Allergic to Levemir?

[lizd]

Hi,
I was just wondering if anyone else has this problem. I seem to get large red lumps when I inject Levemir which are painful. They go away after a few days and have nothing to do with over using the same injection sites. My healthcare professional told me I must be having allergic reactions but that Levemir is one of the best insulins for not giving people reactions so i really have to just live with it.

Anyone any advice? Am I really that unusual?
:? Thanks,
Liz

 

[janabelle]

Hi Liz
An obvious allergic reaction suchas the one you describe should be taken seriously. Usually leaflets with any medications advise that you consult your doctor if a reaction occurs. I am surprised at your doctor's advice to continue the medicaiton especially as there are alternatives available.
What does the leaflet that comes with Levemir recommend? I would suggest that you contact the manufacturer direct and ask to speak to their medical advisor.
I have no personal experience with Levemir. You should NOT stop taking your "insulin" until you have an alternative, this would be dangerous-get back to your GP if problem persists.
Take care
Jus

 

[LittleSue]

Name any medication or food, and you could find someone who's allergic to it. Just because you're allergic to Levemir doesn't mean you'd be allergic to the others as well. I've been tried on 2 insulins that were supposed to be the best ever; both diastrous for me, however, Levemir suits me. Everyone's different.

Suggest you ask your healthcare professional (preferably a hospital specialist, not a GP or practice nurse) about trying other insulins, including porcine. Sounds like your current advisor just can't be bothered. If you're not under a specialist team, ask for a referral. Specialists have often come across this before and are far more knowledgeable than generalists.

Sue

 

[stabatha]

I got red lumps too when I started on Levemir . I dont know if it's got anything do do with it , but when I started to inject deeper I didn't seem to get them as often I also deliver it much slower as it stings if I inject it too fast, this happend with the Lantus I was on too, but the design of the pens meant it shot in really fast , that used to really hurt. So I much prefer the Levemir pens because I can controll the speed of delivery and it's less painful, its worth a few lumps every now and then . The leaflet says that (side effects reported commonly), redness, swelling, inflamation, itching and bruising at the injection site may occur and that these usually dissapear after a few weeks and that if they dont then to go and see GP , so if you have been on it for longer than this you may have to go back and tell them.

 

[Pattidevans]

I had the same as Stabatha. Getting longer needles cured the red itchy bumps altogether.

 

[EEM7]

Hi

Just to let you know I tried Levemir, and got the same red bumps, it was not very nice. I was taken of it and put back onto lantus but twice a day instead. It would be good to go and speak to someone.. as it really is quite painfull

Hope all goes ok.

 

[stabatha]

so are those Lantus pens, They're nasty, especially when you are injecting higher doses. You would think they would design something more gentle, or maybe the people that designed them don't actually try injecting themselves with them every day . I'll stick to my Levemir and occasional lump, I would only consider going back to Lantus if they changed the pens, there really is no need to catapult it in so fast, it hurts me :cry:

 

[lionrampant]

Ask your doc to switch you to the higher dosage "Solostar" Lantus pens. They're dial-up and dial-down just like normal injection pens. And unlike the standard Lantus pens, they don't jam.

 

[stabatha]

Thanks for the advice lionrampant , I've never heard of them ones ,I do love this forum!! you get to find out all sorts of things the docs dont tell you. anything has got to be better than those standard pens, my one was often getting jammed, I used to dread every night . I could have kissed the nurse when she changed my insulin ,mainly due to the dawn phemomenon (prob spelt that wrong) , I refused to up the dose any higher on the Lantus pen because of the pain , but I would ,and could have stayed on Lantus if I had known, as I would have happily injected more as long as it went in slower, but she didnt mention any other pens.

 

[lizd]

Thanks everyone for all your advice - it is good to hear that other people have the same problems! I think I'll talk to my diabetes team about changing insulin type and see how I get on.
Thanks again,
Liz

 

[Lebsky]

My son was on lantus but it made him very unwell hes been on Levemir for about 2 months and this has made him unwell also he has headaches, stomach pains flue like symptoms which where similar to what lantus did. Hes had many days off school, we are about to trial Tresiba, i wanted to try a Procine indulin but the Consultant said we could not as its not used anymore and if i persisted with wanting to trial a Procine insulin he would not be able to be my sons consultant anymore. This really upset me. My son is being sent to have lots test to rule out why hes ill as the consultant does not seem to acknowledge that its the Insulin.
I hope the Levemir suits you but it took a few weeks for my son to start feeling really ill as it did with the lantus