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Novo Nordisk Limited

Broadfield Park, Brighton Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9RT
Telephone: +44 (0)1293 613555
Fax: +44 (0)1293 613535
Medical Information Direct Line: +44 (0)845 600 5055
Medical Information e-mail: ukmedicalinfo@novonordisk.com
Customer Care direct line: +44 (0)845 600 5055
Medical Information Fax: +44 (0)1293 613211

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Summary of Product Characteristics last updated on the eMC: 07/03/2011
SPC Actrapid 100 IU/ml, Solution for Injection in a vial

When a pharmaceutical company changes an SPC or PIL, a new version is published on the eMC. For each version, we show the dates it was published on the eMC and the reasons for change.

Updated on 07/03/2011 and displayed until Current
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 4.4 - Special warnings and precautions for Use
  • Change to section 10 date of revision of the text
Date of revision of text on the SPC:   01-Feb-2011
Legal Category:   POM
Black Triangle (CHM):   NO

Free-text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company



In section 4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use, the addtion of the following paragraph

Combination of Actrapid 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 Actrapid 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.

Date of revision

02/2011

Updated on 07/12/2007 and displayed until 07/03/2011
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 4.4 - Special warnings and precautions for Use
  • Change to section 4.5 - Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
  • Change to section 4.8 - Undesirable Effects
  • Change to section 5.2 - Pharmacokinetic Properties
  • Change to section 6.2 - Incompatibilities
  • Change to section 6. 3 - Shelf Life
  • Change to section 6. 4 - Special Precautions for Storage
  • Change to section 6. 5 - Nature and Contents of Container
  • Change to section 6. 6 - Instructions for use, handling and disposal
  • Change to section 9 - Date of first Authorisation/renewal of the Authorisation
  • Change to section 10 date of revision of the text
Date of revision of text on the SPC:   09/2007
Legal Category:   POM
Black Triangle (CHM):   NO

Free-text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

Inclusion of standard text concerning injection site reactions has been added:

“As with any insulin therapy, injection site reactions may occur and include pain, itching, hives, swelling and inflammation. Continuous rotation of the injection site within a given area may help to reduce or prevent these reactions. Reactions usually resolve in a few days to a few weeks. On rare occasions, injection site reactions may require discontinuation of Actrapid”.

4.5  Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Anabolic steroids and sulphonamides have been added to the list of substances which my reduce insulin requirements. Oral contraceptives have been added to the list of substances which may increase insulin requirements. These changes are to ensure consistency with the corresponding section in the SPCs for analogue insulins.

4.8 Undesirable effects

The following information has been inserted

… “including isolated reports. Within each frequency grouping, undesirable effects are presented in order of decreasing seriousness”.

5.2  Pharmacokinetic properties

Addition of heading:

Children and adolescents:

6.1 List of excipients

“for pH adjustment” has been added for sodium hydroxide

6.2 Incompatibilities

Addition of standard statement that insulin should only be added to compounds with which it is known to be compatible

This information has been added: “Insulin products should only be added to compounds with which it is known to be compatible”.

This information has been deleted “Upon mixing Actrapid with infusion fluids an unpredictable amount of insulin will be adsorbed to the infusion material. Monitoring of the patient's blood glucose during infusion is therefore recommended”.

6.3 Shelf life

“when stored between 2˚C-8˚C” has been added to the shelf life of 30 months.

“when used or stored at room temperature (below 25˚C)” has been added to the shelf life of 6 weeks.

“After first opening” has been deleted.

 “when used or stored at room temperature (below 25˚C)” has been added to the shelf life of 6 weeks.

6.4 Special precautions for storage

There have been a number of editorial changes to these sections, generally to standardise the statements. There have been no changes to the actual shelf life or storage conditions.

“Before use” has been added in front of: “Store in a refrigerator (2°C - 8°C)”.

This sentence has been added “Do not store them in or too near the freezer section or cooling element”.

6.5 Nature and contents of container

Size of container has been specified as “10ml”.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal and other handling

These sentences have been added:

“For intravenous use, infusion systems with Actrapid at concentrations 0.05 IU/ml – 1.0 IU/ml insulin human in he following infusion fluids: 0.9% sodium chloride, 5% dextrose and 10% dextrose inclusive 40 mmol/l potassium chloride, using polypropylene infusion bags, are stable at room temperature for 24 hours. Although stable over time, a certain amount of insulin will initially be absorbed to the material of the infusion bag. Monitoring of blood glucose is necessary during the infusion”.

Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements”.

9.    Date of first authorisation/renewal of the authorisation

Date of last renewal: 18 October 2007

10.  Date of revision of the text

09/2007

Updated on 10/01/2006 and displayed until 07/12/2007
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to joint SPC covering all presentations
Updated on 02/11/2004 and displayed until 10/01/2006
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 4.2 - Posology and Method of Administration
  • Change to section 4.4 - Special Warnings and Precautions for Use
  • Change to section 4.8 - Undesirable Effects
  • Change to section 4.9 - Overdose
  • Change to section 5.1 - Pharmacodynamic Properties
  • Change to section 6. 4 - Special Precautions for Storage
  • Change to section 10 (date of (partial) revision of the text
Updated on 18/09/2003 and displayed until 02/11/2004
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Correction of spelling/typing errors
Updated on 18/07/2003 and displayed until 18/09/2003
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 1 - trade name
Updated on 22/08/2001 and displayed until 18/07/2003
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Transferred from eMC version 1
Updated on 08/08/2001 and displayed until 22/08/2001
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • No reasons supplied
Updated on 19/09/2000 and displayed until 08/08/2001
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • No reasons supplied

Active Ingredients/Generics

 
   human insulin