What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
- Hemoglobin A1C value above 9
- Low blood sugar episodes
- Problems checking blood sugar
- Problems taking diabetes medication
- Stomach problems like gastroparesis
- Trouble being able to tell when blood sugar is low
- An unusual or allergic reaction to pramlintide, metacresol, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
- Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- Breast-feeding
What may interact with this medication?
- Acetaminophen
- Alosetron
- Atropine
- Birth control pills
- Certain medications for bladder problems like oxybutynin
- Certain medications for stomach problems like dicyclomine, hyoscyamine
- Certain medications for travel sickness like scopolamine
- Eluxadoline
- Other medications for diabetes like acarbose, miglitol
Many medications may cause changes in blood sugar, these include:
- Alcohol-containing beverages
- Antiviral medications for HIV or AIDS
- Aspirin and aspirin-like medications
- Certain medications for blood pressure, heart disease, irregular heart beat
- Chromium
- Diuretics
- Female hormones, such as estrogens or progestins, birth control pills
- Fenofibrate
- Gemfibrozil
- Isoniazid
- Lanreotide
- Male hormones or anabolic steroids
- MAOIs like Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
- Medications for weight loss
- Medications for allergies, asthma, cold, or cough
- Medications for depression, anxiety, or psychotic disturbances
- Niacin
- Nicotine
- NSAIDs, medications for pain and inflammation, like ibuprofen or naproxen
- Octreotide
- Pasireotide
- Pentamidine
- Phenytoin
- Probenecid
- Quinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin
- Some herbal dietary supplements
- Steroid medications such as prednisone or cortisone
- Sulfamethoxazole; trimethoprim
- Thyroid hormones
Some medications can hide the warning symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). You may need to monitor your blood sugar more closely if you are taking one of these medications. These include:
- Beta-blockers, often used for high blood pressure or heart problems (examples include atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol)
- Clonidine
- Guanethidine
- Reserpine
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress.
A test called the HbA1C (A1C) will be monitored. This is a simple blood test. It measures your blood sugar control over the last 2 to 3 months. You will receive this test every 3 to 6 months.
Learn how to check your blood sugar. Learn the symptoms of low and high blood sugar and how to manage them.
Always carry a quick-source of sugar with you in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar. Examples include hard sugar candy or glucose tablets. Make sure others know that you can choke if you eat or drink when you develop serious symptoms of low blood sugar, such as seizures or unconsciousness. They must get medical help at once.
Tell your care team if you have high blood sugar. You might need to change the dose of your medication. If you are sick or exercising more than usual, you might need to change the dose of your medication.
Do not skip meals. Ask your care team if you should avoid alcohol. Many nonprescription cough and cold products contain sugar or alcohol. These can affect blood sugar.
Pens should never be shared. Even if the needle is changed, sharing may result in passing of viruses like hepatitis or HIV.
Wear a medical ID bracelet or chain, and carry a card that describes your disease and details of your medication and dosage times.
What are the most serious risks of this medication?
This medicine can cause severe low blood sugar, usually within 3 hours after an injection. Have a plan to treat low blood sugar. You should have fast-acting sugar (such as hard candy, glucose tablets, juice) or a glucagon injection with you at all times. Monitor your blood sugar regularly. If you have severe low blood sugar or if you have low blood sugar more often than normal, call your healthcare provider.