When starting Symlin (for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes), the dose of rapid-acting, short-acting, or mixed insulins given before meals needs to be cut in half. These insulins include:

Insulin aspart (NovoLog^®)
Insulin glulisine (Apidra^®)
Insulin lispro (Humalog^®)
Regular insulin (Humulin R^®, Novolin R^®)
Mixed insulins, including Humalog Mix 75/35^®, Humulin 50/50^®, Humulin 70/30^®, Novolin 70/30^®, and NovoLog 70/30^®.

When starting Symlin, your healthcare provider will need to lower the dose of these insulins (when given before meals) by half. Once you have reached your target Symlin dosage, your healthcare provider will help you adjust your insulin dose if needed. You will need to test your blood sugar often when starting or increasing Symlin, including testing before and after meals, and at bedtime. You should talk with your healthcare provider at least once a week when starting or increasing your Symlin dosage to discuss your blood sugar levels and any changes that need to be made.

General Information on Your Symlin Dosage

Considerations for people taking Symlin include the following:

Symlin comes in an injectable form. It is given just under the skin of the thigh or abdomen (stomach area).
The drug should be injected right before every major meal. A major meal must have at least 250 calories or 30 grams of carbohydrates. If you skip a meal, you should also skip your Symlin dosage.
Do not mix Symlin and insulin, as they are not compatible. They must be given as separate injections. Separate the insulin and Symlin injection sites by at least 2 inches on your body.
Unused Symlin pens must be refrigerated. After the first time a pen is used, it can be stored at room temperature. If you keep your pen in the refrigerator, allow it to warm up to room temperature before injecting.
Symlin used to be available in vials, but this form was discontinued by the manufacturer in 2011. To switch from using a Symlin vial with U-100 syringes (the type most people use for insulin) to Symlin pens, use the following chart to convert units to micrograms (mcg).

Symlin Pen Dosage	Symlin Vial Dosage (U-100 Syringe Units)
15 mcg	2.5 units
30 mcg	5 units
45 mcg	7.5 units
60 mcg	10 units
120 mcg	20 units

For Symlin to work properly, you have to use it as prescribed. The drug will not work if you use it differently from how your healthcare provider recommends.
If you are unsure about anything related to Symlin or your Symlin dosage, talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. Do not stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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Symlin for Diabetics

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD

Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD

Symlin

Symlin Side Effects

Symlin and Blood Sugar

Symlin Uses

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Symlin Drug Interactions

Symlin Warnings and Precautions

Symlin and Pregnancy

Symlin Overdose

Generic Symlin

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