Protaphane/Protaphane Penfill

Isophane (NPH) human insulin (recombinant DNA origin).

Insulin human, rDNA (produced by recombinant DNA technology in Saccharomyces cerevisiae).
1 ml contains 100 IU of insulin human.
One IU (International Unit) corresponds to 0.035 mg of anhydrous human insulin.
Protaphane is a suspension of isophane (NPH) insulin.
Protaphane: 1 vial contains 10 ml equivalent to 1,000 IU.
Protaphane Penfill: 1 cartridge contains 3 ml equivalent to 300 IU.
Excipients/Inactive Ingredients: Zinc chloride, glycerol, metacresol, phenol, disodium phosphate dihydrate, sodium hydroxide/hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment), protamine sulphate and water for injections.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Drugs used in diabetes. Insulins and analogues for injection, intermediate-acting, insulin (human). ATC code: A10AC01.
Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: The blood glucose lowering effect of insulin is due to the facilitated uptake of glucose following binding of insulin to receptors on muscle and fat cells and to the simultaneous inhibition of glucose output from the liver.
Protaphane is a human insulin with gradual onset and long duration of action.
Onset of action is within 1½ hours, reaches a maximum effect within 4-12 hours and the entire duration of action is approximately 24 hours.
Pharmacokinetics: Insulin in the blood stream has a half-life of a few minutes. Consequently, the time-action profile of an insulin preparation is determined solely by its absorption characteristics.
This process is influenced by several factors (e.g. insulin dosage, injection route and site, thickness of subcutaneous fat, type of diabetes). The pharmacokinetics of insulin medicinal products are therefore affected by significant intra- and inter-individual variation.
Absorption: The maximum plasma concentration of the insulin is reached within 2-18 hours after subcutaneous administration.
Distribution: No profound binding to plasma proteins, except circulating insulin antibodies (if present) has been observed.
Metabolism: Human insulin is reported to be degraded by insulin protease or insulin-degrading enzymes and possibly protein disulfide isomerase. A number of cleavage (hydrolysis) sites on the human insulin molecule have been proposed; none of the metabolites formed following the cleavage are active.
Elimination: The terminal half-life is determined by the rate of absorption from the subcutaneous tissue. The terminal half-life (t½) is therefore a measure of the absorption rather than of the elimination per se of insulin from plasma (insulin in the blood stream has a t½ of a few minutes). Trials have indicated a t½ of about 5-10 hours.
Toxicology: Preclinical safety data: Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, repeated dose toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenic potential, toxicity to reproduction and development.

Treatment of diabetes mellitus.

The potency of human insulin is expressed in IU.
Protaphane dosing is individual and determined in accordance with the needs of the patient. The physician determines whether one or several daily injections are necessary.
Protaphane may be used alone or mixed with fast-acting insulin. In intensive insulin therapy the suspension may be used as basal insulin (evening and/or morning injection) with fast-acting insulin given at meals. Blood glucose monitoring is recommended to achieve optimal glycaemic control.
The individual insulin requirement is usually between 0.3 and 1.0 IU/kg/day. Adjustment of dose may be necessary if patients undertake increased physical activity, change their usual diet or during concomitant illness.
Special populations: Elderly (≥ 65 years old): Protaphane can be used in elderly patients.
In elderly patients, glucose monitoring should be intensified and the insulin dose adjusted on an individual basis.
Renal and hepatic impairment: Renal or hepatic impairment may reduce the patient's insulin requirements.
In patients with renal or hepatic impairment, glucose monitoring should be intensified and the human insulin dose adjusted on an individual basis.
Paediatric population: Protaphane can be used in children and adolescents.
Transfer from other insulin medicinal products: When transferring from other intermediate or long-acting insulin medicinal products, adjustment of the Protaphane dose and timing of administration may be necessary.
Close glucose monitoring is recommended during the transfer and in the initial weeks thereafter (see Precautions).
Method of administration: Protaphane is a human insulin with gradual onset and long duration of action.
Protaphane is administered subcutaneously by injection in the thigh, the abdominal wall, the gluteal region or the deltoid region. Injection sites should always be rotated within the same region in order to reduce the risk of lipodystrophy and cutaneous amyloidosis (see Precautions and Adverse Reactions). Insulin suspensions are never to be administered intravenously. Injection into a lifted skin fold minimises the risk of unintended intramuscular injection.
The needle should be kept under the skin for at least 6 seconds to make sure the entire dose is injected. Subcutaneous injection into the thigh results in a slower and less variable absorption compared to the other injection sites. The duration of action will vary according to the dose, injection site, blood flow, temperature and level of physical activity.
Insulin suspensions are not to be used in insulin infusion pumps.
Protaphane vials are for use with insulin syringes with a corresponding unit scale.
Protaphane Penfill is designed to be used with Novo Nordisk delivery systems and NovoFine or NovoTwist needles.
Protaphane/Protaphane Penfill is accompanied by a package leaflet with detailed instructions for use to be followed.

