart problems before starting treatment. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before using it.
Uses of Apidra Solostar Pen
- Diabetes mellitus (Type 1 & Type 2)
Side effects of Apidra Solostar Pen
Common
- Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level)
- Injection site allergic reaction
- Itching
- Rash
- Lipodystrophy (skin thickening or pits at the injection site)
How to use Apidra Solostar Pen
Your doctor or nurse will guide you how to use this medicine.
How Apidra Solostar Pen works
Apidra Solostar Pen is fast-acting insulin which starts working within 10-20 minutes after injecting. It works similar to the insulin produced by the body. Insulin facilitates reuptake of glucose in muscle and fat cells and also blocks the release of glucose from the liver.
What if you forget to take Apidra Solostar Pen?
If you have missed a dose of Apidra Solostar Pen, your blood sugar level may become too high (hyperglycemia). Check your blood sugar and then take the next dose accordingly.
Indication
Diabetes mellitus
Administration
SC injection
Administer within 15 minutes before a meal or within 20 minutes after starting a meal
When administered by SC injection, insulin glulisine should generally be used in regimens with an intermediate- or long-acting insulin
Administered by SC injection in the abdominal wall, thigh, or upper arm
Injection sites should be rotated within the same region (abdomen, thigh or upper arm) from one injection to the next to reduce the risk of lipodystrophy
IV administration
May be administered IV while under medical supervision for glycemic control with close monitoring of blood glucose and serum potassium to avoid hypoglycemia and hypokalemia
When administered IV, use concentrations of 0.05-1 unit/mL in infusion systems using PVC bags
Stable only in 0.9% NaCl (normal saline)
Adult Dose
Subcutaneous
Diabetes mellitus
Dose should be individualised and depends on patient's needs. Usual range: 0.5-1 u/kg/day.
Dosing considerations
Equipotent to regular human insulin (ie, elicits same glucose lowering effects on unit per unit basis) when administered IV
Insulin glulisine has a more rapid onset of action and a shorter duration of action than regular human insulin
Dosage must be individualized; blood glucose monitoring is essential in all patients receiving insulin therapy
Insulin requirements may be altered during stress, major illness, or with changes in exercise, meal patterns, or coadministered drugs
Hepatic impairment: Dose reduction may be needed.
Child Dose
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Indicated to improve glycemic control in adults and children with diabetes mellitus
<4 years: Safety and efficacy not established
4-17 years: May require 0.8-1.2 units/kg/day SC during growth spurts; otherwise use adult dosing (0.5-1 unit/kg/day)
Renal Dose
Renal impairment: Dose reduction may be needed.
Contraindication
Hypoglycaemia.Hypersensitivity to any of the components.
Mode of Action
Insulin glulisine is a rapid acting human insulin analog produced by recombinant DNA technology using a non-pathogenic laboratory strain of Escherichia coli (K12). Insulin glulisine and insulin human are equipotent on a unit-for-unit basis. Insulin glulisine has a more rapid onset and shorter duration of action compared with insulin human after subcutaneous admin.
Precaution
Renal or hepatic impairment. Regular monitoring of blood glucose and HbA1c. Rotate Inj sites to reduce lipodystrophy . Pregnancy, lactation.
Lactation: Considered safe during breastfeeding
Side Effect
Hypoglycaemia, Inj site reactions, lipodystrophy, local and systemic hypersensitivity reactions.
Interaction
Possible absence of hypoglycaemic warning symptoms with beta-blockers. Decreased hypoglycaemic effect with corticosteroids, danazol, diazoxide, diuretics, glucagon, isoniazid, phenothiazine derivatives, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents, thyroid hormones, oestrogens, progestins (e.g. in oral contraceptives), protease inhibitors and atypical antipsychotics (e.g. olanzapine and clozapine). Increased hypoglycaemic effect with oral antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, MAOIs, pentoxifylline, propoxyphene, salicylates and sulfonamide antibiotics. Decreased insulin resistance with octreotide and lanreotide. Increased risk of wt gain and peripheral oedema with pioglitazone, rosiglitazone. Decreased effect of sermorelin.