"Levemir Penfill" refers to the medicines necessary to maintain optimal blood sugar levels in diabetes. The medication belongs to the group of insulin. In pharmacies, you can find drugs under various official names, depending on the issuing company: Levemir Penfill and Levemir Flekspen. Both drugs have the same principle of action on the body, which is due to their composition, so we will further consider them as a single remedy for diabetes. However, there are still differences, and they will be given below.
Main and auxiliary staff
Levemir Penfill is a drug that comes in the form of an injection for injection under the skin. The main active component of the injection fluid is insulin detemir. The chemical substance belongs to the analogues of insulin produced by the human body and is characterized by a prolonged action.
To ensure the greatest effectiveness of the drug and guarantee its safety, the following additional components are included in the solution:
- phenol;
- glycerol;
- sodium hydroxide;
- metacresol;
- sodium chloride;
- zinc acetate;
- sodium hydrogen phosphate;
- specially prepared water.
The liquid is completely transparent, not having any color and having a characteristic aroma.
Expected Action
Levemir Penfill insulin is a life-preserving drug, so it is important for patients to know what effect to expect from its use. To understand the pharmacological properties of the drug, you should study the instructions, which say that the active ingredient is produced by a synthetic method using recombinant DNA technology. As a result, the effect of insulin on the body is characterized by slow absorption and duration of action compared with taking medium and short hormones.
Once in the bloodstream, the active components of synthetic insulin act on membrane cell receptors. As a result, bonds are formed that accelerate intracellular processes and increase the rate of enzyme production.
Features of assimilation
Levemir Penfill is notable for its fast digestibility, but this indicator completely depends on:
- injection sites;
- dosage used;
- patient age;
- individual health features.
After 6-8 hours after injection, Levemir Penfill insulin exhibits maximum activity. The active component is rapidly distributed in the blood and its components in a rather large concentration of 0.1 l / kg.
Medical indications
Any drug must be used strictly following the instructions or following all the instructions of the treating doctor. Only a specialist is able to fully analyze the picture of the disease, take into account the data of clinical analyzes and, in accordance with the collected history, prescribe treatment.
"Levemir Penfill" finds application in the treatment of diabetes. The medication can be prescribed as the main drug, use it in some cases, or select a complex treatment based on it and combine insulin with other drugs.
Experts argue that the tool can be used to treat almost all categories of patients, including children who have reached the age of six.
Contraindications
Despite the relative safety and the possibility of use in pediatrics, the drug has its own strict contraindications. The instructions to Levemir Penfill list the following conditions in which the appointment of the drug is impossible. These include:
- old age of the patient;
- kidney or liver disease;
- individual hypersensitivity.
“Levemir Penfill” and “Levemir Flexspen” have an identical composition, therefore all of the listed contraindications apply to both types of medicine. In this case, the restrictions are strict, but individual intolerance can be corrected in some cases. In any other conditions, the use of the medication is allowed, but the specialist must carefully monitor the patient and, if necessary, make changes to the dosage or change treatment tactics in case of any deviations from the expected effect.
The need for proper treatment
Levemir Penfill, the form of which involves only liquid for injection, is a vital preparation for patients with diabetes mellitus. In most cases, without their prescription, a sick person may even die. However, significant harm to health can be caused if you do not follow the rules of the drug and do not follow all the doctor’s recommendations.
The medication must be used according to the attached annotation, and you can not change anything without the knowledge of a specialist. In such a situation, self-activity can turn into a serious health disorder for the patient.
How to use the medicine
Levemir Penfill is available as a subcutaneous injection. The description of the medication is as follows:
- the package contains glass cartridges;
- 3 ml of the prepared solution for injection fits in each cartridge.
For injections, a special insulin syringe is required. The solution is administered only subcutaneously, another use case is excluded. Injections should be given only in certain areas of the body. This is due to the fact that in some places the active components are absorbed faster, which guarantees the effectiveness of the drug.
The best places for injection are:
- shoulder;
- anterior abdominal wall;
- hip.
In order to avoid the development of unpleasant symptoms and side effects, it is necessary to periodically alternate injection sites, but only within the recommended zones. Otherwise, synthetic insulin will cease to penetrate quickly into the bloodstream and be absorbed properly, which will affect the quality and success of treatment.
We study the instructions for use
Levemir Penfill contains instructions for use in each package. It must be carefully studied. However, the specialist always prescribes the dosage of insulin only individually. The amount of drug administered is influenced by many factors:
- the presence of additional diseases;
- patient age;
- form of diabetes.
Also, the doctor can always adjust the dosage to a smaller or larger side, depending on the expected effect. But at the same time, he controls the course of therapy, analyzes the dynamics and, in accordance with this, changes the schedule of injections.
It is necessary to use the drug "Levemir Penfill" once or twice a day. The instructions also say that injections must be put at the same time.
Cautions for a Special Patient Group
Levemir Penfill should be prescribed only by a doctor who is able to take into account some of the nuances in relation to a special group of patients. In some cases, extreme caution is important, as the body of the elderly or children is able to respond to the introduction of synthetic drugs not according to the planned scheme.
