blood pressure or oedema), thyroid hormones
(used for the treatment of malfunction of the
thyroid gland), sympathomimetics (used for the
treatment of asthma), danazol (used for the
treatment of some female hormonal disorders),
octreotide (used in special endocrine conditions)
and sulphonamides (antibiotic).
Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are
taking or have recently taken any other medicine,
even those not prescribed.
confusion, difficulty in concentration, drowsiness,
excessive hunger, temporary vision changes,
headache, nausea and palpitation.
you should consult your doctor immediately as
these reactions may be due to systemic allergic
reactions which are rare but may be serious.
Your skin may thicken or pit if the injection site is
not rotated.
When you first start your insulin treatment you
may suffer from visual disturbances or swelling of
the extremities.
If you suffer from diarrhoea, vomiting or eat less
than usual you may also need less insulin than
usual.
What to do in case of hypoglycaemia?
If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned
above, you should immediately take sugar or a
sugar containing product. So always carry sugar
lumps, sweets, biscuits or fruit juice with you.
Tell your relatives, friends and close colleagues that
you have diabetes and how they can help you if
you get a severe hypoglycaemic reaction. They
must know that they should not give you anything
to eat or drink if you are unconscious as you could
choke.
If you are unconscious, you should be turned on
your side and your relatives, friends or colleagues
should get medical help immediately. You may
recover from unconsciousness more quickly if you
are given an injection of the hormone glucagon by
a person who has been instructed in how to use it.
If glucagon is injected, you should also be given
sugar, a product containing sugar or glucose by
mouth as soon as you are conscious again. If you
do not respond to glucagon treatment, you will
have to be treated in a hospital.
100 U/ml
NovoMix® 30 FlexPen®
What precautions have to be taken
before going abroad?
The time difference between countries may mean
that you have to take your insulin and meals at
different times than usual. You should therefore
consult your doctor if you are planning to go
abroad.
Suspension for injection in a pre-filled pen
If you notice any side effects not mentioned in this
leaflet, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.
The active substance in NovoMix® 30 FlexPen® is
insulin aspart produced biosynthetically (i.e. by use
of recombinant DNA technology). NovoMix 30
contains 30% insulin aspart in a soluble fraction
and 70% insulin aspart crystallised with protamine.
NovoMix 30 FlexPen also contains the following
other ingredients: Mannitol, Phenol, Metacresol,
Zinc (as chloride), Sodium chloride, Disodium
phosphate dihydrate, Protamine sulphate, Sodium
hydroxide, Hydrochloric acid and Water for
injections.
How to use NovoMix® 30 FlexPen®
To avoid the risk of passing on diseases
NovoMix 30 FlexPen is for use by one person only.
Do not use NovoMix 30 FlexPen if it does not
appear uniformly white and cloudy after shaking.
NovoMix 30 FlexPen should not be used if clumps
of material are present or if solid white particles
stick to the bottom or wall of the cartridges, giving
a frosted appearance.
Remove air from the pen before each injection until
a drop of insulin appears at the tip of the needle.
Do not use NovoMix 30 FlexPen if you need to
make more than 6 airshots before the first
injection.
When you are using NovoMix 30 FlexPen, you
should remove and dispose of the needle after
each injection.
If you do not remove it, temperature changes may
cause liquid to leak out of the needle and the
concentration may change.
Storing NovoMix® 30 FlexPen®
Store NovoMix 30 FlexPen which you are not
using at 2ºC - 8ºC in a refrigerator (not too near
the freezer compartment). Do not freeze.
NovoMix 30 FlexPen that you are using must not
be kept in a refrigerator. NovoMix 30 FlexPen can
be used or carried with you as a spare for up to
4 weeks (not above 30°C), after which it must be
discarded.
Taking NovoMix® 30 FlexPen® with
food and drink
Alcohol (including beer and wine) may lead to
hypoglycaemia (too low blood sugar). Therefore,
be careful when you drink alcohol and never drink
alcohol on an empty stomach.
In order to protect from light keep the cap on
when NovoMix 30 FlexPen is not in use.
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not use after the expiry date stated on the label
and carton.
Do not use NovoMix 30 FlexPen if it does not
appear uniformly white and cloudy after shaking.
Pregnancy
Produced by
Novo Nordisk A/S
DK-2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark
If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy you
should see your doctor immediately to discuss your
need for and type of insulin in order to control your
diabetes and thereby avoid hyperglycaemia
(too high blood sugar) and hypoglycaemia (too low
blood sugar) as these conditions could harm your
baby. There is limited clinical experience with
insulin aspart in pregnancy.
What NovoMix® 30 FlexPen® is and what
it is used for
See your doctor if you have had repeated
hypoglycaemic reactions or one reaction that led to
unconsciousness, as your insulin dose may need to
be changed.
If severe hypoglycaemia is not treated, it can cause
temporary or permanent brain damage, and death.
NovoMix 30 FlexPen is a white suspension for
subcutaneous injection in 3 ml pre-filled pens.
NovoMix 30 FlexPen is an antidiabetic agent, which
lowers your blood sugar after injection. When
injected under your skin (subcutaneously), the
onset of action will occur within 10-20 minutes of
injection, the maximum effect between 1-4 hours,
and the effect will last for up to 24 hours.
