APIDRA

Apidra Information

Apidra is an effective form of insulin glulisine. This substance is a hormone that is produced by the human organism and that is supposed to lower the patient’s blood levels of sugar (glucose). This form of insulin (contained by Apidra) is known to act faster than the average insulin that is produced by the human body.

Apidra Indications

A treatment trial with this form of insulin (commonly known under the brand name of Apidra) is widely employed in the case of individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes. However, not all diabetic patients are recommended a therapy with this medicine, as it is known to only be effective in the case of the insulin dependent form of this disease (type 1 diabetes). A therapy with this drug may be adjacent to another treatment with a long acting form of insulin. For further information regarding the benefits that a therapy with this drug (Apidra) could provide you with, contact your personal physician.

Apidra Warnings

During your therapy with this medicine, one of your main concerns should be not allowing your blood sugar levels to drop very low (avoid hypoglycemia). You should be well aware of the symptoms of this medical condition (dizziness, weakness, drowsiness, thirst, headaches, tremor, sweating, and so on), to be able to recognize it in case of emergency. Patients who are allergic to insulin should not be allowed to use Apidra. This drug is a category C FDA pregnancy medication.

Apidra Intake Guidelines

Apidra is generally administered as a sub dermal injection; during this procedure, the person who gives you your shot may use an insulin pump or a syringe. In other clinical cases, the patients were prescribed the IV (intravenous) administration of this medicine. The effects of a dose of insulin glulisine are very fast. This drug should be used about 15 minutes before one of your meals. Your medicine (Apidra) should be colorless, thin and clear. You should not use a drug that presents a specific coloration or that presents any unusual particles. In such cases, you should ask your personal health care provider to give you a new prescription for this medicine.

Your doses of this medicine (Apidra) should be injected in a different place each time. If you receive your injections of Apidra through an insulin pump you should make sure that you do not dilute or mix your medicine with any other type of insulin medication. If you suspect that your insulin pump is working improperly you should alert your doctor. You should ask your personal health care provider to teach you how to adjust your doses of insulin glulisine (Apidra) in case of emergency. During your therapy with this medicine you should wear a medical bracelet or an ID card that states that you are suffering from diabetes and that you are following a therapy with this form of insulin.

Unopened cartridges and / or vials should be kept in the refrigerator. The medicine should not be permitted to freeze. If such an accident has occurred, discard the frozen insulin.

Apidra Dosage

Before you start using this form of medical insulin (Apidra) on a regular basis, you should ask your personal health care provider to give you a set of specific pieces of advice regarding the proper dose of insulin that you should be administered on a regular basis. Your doctor might want to prescribe you an initial dosing schedule with this drug. After several weeks of therapy with this medication you will have to undergo another clinical evaluation which will enable your physician determine if there is any need to change your dose of this form of insulin.

Apidra Overdose

If you suspect that you may have overdosed with Apidra, you should seek emergency medical care. Over dosage with this type of insulin may trigger a severe form of hypoglycemia, with life-threatening clinical manifestations. The most common symptoms that were described by patients who were suffering from Apidra over dosage included: blurred vision, extreme weakness, sweating, coma, convulsions, confusion, stomach pain, tremors, speaking problems, and so on.

Apidra Missed Dose

As the doses of Apidra are generally administered before meals, most patients are not following a special dosing schedule. All individuals who are following a therapy with this type of medicine (insulin glulisine) should make sure that they will have a meal within the following 20 minutes. A dose of this medical product (Apidra) should always be kept on hand.

Apidra Side Effects

Patients who present hyper sensibility to the ingredients of this medicine may develop clinical manifestations that are widely associated with the presence of allergic reactions, such as: fast heart rate, wheezing, sweating, breathing problems, skin rash, itching, and so on.

The prolonged intake of Apidra may also determine the presence of a set of clinical symptoms; the most common side effect of this medicine (insulin glulisine) is hypoglycemia. Its symptoms include hunger, nausea, confusion, trouble concentrating, convulsions, tremor, blurred vision, and so on. A therapy with this type of insulin may also determine hypokalemia (increased thirst, dry mouth, uneven heartbeats, increased urination, muscle weakness, muscle pain, leg discomfort, leg pain, confusion, and so on).

Apidra Drug Reactions

The intake of some medical products can alter the beneficial results of your therapy trial with Apidra. We recommend all individuals who are following a treatment with this medicine to avoid taking any of the following drugs: Reserpine; Clonidine (Catapres); beta-blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), bisoprolol (Zebeta), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), timolol (Blocadren), Propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), nadolol (Corgard); guanethidine (Ismelin), and so on. If a therapy with any of these medicines is vital to your health condition, you should consult your personal health care provider.