One of the most famous short-acting hypoglycemic drugs is the Actrapid insulin. It is available as an injection and is used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as for emergency care for hyperglycemia. Especially often it is used for insulin-dependent diabetes. Such patients need lifelong injections of insulin. For more effective control of blood sugar levels, different types of this drug are combined. And one of the drugs of choice is Actrapid - short insulin.
Drug characteristics
Insulin "Actrapid NM Penfill" is a solution for injection. The drug consists of the human pancreatic hormone obtained by gene modification. 1 ml of the solution contains 3.5 mg of insulin. In addition to it, glycerin, zinc chloride and special substances are dissolved in water for injection, creating the desired level of acid-base balance. The drug is produced in special cartridges for a 3 ml syringe pen. This is the average single dose, but in some cases it is required to increase it.
In addition to this form of release, there is Actulin Rapid Insulin in 10 ml vials. It also contains human soluble hormone obtained using genetic engineering methods. There is also an analogue of the drug - Actrapil MS. It is used less often, since it is a neutral pig insulin.
Action of this drug
Insulin penetrates the cells and affects metabolic processes, improving glucose transport. Due to this, the absorption of its tissues increases. Lipid metabolism is also stimulated and glycogen synthesis in liver cells is increased. Insulin "Actrapid" refers to short-acting drugs. Its hypoglycemic effect may be different depending on the method and place of injection, dosage and lifestyle features of the patient. But most often, the effect of the drug begins after 30 minutes and lasts up to 8 hours. The maximum effect is 2-3 hours after the introduction of the solution. The highest absorption rate has "Actrapid NM", especially if it is entered correctly. It is best to do an injection in the fold of the skin on the stomach, so the drug will begin to act faster.
Indications for use
The most commonly used insulin is Actrapid in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. People who need to regularly inject this hormone several times a day can combine the drug with others. Such short-acting insulin is administered before meals, but this is not the only treatment. It is necessary to use long-acting insulin 1-2 times a day, which will regulate sugar levels throughout the day, regardless of meals.
This drug is sometimes used to treat type 2 diabetes, but only as directed by a doctor. This is done if the patient’s body does not accept the hypoglycemic therapy in tablets. In addition, for some categories of patients, this method of administering insulin is safer, for example, during pregnancy and lactation.
"Actrapid" begins to act almost immediately, therefore, it is used in emergency conditions when it is necessary to quickly lower the sugar level. This is necessary, for example, with ketoacidosis or before surgery.
Contraindications and side effects
Some patients have individual intolerance to human insulin. Sometimes allergic reactions to other components of the drug may also be observed. In these cases, another insulin is prescribed. The use of the drug is also contraindicated in case of hypoglycemia. Therefore, before the introduction, it is necessary to check the blood sugar level. You can not use "Actrapid" for pancreatic cancer - insuloma. The use of this drug is not contraindicated for children, as well as for pregnant women.
When using insulin "Actrapid", the appearance of such side effects is possible:
- with the introduction of too large a dose, hypoglycemia develops;
- sometimes there are allergic reactions - rash, urticaria, anaphylactic shock;
- sweating, tachycardia, headaches and nausea;
- weakness, low blood pressure and loss of consciousness;
- cases of development of peripheral neuropathy were observed;
- at the beginning of treatment with this drug, a violation of refraction or the development of retinopathy is possible;
- local reactions at the injection site (redness and hematoma) are sometimes possible; if the injection is done constantly in the same place, lipodystrophy develops.
The introduction of insulin "Actrapid"
The method of use of this drug is subcutaneous injection, in some cases, intravenous. For this, special insulin syringes are needed. They have a graduation that allows you to measure the right amount of the drug. Often a special syringe pen for insulin "Actrapid NM" is used. In this way, an injection is more convenient. An injection should be done in the abdomen or shoulder, only in the subcutaneous fold, avoiding intramuscular injection. Sometimes an injection is injected into the thigh or buttock, but in this case the drug is absorbed worse.
