Lyumjev: Indications, Side Effects, and Precautions

Introduction

What is Lyumjev?

Lyumjev is a medicine that contains an active ingredient called insulin lispro, which belongs to a group of medicines called blood glucose-lowering agents, a class of medicines that aid in long-term blood sugar control and prevent diabetic complications in affected individuals. It is a dietary insulin (taken before meals) that operates more quickly than other insulin-containing drugs, which helps hasten the body’s absorption of insulin lispro. ¹Introduction | Researched based study from Electronic Medicines Compendium

Indications

Indications of Lyumjev

• Lyumjev is a synthetic, fast-acting insulin used to treat diabetes mellitus in both adults and children (aged below 18 years).
• It works by regulating long-term blood sugar levels and prevents problems associated with diabetes mellitus in affected individuals. ¹Indications| Researched based study from Electronic Medicines Compendium ²Indications | Researched based study from Eli Lilly and Company

Diabetes Mellitus

What is Diabetes Mellitus?

• Diabetes is a condition brought on by high blood sugar (glucose) levels.
• It occurs when your body doesn’t correctly respond to the effects of insulin or when your pancreas either doesn’t generate any or enough insulin.
• The majority of diabetes types are chronic (lifelong), affecting persons of all ages.
• These types are typically treated with medication and/or dietary adjustments.³Diabetes Mellitus | Researched based study from Cleveland Clinic

Dosage

Strengths & Dosage forms of Lyumjev

A pre-filled pen containing Lyumjev is supplied as an aqueous solution that is transparent, colorless & clear, offered at a dosage of 100 units/ml (U-100) and is available as:

• 10 ml vial with multiple-dose
• 3 ml (single-patient use) KwikPen
• 3 ml (single-patient use) Junior KwikPen
• 3 ml (single-patient use) Cartridges
• 3 ml (single-patient use) Tempo pen

It is also offered at a dosage of 200 units/ml (U-200) which is available as:

• 3 ml (single-patient use) KwikPen.⁴Dosage | Researched based study from Food and Drug Administration

Administration

How is Lyumjev Administered? 

Depending on the patient’s glucose monitoring results, blood glucose level, and metabolic requirements, Lyumjev injection is administered as:

• Subcutaneous injection into the buttocks, upper arm, thigh, or abdomen
• Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion
• Intravenous injection (under medical supervision).⁴Administration | Researched based study from Food and Drug Administration

Side Effects

Side Effects of Lyumjev

If any of these symptoms bother you or are persistent, seek assistance from your doctor:

Common side effects:

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Rash
• Allergic reactions
• Pruritus/itching
• Weight gain (obesity)
• Lipodystrophy (thickening/pits at the infusion/injection site)
• Injection site reactions such as pain, or redness of skin

Uncommon side effects:

• Lumps under the skin.¹Side effects | Researched based study from Electronic Medicines Compendium ²Side effects | Researched based study from Eli Lilly and Company

Serious adverse reactions (which may cause a patient to stop administering Lyumjev injection)

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) with associated signs and symptoms such as light-headedness, perspiration, confusion, headaches, blurred vision, slurred speech, trembling, rapid heartbeat, hunger, anxiety, and/or mood swings
• Hypokalemia (low potassium level in blood)
• Severe allergic reactions that are accompanied by symptoms including sweating, dizziness, a rash, difficulty breathing, a rapid heartbeat, swelling of the face, tongue, or neck
• Heart failure with symptoms such as breathing difficulties, arm/foot swelling, and/or a sudden increase in weight
• Unexpected onset of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and ketoacidosis (high levels of ketone in the blood/urine) as a result of insulin pump problems.²Side effects | Researched based study from Eli Lilly and Company

Contraindications

Avoiding Lyumjev is advisable if you:

• Suffer from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Have an allergy to insulin lispro, or any other ingredients in LYUMJEV.²Contraindications | Researched based study from Eli Lilly and Company

Precautions

Warnings & Precautions

Before using Lyumjev, let your doctor know if any of the following apply to you:

• Heart failure or other heart problem
• Take medicines, especially thiazolidinediones (medicines used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus).

