home > drugs a-z list > apidra (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) drug center > apidra (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) drug - side effects and drug interactions

The following adverse reactions are discussed elsewhere:

Hypoglycemia [See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]

Hypokalemia [See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]

Clinical trial experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying designs, the adverse reaction rates reported in one clinical trial may not be easily compared to those rates reported in another clinical trial, and may not reflect the rates actually observed in clinical practice.

The frequencies of adverse drug reactions during APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) clinical trials in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus are listed in the tables below.

Table 1: Treatment –emergent adverse events in pooled studies of adults with type 1 diabetes (adverse events with frequency ≥ 5%)

Table 2: Treatment –emergent adverse events in pooled studies of adults with type 2 diabetes (adverse events with frequency ≥ 5%)

• Pediatrics

Table 3 summarizes the adverse reactions occurring with frequency higher than 5% in a clinical study in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes treated with APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) (n=277) or insulin lispro (n=295).

Table 3: Treatment –emergent adverse events in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (adverse reactions with frequency ≥5%)

• Severe symptomatic hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is the most commonly observed adverse reaction in patients using insulin, including APIDRA [See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. The rates and incidence of severe symptomatic hypoglycemia, defined as hypoglycemia requiring intervention from a third party, were comparable for all treatment regimens (see Table 4). In the phase 3 clinical trial, children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes had a higher incidence of severe symptomatic hypoglycemia in the two treatment groups compared to adults with type 1 diabetes. (see Table 4) [See Clinical Studies].

Table 4: Severe Symptomatic Hypoglycemia*

• Insulin initiation and intensification of glucose control

Intensification or rapid improvement in glucose control has been associated with a transitory, reversible ophthalmologic refraction disorder, worsening of diabetic retinopathy, and acute painful peripheral neuropathy. However, long-term glycemic control decreases the risk of diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy.

• Lipodystrophy

Long-term use of insulin, including APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) , can cause lipodystrophy at the site of repeated insulin injections or infusion. Lipodystrophy includes lipohypertrophy (thickening of adipose tissue) and lipoatrophy (thinning of adipose tissue), and may affect insulin absorption. Rotate insulin injection or infusion sites within the same region to reduce the risk of lipodystrophy. [See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].

• Weight gain

Weight gain can occur with insulin therapy, including APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) , and has been attributed to the anabolic effects of insulin and the decrease in glucosuria.

• Peripheral Edema

Insulin, including APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) , may cause sodium retention and edema, particularly if previously poor metabolic control is improved by intensified insulin therapy.

• Adverse Reactions with Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion (CSII)

In a 12-week randomized study in patients with type 1 diabetes (n=59), the rates of catheter occlusions and infusion site reactions were similar for APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) and insulin aspart treated patients (Table 5).

Table 5: Catheter Occlusions and Infusion Site Reactions.

• Allergic Reactions

Local Allergy

As with any insulin therapy, patients taking APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) may experience redness, swelling, or itching at the site of injection. These minor reactions usually resolve in a few days to a few weeks, but in some occasions may require discontinuation of APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) . In some instances, these reactions may be related to factors other than insulin, such as irritants in a skin cleansing agent or poor injection technique.

Systemic Allergy

Severe, life-threatening, generalized allergy, including anaphylaxis, may occur with any insulin, including APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) . Generalized allergy to insulin may cause whole body rash (including pruritus), dyspnea, wheezing, hypotension, tachycardia, or diaphoresis.

In controlled clinical trials up to 12 months duration, potential systemic allergic reactions were reported in 79 of 1833 patients (4.3%) who received APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) and 58 of 1524 patients (3.8%) who received the comparator short-acting insulins. During these trials treatment with APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) was permanently discontinued in 1 of 1833 patients due to a potential systemic allergic reaction.

Localized reactions and generalized myalgias have been reported with the use of metacresol, which is an excipient of APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) .

Antibody Production

In a study in patients with type 1 diabetes (n=333), the concentrations of insulin antibodies that react with both human insulin and insulin glulisine (cross-reactive insulin antibodies) remained near baseline during the first 6 months of the study in the patients treated with APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) . A decrease in antibody concentration was observed during the following 6 months of the study. In a study in patients with type 2 diabetes (n=411), a similar increase in cross-reactive insulin antibody concentration was observed in the patients treated with APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) and in the patients treated with human insulin during the first 9 months of the study. Thereafter the concentration of antibodies decreased in the APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) patients and remained stable in the human insulin patients. There was no correlation between cross-reactive insulin antibody concentration and changes in HbA1c, insulin doses, or incidence of hypoglycemia. The clinical significance of these antibodies is not known.

APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) did not elicit a significant antibody response in a study of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Postmarketing experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) . Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to estimate reliably their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Medication errors have been reported in which other insulins, particularly long-acting insulins, have been accidentally administered instead of APIDRA [See Patient Counseling Information].

A number of drugs affect glucose metabolism and may necessitate insulin dose adjustment and particularly close monitoring.

Drugs that may increase the blood glucose-lowering effect of insulins including APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) , and therefore increase the risk of hypoglycemia, include oral antidiabetic products, pramlintide, ACE inhibitors, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, propoxyphene, pentoxifylline, salicylates, somatostatin analogs, and sulfonamide antibiotics.

Drugs that may reduce the blood-glucose-lowering effect of APIDRA (insulin glulisine [rdna origin] inj) include corticosteroids, niacin, danazol, diuretics, sympathomimetic agents (e.g., epinephrine, albuterol, terbutaline), glucagon, isoniazid, phenothiazine derivatives, somatropin, thyroid hormones, estrogens, progestogens (e.g., in oral contraceptives), protease inhibitors, and atypical antipsychotics.

Beta-blockers, clonidine, lithium salts, and alcohol may either increase or decrease the blood-glucose-lowering effect of insulin.

Pentamidine may cause hypoglycemia, which may sometimes be followed by hyperglycemia.

The signs of hypoglycemia may be reduced or absent in patients taking anti-adrenergic drugs such as beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine.

Last reviewed on RxList: 12/9/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.