What Is NovoRapid Flexpen Used For?

NovoRapid FlexPen contains insulin aspart, a rapid-acting insulin used to treat diabetes mellitus in both adults and children. It helps control blood sugar levels when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin naturally.

Primary Uses

NovoRapid is used to treat both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients with Type 1 diabetes always require insulin to control their blood sugar levels. Some patients with Type 2 diabetes may also require insulin after initial treatment with diet, exercise and tablets.

How It Works

NovoRapid lowers your blood sugar level after injection. When injected under your skin, it has a faster onset of action than soluble human insulin. It takes effect within 10 to 20 minutes, with maximum effect occurring between 1-3 hours after injection, and the effect may last for up to 5 hours. Due to its shorter duration of action, NovoRapid has a lower risk of causing nighttime low blood sugar episodes.

How to Take NovoRapid Flexpen

Your doctor, diabetes education nurse or pharmacist will give you specific advice on how to use your medicine. Follow their directions carefully as they may differ from general information.

Dosage Instructions

Use NovoRapid immediately (up to 10 minutes) before your meal or carbohydrate snack. When necessary, it may be used immediately after the meal. Inject under the skin into the abdomen, thighs, buttocks or upper arms. Change your injection site regularly to reduce the risk of developing skin problems. Your doctor will tell you exactly how much medicine you need to use.

What If You Miss a Dose?

If you forget your insulin dose, test your blood sugar level as soon as possible. If you are not sure what to do, talk to your doctor, diabetes education nurse or pharmacist. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and use your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, use it as soon as you remember – don’t forget to eat some carbohydrate within 10 minutes of your injection – and then go back to using it as you would normally.

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 levels (hypoglycemia)
• Pain, redness, hives, bruising, swelling or itching at the injection site
• Depression or thickening of the skin around the injection site (lipodystrophy)
• Lumps under the skin (cutaneous amyloidosis)

Important Warnings

There are important safety considerations before using NovoRapid FlexPen. Always discuss your medical history and current medications with your healthcare provider.

Who Should Not Take NovoRapid Flexpen

Do not use NovoRapid if you are allergic to insulin aspart or any of the ingredients, if you are experiencing a low blood sugar level when the dose is due, if the expiry date has passed, or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. If you are blind or have poor eyesight and cannot read the dose counter, do not use this pen without help from someone with good eyesight who is trained to use it.

Medical Conditions to Discuss

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have kidney or liver problems, adrenal, pituitary or thyroid gland problems, heart disease or stroke history, or if you take any other medicines for any other condition. Some patients with long-standing type 2 diabetes and heart disease or previous stroke who are treated with certain medications in combination with insulin may develop heart failure.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

NovoRapid can be used during pregnancy, but pregnancy may make managing your diabetes more difficult. Insulin needs usually decrease during the first three months of pregnancy and increase during the last six months. There are no restrictions on treatment with NovoRapid during breast-feeding. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant, intend to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.

Drug Interactions

Some medicines may interfere with NovoRapid and affect how it works, which may mean your insulin dose has to change.

• Other diabetes medicines
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) for depression
• Alpha-blocking agents for high blood pressure
• Non-selective beta-blocking agents for heart conditions
• ACE inhibitors for heart conditions and high blood pressure
• Salicylates like aspirin
• Anabolic steroids
• Sulfonamides for bacterial infections
• Quinine for malaria prevention
• Quinidine for heart problems
• Glucocorticoids for inflammatory conditions
• Oral contraceptives
• Thiazides, frusemide or ethacrynic acid for high blood pressure
• Thyroid hormones
• Sympathomimetics for asthma
• Growth hormone
• Danazol for endometriosis
• Oxymetholone for blood disorders
• Diazoxide for high blood pressure
• Nicotinic acid for high cholesterol
• Asparaginase for leukemia
• Octreotide for gastrointestinal tumours
• Lanreotide for hormone-related enlargement

Alcohol & Driving

Both alcohol consumption and driving require special consideration when using NovoRapid FlexPen.

Alcohol

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you drink alcohol. Alcohol may mask the symptoms of low blood sugar. If you drink alcohol, your need for insulin may change as your blood sugar level may either rise or fall. Careful monitoring is recommended.

Driving and Operating Machinery

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how the insulin affects you. If your blood sugar is low or high, your concentration and ability to react might be affected, and therefore also your ability to drive or operate a machine. Ask your doctor whether you can drive a car if you have frequent low blood sugar episodes or if you find it hard to recognize hypoglycemia.

Storage

Store NovoRapid FlexPen that are not being used between 2°C and 8°C in a refrigerator (not in or too near the freezer section or cooling element). Keep the NovoRapid FlexPen that you are using, or that you are carrying as a spare, either below 30°C or in a refrigerator (2°C – 8°C). You can use it for up to 4 weeks. Discard NovoRapid FlexPen after 4 weeks even if there is still some NovoRapid left in it. The insulin must not be frozen, or exposed to excessive heat or light. Protect from light by keeping the pen cap on when not in use.

Overdose Information

Using too much NovoRapid can cause your blood sugar level to become too low (hypoglycemia). Early symptoms include cold sweat, fatigue, nervousness, confusion, excessive hunger, vision changes, headache, and nausea. Always carry sugary food or fruit juice with you. If you experience symptoms, immediately eat sugary food or have a sugary drink. If you lose consciousness, others should turn you on your side, get medical help immediately, and not give you anything to eat or drink. If you think you have used too much NovoRapid, contact your doctor immediately, go to the nearest hospital emergency department, or phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26 in Australia or 0800 764 766 in New Zealand).

Frequently Asked Questions