A specific overdose of insulin cannot be defined, however, hypoglycaemia may develop over sequential stages if too high a dose relative to the patient's requirement is administered: Mild hypoglycaemic episodes can be treated by oral administration of glucose or sugary products. It is therefore recommended that the diabetic patient always carries sugar-containing products.
Severe hypoglycaemic episodes, where the patient has become unconscious, can be treated with glucagon (0.5 to 1 mg) given intramuscularly or subcutaneously by a trained person, or with glucose given intravenously by a healthcare professional. Glucose must be given intravenously, if the patient does not respond to glucagon within 10 to 15 minutes. Upon regaining consciousness, administration of an oral carbohydrate is recommended for the patient in order to prevent a relapse.

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.

Before travelling between different time zones, the patient should seek the doctor's advice since this may mean that the patient has to take the insulin and meals at different times.
Hyperglycaemia: Inadequate dosing or discontinuation of treatment, especially in type 1 diabetes, may lead to hyperglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis. Usually, the first symptoms of hyperglycaemia develop gradually over a period of hours or days. They include thirst, increased frequency of urination, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, flushed dry skin, dry mouth, loss of appetite as well as acetone odour of breath. In type 1 diabetes, untreated hyperglycaemic events eventually lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, which is potentially lethal.
Hypoglycaemia: Omission of a meal or unplanned, strenuous physical exercise may lead to hypoglycaemia.
Hypoglycaemia may occur if the insulin dose is too high in relation to the insulin requirement. In case of hypoglycaemia or if hypoglycaemia is suspected, Protaphane must not be injected. After stabilisation of the patient's blood glucose, adjustment of the dose should be considered (see Adverse Reactions and Overdosage).
Patients whose blood glucose control is greatly improved, e.g. by intensified insulin therapy, may experience a change in their usual warning symptoms of hypoglycaemia and should be advised accordingly. Usual warning symptoms may disappear in patients with longstanding diabetes.
Concomitant illness, especially infections and feverish conditions, usually increases the patient's insulin requirement. Concomitant diseases in the kidney, liver or affecting the adrenal, pituitary or thyroid gland can require changes in the insulin dose.
When patients are transferred between different types of insulin medicinal products, the early warning symptoms of hypoglycaemia may change or become less pronounced than those experienced with their previous insulin.
Transfer from other insulin medicinal products: Transferring a patient to another type or brand of insulin should be done under strict medical supervision.
Changes in strength, brand (manufacturer), type, origin (animal insulin, human insulin or insulin analogue) and/or method of manufacture (recombinant DNA versus animal source insulin) may result in a need for a change in dose. Patients transferred to Protaphane from another type of insulin may require an increased number of daily injections or change in dose from that used with their usual insulin medicinal products. If an adjustment is needed, it may occur with the first dose or during the first few weeks or months.
Injection site reactions: As with any insulin therapy, injection site reactions may occur and include pain, redness, hives, inflammation, bruising, swelling and itching. Continuous rotation of the injection site within a given area reduces the risk of developing these reactions. Reactions usually resolve in a few days to a few weeks. On rare occasions, injection site reactions may require discontinuation of Protaphane.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Patients must be instructed to perform continuous rotation of the injection site to reduce the risk of developing lipodystrophy and cutaneous amyloidosis. There is a potential risk of delayed insulin absorption and worsened glycaemic control following insulin injections at sites with these reactions. A sudden change in the injection site to an unaffected area has been reported to result in hypoglycaemia. Blood glucose monitoring is recommended after the change in the injection site from an affected to an unaffected area, and dose adjustment of antidiabetic medications may be considered.
Combination of Protaphane with pioglitazone: Cases of cardiac failure have been reported when pioglitazone was used in combination with insulin, especially in patients with risk factors for development of cardiac heart failure. This should be kept in mind if treatment with the combination of pioglitazone and Protaphane is considered. If the combination is used, patients should be observed for signs and symptoms of heart failure, weight gain and oedema. Pioglitazone should be discontinued if any deterioration in cardiac symptoms occurs.
Avoidance of accidental mix-ups/medication errors: Patients must be instructed to always check the insulin label before each injection to avoid accidental mix-ups between Protaphane and other insulin products.
Traceability: In order to improve the traceability of biological medicinal products, the name and the batch number of the administered product should be clearly recorded.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: The patient's ability to concentrate and react may be impaired as a result of hypoglycaemia. This may constitute a risk in situations where these abilities are of special importance (e.g. driving a car or operating machinery).
Patients should be advised to take precautions to avoid hypoglycaemia while driving. This is particularly important in those who have reduced or absent awareness of the warning signs of hypoglycaemia or have frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia. The advisability of driving should be considered in these circumstances.