How to administer Actrapid insulin? The instruction describes this process as follows:
- you need to draw the right amount of solution into the syringe from the bottle or insert the cartridge into a special syringe pen;
- with your left hand to collect with two fingers a fold of skin on the abdomen, thigh or shoulder;
- stick the needle into the base of the fold at an angle of 45 degrees;
- slowly introduce the solution under the skin;
- leave the needle for 5-6 seconds;
- carefully pull it out, if blood has come out, you need to slightly squeeze the injection site.
Insulin "Actrapid": instructions for use
Only the attending physician can determine the desired dosage and frequency of use of the drug. It depends on the patient’s carbohydrate metabolism rate, lifestyle, dietary habits and insulin requirements. On average, no more than 3 ml is required per day, but this indicator may be greater in overweight people, during pregnancy or with tissue immunity. If the pancreas produces at least a small amount of insulin, it must be administered in smaller doses. The need for insulin is also reduced in diseases of the liver and kidneys.
Injections of "Actrapid" are done 2-3 times a day. If necessary, you can increase the frequency of use up to 5-6 times. Half an hour after the injection, you must eat or at least have a meal with carbohydrates.
It is possible to mix this remedy with long-acting drugs. For example, a combination is often used: insulin "Actrapid" - "Protafan". But only a doctor can choose an individual glycemic control regimen. If necessary, enter two insulin at the same time they are collected in one syringe: first - "Actrapid", and then - long-acting insulin.
Special instructions when using the drug
To control sugar levels with the help of Actrapid was effective, you must follow several rules for the use of this insulin:
- the injection site should be constantly changed in order to avoid the development of lipodystrophy;
- patients with impaired liver and kidney function need to reduce the dose of the drug;
- to achieve a faster effect, an injection must be done in the subcutaneous fold on the stomach;
- Do not use the drug if it has lost transparency or if the packaging has been broken;
- after opening the bottle, the solution must be stored in the refrigerator, not freezing, and it must be used for a month and a half;
- Do not use Actrapid for an insulin pump ;
- when switching to "Actrapid" from another drug, it is necessary for the doctor to adjust the dose, at first it is important to regularly measure the level of sugar, since the symptoms of hypoglycemia become less noticeable.
What to do in case of hypoglycemia
In some cases, most often with an overdose, the patient develops hypoglycemia. It can appear if after the injection the patient has not eaten or has shown too much physical activity. This condition occurs suddenly. The patient experiences the following symptoms:
- tachycardia;
- nausea;
- general breakdown, drowsiness;
- sweating
- nervousness, anxiety;
- headache;
- strong appetite;
- impaired coordination of movements.
The onset of hypoglycemia is easy to spot. The first thing to do is eat something sweet. For this, diabetics always carry sweets, cookies, sweet juice or a piece of sugar with them. If the patient's condition worsens, he has convulsions or fainting, an injection of glycogen is necessary. You need to see a doctor and adjust the dosage of Actrapid to prevent the development of hypoglycemia.
Hyperglycemia when using the drug
Sometimes another condition is also possible when blood sugar rises high. This can be with an increase in temperature, with infectious diseases, with a decrease in the dosage of the drug or an increase in the volume of carbohydrate food. Symptoms of hyperglycemia are not so pronounced, but this condition is also dangerous, as it can lead to the development of ketoacidosis and coma. The fact that sugar has increased can be guessed by the following signs:
- intense thirst;
- frequent urination;
- nausea, loss of appetite;
- weakness;
- dry skin and mucous membranes;
- strong smell of acetone from the mouth.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should immediately check the sugar level, you may need to make an additional injection of Actrapid.
Interaction with other drugs
Insulin requires regular administration. Therefore, it often turns out that it is combined with other drugs. And you need to know how Actrapid insulin interacts with different medications. For example, there are drugs that weaken its sugar-lowering effect: beta-blockers, thiazide diuretics, MAO inhibitors, some hormones and nicotine. In combination with other medicines, on the contrary, the sugar-lowering effect of Actrapid is enhanced. These are tetracyclines, sulfonamides, Ketoconazole, Theophilin, lithium preparations and products containing alcohol.
The patient himself will not be able to determine whether this insulin is compatible with other drugs, so if you have any questions, you should consult a doctor. With the right dosage and compliance with all the features of the drug, a patient with diabetes can lead a normal lifestyle.