Patients with kidney (renal) problems: 

• A doctor should be consulted before administering any medication to a patient who has kidney disease, such as renal impairment, to prevent hypoglycemia. 

Patients with liver (hepatic) problems:

• A doctor should be consulted before administering any medication to a patient who has liver disease, such as hepatic impairment, to prevent hypoglycemia.

Pregnant women:

• If you are attempting to conceive, think you might be pregnant, or are already pregnant, inform your doctor before administering the medicine.
• In general, you need more insulin during the last six months of pregnancy and less during the first three months.
• After you give birth, your insulin requirements will likely return to what they were before you were pregnant. Ask your physician for advice if you still have concerns on the use of medicine.

Breastfeeding women:

• While nursing, Lyumjev therapy is not constrained in any way. Your doctor may advise you to change your diet or insulin dosage during breastfeeding depending on the blood glucose level.

Use in children:

• Children under the age of one should not use Lyumjev because the drug’s safety and effectiveness in this age range have not been established.

Use in aged (geriatric) patients:

• Patients who are elderly (aged 65 years or above) should administer Lyumjev medicine with caution in conjunction with their doctor to prevent unwanted side effects in this age group.¹Precautions | Researched based study from Electronic Medicines Compendium ⁴Precautions | Researched based study from Food and Drug Administration

Interactions

Drug Interactions

Due to possible interactions with Lyumjev, a number of medications shouldn’t be consumed at the same time. Make sure to tell your doctor about all of the medications you are presently taking, including any of those listed below, before beginning Lyumjev treatment:

• Other antidiabetic medicine (used to treat diabetes) Ex. metformin, glimepiride
• Sulphonamide (an antibiotic used to treat infections)
• Acetylsalicylic acid (used to reduce pain & mild fever and to prevent blood clotting)
• Antidepressants (used to prevent blood clotting) such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (Ex. isocarboxazid, phenelzine), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Ex. citalopram, escitalopram)
• Medicines used to treat heart problems or high blood pressure such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (Ex. enalapril, captopril), angiotensin II receptor blockers (Ex. azilsartan, candesartan)
• Somatostatin analogues (used to treat a rare growth hormone excess problem) Ex. octreotide
• Danazol (used to treat endometriosis)
• Contraceptive pill (used to prevent pregnancy) Ex. ethinylestradiol and norethindrone
• Thyroid hormone replacement therapy (type of treatment used to treat thyroid problems).¹Interactions | Researched based study from Electronic Medicines Compendium

Takeaway Tips

Key Points

• A synthetic, fast-acting insulin called Lyumjev is used to treat diabetes mellitus in both adults and children (aged below 18) which controls long-term blood sugar levels and prevents problems associated with the condition
• Diabetes mellitus is a condition that occurs when your blood sugar (glucose) levels are too high causing the body to misreact to the effects of insulin or when your pancreas fails to generate enough insulin.
• Depending on the patient’s glucose monitoring results, blood glucose level, and metabolic requirements, Lyumjev injection might be administered as a subcutaneous injection (at the start of a meal or within 20 minutes after starting a meal), continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, and/or intravenous injection (under medical supervision)
• Common side effects that can occur due to the use of medicine are hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), rash, allergic reaction, pruritus/itching, and/or weight gain (obesity)
• Lyumjev should be avoided if you suffer from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and/or allergy to insulin lispro
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women should use this medicine with caution after consulting the doctor
• Patients with kidney or liver problems should use Lyumjev with caution after consulting the doctor.¹Takeaway Tips | Researched based study from Electronic Medicines Compendium ²Takeaway Tips | Researched based study from Eli Lilly and Company ⁴Takeaway Tips | Researched based study from Food and Drug Administration