Old-age insulin therapy
Any age-related changes are reflected in the state of health. At the same time, they can act on the absorption of synthetic hormone, because of which the patient often has disorders. Therefore, before using the medication, a thorough examination of the elderly person should be carried out to establish the presence of diseases associated with diabetes mellitus.
Particular attention is paid to the work of the liver and kidneys, but it cannot be argued that the elderly patient is a contraindication to the appointment of this type of insulin. Doctors use the drug in the treatment of such patients, but carefully monitor their health and, if necessary, reduce the dosage.
Features of treating children
“Levemir Penfill” can be prescribed to correct insulin in the body for children over 6 years old. However, a younger age is a strict contraindication for prescribing this medication.
No studies have been conducted on the effects of detemir insulin on the body of such young children. Therefore, no specialist will begin to risk the health of his patient and prescribe completely different drugs recommended for this group of patients.
Treatment for pregnant and lactating women
There is no confirmed information about the harmful effects of insulin on the bearing fetus, so if necessary, a drug to control blood sugar can be used, but only with careful supervision by a specialist.
Insulin is a protein compound that actively penetrates into milk, but is not dangerous for a newborn. During lactation, the medicine can continue to be used, but it is necessary to strictly adhere to the doses prescribed by the doctor and follow a diet.
Caution regarding the administration of insulin will help prevent the occurrence of side effects and adverse reactions during treatment.
Levemir Penfill and Flexpen: The Difference
"Penfill" is a drug that does not have special syringes in its composition. For injections, it is necessary to use insulin syringes familiar to the patient.
The composition is identical to Levemir Penfill and Flekspen. The difference is that the latter contains branded syringes in which special cartridges containing insulin are built-in. Special pens have convenient dosing in increments of 1 unit. However, this innovation is inconvenient in the treatment of children who are prescribed a lower dosage of the active substance. In this case, it is Penfill that appears to be the appropriate medicine, although Flekspen has the same composition and indications.
Possible side effects
During therapy, you should always pay attention to the state of your health and any changes. Of course, positive dynamics are important, but negative symptoms are also a significant factor, as they indicate problems. Sometimes unpleasant manifestations are caused by intolerance or individual sensitivity to this type of insulin.
After studying the reviews about the medication, you can highlight the most common side effects:
- Hypoglycemia. When using an excessively large dose of insulin, hypoglycemia, a condition caused by an acute lack of glucose in the body, can develop. Symptoms indicating this condition: nausea, tremor of the extremities, tachycardia, loss of consciousness. If the patient does not receive medical attention on time, the result may be sad.
- Allergic reaction. It is important to conduct a test for sensitivity to this insulin before the first use, however, in any case, the patient may sometimes be disturbed by rashes, shortness of breath, manifestations of urticaria and even anaphylactic shock.
- Local symptoms. The most harmless side effect caused by temporary inability of the body to the effects of insulin. It is important to wait until the body adapts. At this time, swelling, rashes and redness of the skin are possible at the injection site.
- Visual disturbances caused by fluctuations in blood glucose. After the glycemic profile is stabilized, such violations usually go away on their own.
In each case, the severity of side effects should be evaluated by a specialist. Sometimes symptomatic therapy is required, in severe cases, the prescribed drug is canceled. It is important to follow a diet while taking insulin. To eliminate the hypoglycemic state, it is necessary to eat foods containing a large amount of carbohydrates.
Similar drugs
The price of Levemir Penfill is quite high. And many patients are looking for how to replace this medication. There are drugs that are somewhat similar in effect, but to independently prescribe a remedy or make a replacement is strictly not recommended. To do this, you must have specific knowledge.
Among the most preferred analogues of "Levemir Penfill" include:
- Humulin. The medication is supplied as an injectable solution. It is made on the basis of insulin produced by the human body.
- "Protafan." The tool is also presented in the form of a solution for injections. The active ingredient is insulin isophan. Often, the drug is prescribed for all patients who have been identified as hypersensitive or allergic to detemir.
Only the attending doctor is able to assess the patient's condition and prescribe the necessary drugs that have a similar principle of action, but differing in the method of use.
Reviews about the use of the medication
“Levemir Penfill” reviews is very positive. The drug has been used for a relatively long time and it can be concluded that the active component effectively lowers blood sugar. In this case, patients rarely have complications in the form of severe hypoglycemia.
There are many reviews from pregnant women who are forced to use this drug. Most patients were satisfied with the appointment of their doctor. The tool is not addictive, and if necessary, after childbirth, injections were canceled without problems. However, it is important not to make a mistake with the dosage recommended by the doctor.
The main disadvantage of the drug is that the cartridge that has already begun to be used should be finished within a month. For some, the period is too short, so unused residues are thrown away, and the cost of the drug is quite tangible.
It is worth noting that all existing analogues have a similar problem. After examining the reviews of diabetics, it can be argued that it is Levemir Penfill that excels the action of other manufacturers' insulin in all important vital indicators. Of course, sometimes this drug may not work. But in any case, an equivalent replacement can only be selected by a doctor who treats a specific patient.