Pregnancy: There are no restrictions on treatment of diabetes with insulin during pregnancy, as insulin does not pass the placental barrier.
Both hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia, which can occur in inadequately controlled diabetes therapy, increase the risk of malformations and death in utero. Intensified blood glucose control and monitoring of pregnant women with diabetes are recommended throughout pregnancy and when contemplating pregnancy.
Insulin requirements usually fall in the first trimester and increase subsequently during the second and third trimesters. After delivery, insulin requirements normally return rapidly to pre-pregnancy values.
Breast-feeding: There is no restriction on treatment with Protaphane during breast-feeding. Insulin treatment of the nursing mother presents no risk to the baby. However, the Protaphane dose may need to be adjusted.
Fertility: Animal reproduction studies with human insulin have not revealed any adverse effects on fertility.

Summary of the safety profile: The most frequently reported adverse reaction during treatment is hypoglycaemia. The frequencies of hypoglycaemia vary with patient population, dose regimens and level of glycaemic control, please see Description of selected adverse reactions as follows.
At the beginning of the insulin treatment, refraction anomalies, oedema and injection site reactions (pain, redness, hives, inflammation, bruising, swelling and itching at the injection site) may occur. These reactions are usually of transitory nature. Fast improvement in blood glucose control may be associated with acute painful neuropathy, which is usually reversible. Intensification of insulin therapy with abrupt improvement in glycaemic control may be associated with temporary worsening of diabetic retinopathy, while long-term improved glycaemic control decreases the risk of progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Tabulated list of adverse reactions: The adverse reactions listed as follows are based on clinical trial data and classified according to MedDRA frequency and System Organ Class. Frequency categories are defined according to the following convention: Very common (≥ 1/10); common (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10); uncommon (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100); rare (≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000); very rare (< 1/10,000); not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). (See table.)

Click on icon to see table/diagram/image

Description of selected adverse reactions: Anaphylactic reactions: The occurrence of generalised hypersensitivity reactions (including generalised skin rash, itching, sweating, gastrointestinal upset, angioneurotic oedema, difficulty in breathing, palpitation and reduction in blood pressure) is very rare but can potentially be life threatening.
Hypoglycaemia: The most frequently reported adverse reaction is hypoglycaemia. It may occur if the insulin dose is too high in relation to the insulin requirement. Severe hypoglycaemia may lead to unconsciousness and/or convulsions and may result in temporary or permanent impairment of brain function or even death. The symptoms of hypoglycaemia usually occur suddenly. They may include cold sweats, cool pale skin, fatigue, nervousness or tremor, anxiousness, unusual tiredness or weakness, confusion, difficulty in concentrating, drowsiness, excessive hunger, vision changes, headache, nausea and palpitation.
In clinical trials, the frequency of hypoglycaemia varied with patient population, dose regimens and level of glycaemic control.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Lipodystrophy (including lipohypertrophy, lipoatrophy) and cutaneous amyloidosis may occur at the injection site and delay local insulin absorption. Continuous rotation of the injection site within the given injection area may help to reduce or prevent these reactions (see Precautions).
Paediatric population: Based on post-marketing sources and clinical trials, the frequency, type and severity of adverse reactions observed in the paediatric population do not indicate any differences to the broader experience in the general population.
Other special populations: Based on post-marketing sources and clinical trials, the frequency, type and severity of adverse reactions observed in elderly patients and in patients with renal or hepatic impairment do not indicate any differences to the broader experience in the general population.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions: Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions.

A number of medicinal products are known to interact with the glucose metabolism.
The following substances may reduce the patient's insulin requirement: Oral antidiabetic products, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, salicylates, anabolic steroids and sulfonamides.
The following substances may increase the patient's insulin requirement: Oral contraceptives, thiazides, glucocorticoids, thyroid hormones, sympathomimetics, growth hormone and danazol.
Beta-blockers may mask the symptoms of hypoglycaemia.
Octreotide/lanreotide may either increase or decrease the insulin requirement.
Alcohol may intensify or reduce the hypoglycaemic effect of insulin.

