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Levemir® pharmacology

Levemir® is the only basal insulin that remains soluble both before and after injection.1 Once injected, Levemir® is absorbed at a low, sustained rate for a consistent, prolonged duration of action.1 For patients with type 2 diabetes, Levemir® provides 24-hour action at a once-daily dose.2,3










References:

  1. Kurtzhals P. Engineering predictability and protraction in a basal insulin analogue: the pharmacology of insulin detemir. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004;28(suppl 2):S23-S28.
  2. Klein O, Lynge J, Endhal L, Damholt B, Nosek L, Heise T. Albumin-bound basal insulin analogues (insulin detemir and NN344): comparable time-action profiles but less variability than insulin glargine in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2007;9(3):290-299.
  3. Philis-Tsimikas A, Charpentier G, Clauson P, Ravn GM, Roberts VL, Thorsteinsson B. Comparison of once-daily insulin detemir with NPH insulin added to a regimen of oral antidiabetic drugs in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. Clin Ther. 2006;28(10):1569-1581.

  1. Levemir® (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) Indications and Usage

    Levemir® is indicated for once- or twice-daily subcutaneous administration for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus or adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who require basal (long-acting) insulin for the control of hyperglycemia.

    Levemir® Important Safety Information

    Levemir® is contraindicated in patients hypersensitive to insulin detemir or one of its excipients.

    Levemir® should not be diluted or mixed with any other insulin preparations.

    Hypoglycemia is the most common adverse effect of all insulin therapies, including Levemir®. As with other insulins, the timing of hypoglycemic events may differ among various insulin preparations. Glucose monitoring is recommended for all patients with diabetes. Levemir® is not to be used in insulin infusion pumps. Any change of insulin dose should be made cautiously and only under medical supervision. Concomitant oral antidiabetes treatment may require adjustment.

    Needles and Levemir® FlexPen® must not be shared.

    Inadequate dosing or discontinuation of treatment may lead to hyperglycemia and, in patients with type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis. Insulin may cause sodium retention and edema, particularly if previously poor metabolic control is improved by intensified insulin therapy. Dose and timing of administration may need to be adjusted to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia in patients being switched to Levemir® from other intermediate or long-acting insulin preparations. The dose of Levemir® may need to be adjusted in patients with renal or hepatic impairment.

    Other adverse events commonly associated with insulin therapy may include injection site reactions (on average, 3% to 4% of patients in clinical trials) such as lipodystrophy, redness, pain, itching, hives, swelling, and inflammation. Less common but more serious are severe cases of generalized allergy, including anaphylactic reaction, which may be life threatening.

    *Whether these observed differences represent true differences in the effects of Levemir®, NPH insulin, and insulin glargine is not known since these trials were not blinded and the protocols (e.g., diet and exercise instructions and monitoring) were not specifically directed at exploring hypotheses related to weight effects of the treatments compared. The clinical significance of the observed differences in weight has not been established.

    Please see Prescribing InformationPrescribing Information.

FlexPen® and Levemir® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. NovoMedLink™ is a trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S.