Breast-feeding
Take care not to drop or knock the pen.
Do not use the residual scale to measure your dose
of insulin.
Breast-feeding while you are taking insulin does
not put your baby at risk. Your insulin dosage and
diet may, however, need to be adjusted.
If you use less NovoMix® 30 FlexPen®
than you should
If you are ill with fever or if you eat much more
than usual and repeatedly take less insulin than
you need, your blood sugar may become unusually
high (i.e. result in hyperglycaemia).
The symptoms of unusually high blood sugar
levels will appear gradually. They include:
increased urination, thirst, loss of appetite, nausea,
vomiting, drowsiness (fatigue), flushed dry skin, dry
mouth, acetone breath.
Do not refill NovoMix 30 FlexPen.
Do not use NovoMix 30 FlexPen in insulin pumps.
If you switch from another insulin to biphasic
insulin aspart, your dosage may have to be
adjusted by your doctor.
Driving and using machines
Therapeutic indications
Your ability to concentrate or react may be reduced
if you have hypoglycaemia. Please keep this
possible problem in mind in all situations where
you might put yourself and others at risk
(e.g. driving a car or operating machinery). You
should contact your doctor about the advisability
of driving if you have:
NovoMix 30 FlexPen is used for the treatment of
patients with diabetes mellitus (a disease where
your pancreas does not produce enough insulin to
control your blood sugar level). Extra insulin is
therefore needed.
How to handle this insulin
FlexPen pre-filled insulin pens should only be used
in combination with products that are compatible
therewith and allow the pre-filled pens to function
safely and effectively.
Before you use NovoMix® 30 FlexPen®
NovoMix 30 FlexPen should be given immediately
before a meal.
When necessary, NovoMix 30 FlexPen may be given
soon after a meal.
If you have reduced kidney or liver function, your
doctor may lower your insulin dosage.
There is no clinical experience in children and
adolescents under the age of 18 years.
•
•
Frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia
Reduced or absent warning signs of
hypoglycaemia.
What to do in case of hyperglycaemia?
How to take this insulin
If you recognise any of the symptoms mentioned
above, you should test your blood sugar level and
your urine for ketones as soon as possible as the
symptoms may indicate that you have a condition
called ketoacidosis. This condition is critical and if
untreated may result in diabetic coma and death.
You should therefore seek medical advice
Before injection make sure that you have got the
type and strength of insulin prescribed.
NovoMix 30 FlexPen is for injection under the skin
(subcutaneously). NovoMix 30 FlexPen should
never be injected into a vein.
Using other medicines
Your insulin need may change if you take other
medicines. You should therefore consult your
doctor if you are currently taking any of the listed
medicines or medicines which you are not sure of:
Oral hypoglycaemic agents (used for the treatment
of non insulin-dependent (Type 2) diabetes
mellitus), monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors
(used for the treatment of depression), non-
selective beta-blocking agents (used for the
treatment of certain heart conditions and high
blood pressure), angiotensin converting enzyme
(ACE) inhibitors (used for the treatment of certain
heart conditions, high blood pressure or elevated
protein/albumin in the urine), salicylates (e.g.
acetylsalicylic acid, a substance present in many
medicinal products used to relieve pain and lower
fever), anabolic steroids and glucocorticoids (used
to treat inflammatory conditions, except topical
administration), oral contraceptives (used for birth
control), thiazides (used for the treatment of high
The insulin may be injected in the abdomen, thigh,
upper arm or buttock. It is recommended that you
eat a meal or snack containing carbohydrate within
10 minutes of the injection and measure your
blood sugar level regularly. When necessary
NovoMix 30 FlexPen may be given soon after a
meal.
You should not take NovoMix® 30 FlexPen® if:
immediately and possibly take some extra insulin.
•
Your blood sugar is too low (hypoglycaemia).
Follow the guidance for hypoglycaemia
You are allergic to insulin aspart or any
of the other ingredients contained in
NovoMix 30 FlexPen.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, NovoMix 30 FlexPen can have
side effects.
•
NovoMix 30 FlexPen may cause hypoglycaemia of
which the symptoms have been mentioned above.
Redness, swelling and itching at the site of
injection (also called local allergic reactions) may
be experienced by some people. Usually these
symptoms disappear within a few weeks during
continued use.
If the symptoms do not disappear, spread to other
parts of your body or if you suddenly feel sick
(i.e. if you sweat, vomit, have difficulties in
Take special care with NovoMix® 30 FlexPen®
Never stop taking insulin if you are ill. Your need
for insulin may, however, be changed.
If you have an infection, fever or an operation you
may need to have more insulin than usual.
If you use more NovoMix® 30 FlexPen®
than you should
If you take too much insulin, miss a meal or
exercise more than usual, your blood sugar may
become too low (i.e. hypoglycaemia).
NovoMix®, FlexPen®, NovoFine® and Í
are trademarks owned by
Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark
The first symptoms of hypoglycaemia can come
on suddenly. They may include: cold sweats, cool
pale skin, fatigue, nervousness or tremor, anxious
© December 2001
Novo Nordisk A/S
2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark
breathing, have rapid heart beat, feel dizzy),
8-9673-90-001-1
feeling, unusual tiredness and weakness,
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