Special precautions for disposal and other handling: Insulin preparations which have been frozen must not be used.
After removing Protaphane vial/Protaphane Penfill from the refrigerator, it is recommended to allow the vial/Penfill to reach room temperature before resuspending the insulin as instructed for first time use.
Insulin suspensions should not be used if they do not appear uniformly white and cloudy after resuspension.
Protaphane Penfill: Cartridges should only be used in combination with products that are compatible with them and allow the cartridge to function safely and effectively.
Needles and Protaphane Penfill must not be shared. The container must not be refilled.
The patients should be advised to discard the needle after each injection.
Incompatibilities: Insulin medicinal products should only be added to compounds with which it is known to be compatible. Insulin suspensions should not be added to infusion fluids.

Store in a refrigerator (2°C-8°C). Keep away from the cooling element. Do not freeze.
Keep the vial/cartridge in the outer carton in order to protect from light. Protaphane must be protected from excessive heat and light.
After first opening or carried as a spare: Do not refrigerate.
Protaphane vial: The in-use shelf life is 6 weeks when stored below 25°C or 4 weeks when stored below 30°C.
Protaphane Penfill: The in-use shelf life is 6 weeks when stored below 30°C.

Do not use Protaphane: In insulin infusion pumps; If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to human insulin or any of the other ingredients in Protaphane; If you suspect hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) is starting; If it has not been stored correctly or been frozen; If the resuspended insulin does not appear uniformly white and cloudy.
Do not use Protaphane vial if the protective cap is loose or missing. Each vial has a protective, tamper-proof plastic cap. If it is not in perfect condition when you get the vial, return the vial to your pharmacy.
Do not use Protaphane Penfill if the cartridge or the device containing the cartridge is dropped, damaged or crushed.
Before using Protaphane: Check the label to make sure it is the right type of insulin.
Protaphane: Remove the protective cap.
Protaphane Penfill: Always check the cartridge, including the rubber stopper. Do not use it if any damage is seen or if there is a gap between the rubber stopper and the white label band. Take it back to your pharmacy. See your delivery system manual for further instructions.
Always use a new needle for each injection to prevent contamination.
Needles and Protaphane Penfill must not be shared.
How to use this insulin: Protaphane is administered by injection under the skin (subcutaneously). Never inject your insulin directly into a vein or muscle. Always vary the sites you inject within the same region, to reduce the risk of developing lumps or skin pitting. The best places to give yourself an injection are: your buttocks; the front of your thighs or upper arms.
How to inject Protaphane vial on its own or to mix with fast-acting insulin: Make sure you have the correct syringe with the corresponding unit scale for insulin injections.
Draw air into the syringe in the same amount as the dose of insulin you need.
Follow the instructions given by your doctor or nurse.
Just before injecting this insulin, roll the vial between your hands until the liquid is uniformly white and cloudy. Resuspending is easier if the insulin has reached room temperature.
Inject the insulin under the skin. Use the injection technique advised by your doctor or nurse.
Keep the needle under your skin for at least 6 seconds to make sure that the full dose has been delivered.
Resuspending the insulin: Protaphane Penfill: Resuspending is easier when the insulin has reached room temperature.
Before you put the Penfill cartridge into the insulin delivery system, move it up and down so that the glass ball moves from one end of the cartridge to the other at least 20 times. Repeat this movement at least 10 times before each injection. The movement must always be repeated until the liquid appears uniformly white and cloudy. Complete the other stages of injection without delay.
Check there are at least 12 units of insulin left in the cartridge to allow even resuspending. If there are less than 12 units left, use a new one.
How to inject Protaphane Penfill: Inject the insulin under the skin. Use the injection technique advised by your doctor or nurse as described in your delivery system manual.
Keep the needle under your skin for at least 6 seconds. Keep the push-button fully depressed until the needle has been withdrawn. This will ensure correct delivery and limit possible flow of blood into the needle or insulin reservoir.
After each injection, be sure to remove and discard the needle and store Protaphane without the needle attached. Otherwise the liquid may leak out which can cause inaccurate dosing.
Do not refill Protaphane Penfill.
Penfill cartridges are designed to be used with Novo Nordisk insulin delivery systems and NovoFine or NovoTwist needles. If you are treated with Protaphane Penfill and another insulin Penfill cartridge, you should use two insulin delivery systems, one for each type of insulin.
As a precautionary measure, always carry a spare insulin delivery system in case your Penfill is lost or damaged.

Insulin Preparations

A10AC01 - insulin (human) ; Belongs to the class of intermediate-acting insulins and analogues. Used in the treatment of diabetes.

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