What Is Actrapid, Protaphane, Mixtard 30/70 Used For?

These medications contain insulin (rys), which is identical to natural human insulin and manufactured using genetic engineering. They are used to treat diabetes mellitus when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin to control blood sugar levels.

Primary Uses

Used to treat diabetes mellitus in patients with type 1 diabetes (who always require insulin) and some patients with type 2 diabetes when diet, exercise, and tablets are not sufficient. Actrapid can also be used by doctors in emergency situations for people with diabetes.

How It Works

Actrapid is a fast-acting insulin that starts working about 30 minutes after injection and lasts approximately 8 hours. Protaphane is intermediate-acting, starting to work about 1.5 hours after injection and lasting approximately 24 hours. Mixtard 30/70 is a mixture of fast and longer-acting insulins, starting to work about 30 minutes after injection and lasting approximately 24 hours.

How to Take Actrapid, Protaphane, Mixtard 30/70

These medications come as Penfill cartridges designed for use with Novo Nordisk insulin delivery devices and NovoFine needles. Your doctor or diabetes education nurse will provide specific instructions on dosage, timing, and injection technique.

Dosage Instructions

Follow all instructions from your doctor, nurse educator, and pharmacist carefully. Inject under the skin into the abdomen, thighs, upper arms, or buttocks. Change injection sites so the same position isn’t used more than once a month. For Actrapid or Mixtard, eat a meal or snack containing carbohydrates within 30 minutes of injection. Always check for insulin flow before each injection and dispose of needles safely after use.

What If You Miss a Dose?

If you forget your insulin dose, test your blood sugar level as soon as possible. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and inject your next dose when scheduled. Otherwise, use it as soon as you remember and return to your normal schedule. For Actrapid or Mixtard, make sure to eat carbohydrates within 30 minutes of the injection.

Side Effects

Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.

Common Side Effects

These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:

• Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) – cold sweat, pale skin, fatigue, nervousness, tremor, rapid heartbeat, confusion, excessive hunger, vision changes, headache, nausea
• Injection site reactions – redness, swelling, itching, depression or thickening of skin
• Visual problems when first starting insulin
• Swelling of hands or feet when first starting insulin

Important Warnings

There are important safety considerations and medical conditions that require special attention when using these insulin medications.

Who Should Not Take Actrapid, Protaphane, Mixtard 30/70

Do not use if you are allergic to insulin or any ingredients, experiencing low blood sugar when your dose is due, if the expiry date has passed, or if packaging is damaged. Do not use in insulin infusion pumps. Do not inject Protaphane or Mixtard 30/70 into a vein.

Medical Conditions to Discuss

Tell your doctor if you have kidney, liver, adrenal gland, pituitary gland, or thyroid gland problems, take other medicines, have infections or fever, or are planning to travel. Patients with long-standing type 2 diabetes and heart disease who take thiazolidinediones with insulin may develop heart failure.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, as pregnancy can make diabetes management more difficult and may require insulin dose adjustments. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.

Drug Interactions

Some medicines may interfere with insulin and affect how it works, either increasing or decreasing insulin’s effectiveness.

• Other diabetes medicines
• Octreotide and lanreotide
• MAOIs (depression medicines)
• Beta-blockers and alpha-blockers
• ACE inhibitors
• Aspirin and salicylates
• Anabolic steroids
• Quinine and quinidine
• Sulphonamide antibiotics
• Oral contraceptives
• Thiazides and diuretics
• Glucocorticoids
• Thyroid hormones
• Sympathomimetics
• Growth hormone
• Diazoxide
• Asparaginase
• Nicotinic acid
• Oxymetholone
• Danazol

Alcohol & Driving

Both alcohol consumption and driving require special precautions when using insulin due to effects on blood sugar levels and concentration.

Alcohol

Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Alcohol may mask the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) and your insulin needs may change. Carefully monitor your blood sugar levels when drinking.

Driving and Operating Machinery

Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how insulin affects you. If your blood sugar is low or high, your concentration and ability to react might be affected. Ask your doctor whether you can drive, especially if you have frequent hypos or find it hard to recognize them.

Storage

Store unused Penfill cartridges in the refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C, away from the cooling element. Cartridges in use or carried as spares should not be refrigerated. Protect from light by keeping cartridges in the carton when not in use. Do not freeze or expose to excessive heat and light. You can use cartridges for up to 4 weeks after removing from refrigerator if kept below 25°C. Discard after 4 weeks even if insulin remains.

Overdose Information

If you think you have used too much insulin, you may need urgent medical attention. Immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if there are no signs of discomfort. Too much insulin causes hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) which can be serious if untreated.

Frequently Asked Questions