Amylinomimetics for diabetes

Examples

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Brand Name	Generic Name
Symlin	pramlintide

Amylinomimetics may be used for type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Pramlintide is given as an injection at mealtimes. Pramlintide is always used with insulin, but the injections are given separately.

How It Works

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Amylinomimetics work with insulin to control blood sugars after meals. This medicine slows down food moving through your stomach and slows down sugars moving into your blood. Pramlintide also lowers your appetite and can help you maintain a healthy weight.

Amylinomimetics are synthetic drugs that act like a naturally occurring hormone called amylin. People with type 1 diabetes do not make amylin themselves. People with type 2 diabetes who need insulin do not make enough amylin.

Why It Is Used

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Amylinomimetics may be used by adults who fulfill all of the following:

• Have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
• Use insulin.
• Need better blood sugar control.

Amylinomimetics do not replace insulin. This medicine works with insulin to help you control your blood sugar.

How Well It Works

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Amylinomimetics used with insulin can improve blood sugar control for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In research studies, pramlintide has not caused weight gain associated with better blood sugar control.^{1 2}

Side Effects

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Nausea is the most common side effect for amylinomimetics.

You have a higher risk of having severe low blood sugar with this medicine. Do not use amylinomimetics if you cannot tell when your blood sugar is low (hypoglycemia unawareness).

Less common side effects include:

• Less appetite.
• Vomiting.
• Stomach pain.
• Tiredness.
• Dizziness.
• Indigestion.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

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Do not use amylinomimetics if you fulfill any of the following:

• Cannot tell when your blood sugar is low (hypoglycemia unawareness).
• Have been diagnosed with gastroparesis, which means your stomach does not empty as fast as it should.
• Have had an allergic reaction to pramlintide.

Amylinomimetics also slow down how fast your body absorbs oral medicines. Talk with your doctor about any other medicines you take. If you are taking oral medicines that need to be rapidly absorbed, you may take them either one hour before or two hours after an injection of an amylinomimetic.

Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. Experts do not know if amylinomimetics can harm an unborn baby or if it passes through breast milk.

If you miss a dose, wait until your next meal and take your usual dose at that meal.

Do not use pramlintide if the liquid in the vial looks cloudy. Pramlintide should be clear.

Do not stop taking amylinomimetics without talking with your doctor first.

Pramlintide has not been studied in children.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

References

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Citations

1. Ratner RE, et al. (2004). Amylin replacement with pramlintide as an adjunct to insulin therapy improves long-term glycaemic and weight control in Type 1 diabetes mellitus: A 1-year randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Medicine, 21(11): 1204–1212.

2. Hollander PA, et al. (2003). Pramlintide as an adjunct to insulin therapy improves long-term glycemic and weight control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care, 26(3): 784–790.

Credits

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Author	Robin Parks, MS
Last Updated	January 17, 2007