What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Novolin R?
Talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Novolin
® R (
regular insulin) if you have:
- Kidney disease, such as kidney failure (renal failure)
- Liver disease, such as liver failure, cirrhosis, or hepatitis
- Any allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medications you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Specific Novolin R Warnings and Precautions
Some warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking
Novolin R include the following:
- Even though Novolin R is available without a prescription, it should only be used with your healthcare provider's approval and supervision. Using this medication inappropriately can be lethal.
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is the most common and most serious side effect of insulin medications, including Novolin R. Make sure you and those around you know how to identify the warning signs for low blood sugar and how to respond. You must test your blood sugar levels regularly while taking Novolin R or any other insulin. Low blood sugar levels can be a life-threatening problem.
- Liver and kidney problems may affect your Novolin R dosage. Also, changes in diet or exercise, illness, or stress may affect your blood sugar levels in such a way that your dosage needs to be adjusted.
- Make sure your healthcare provider shows you exactly how to inject Novolin R, how to store the drug, and how to dispose of your used needles.
- This diabetes medication can potentially interact with several other medications (see Novolin R Drug Interactions).
- Novolin R is considered a pregnancy Category B medication. This means it is most likely safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are not known (see Novolin R and Pregnancy).
- It is not known if Novolin R passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Novolin R and Breastfeeding).
