The injected diabetes drug pramlintide (brand name Symlin) is now available in pen form. Drug manufacturer Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced this week that two new prefilled, pen-injector devices—the SymlinPen 120 and the SymlinPen 60—are now on the market to make the process of injecting mealtime doses of pramlintide simpler and more convenient. Until this week, pramlintide was only available in vials.
The new pens will allow users to inject different fixed doses of pramlintide. The SymlinPen 120 can deliver 60 or 120 micrograms of pramlintide per dose, while the SymlinPen 60 can deliver 15, 30, 45, or 60 micrograms of pramlintide per dose. Both pens can be stored at room temperature (though not to exceed 86° F) once they are in use.
Pramlintide was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2005 for use in people with Type 1 diabetes and people with Type 2 diabetes who take mealtime insulin. Pramlintide is a synthetic analog of the human hormone amylin, which is usually made by the beta cells of the pancreas (the same cells that produce insulin). People with diabetes whose pancreases don’t produce enough (or any) insulin also don’t produce enough amylin at mealtimes.
Injecting pramlintide at mealtimes along with insulin can help people with diabetes control their after-meal blood glucose levels. Several mechanisms contribute to this effect, including slowed stomach emptying. This action can help people feel more full and eat less food; in fact, pramlintide has been shown to help people who are overweight or obese lose weight (see the blog entry “Symlin May Help Obese People Lose Weight.”) The most common side effect of pramlintide treatment is nausea.
In a prepared statement, President and CEO of Amylin Pharmaceuticals Daniel M. Bradbury said that the new pramlintide pens “will make it easier for…patients using multiple daily injections to start and stay with Symlin.” Pramlintide user Jan Chait, who has been waiting for a pen to become available, has blogged about the positives and negatives of her experiences using the drug in “Symlin: Sometimes the Positives Outweigh the Negatives.” You can also read more about pramlintide therapy in the article “Exenatide and Pramlintide: New Meds on the Block”.
I take Lantus and have reg insulin at mealtime. by scale Can Symlin be used this way? I eat out often or am gone from my house so a pen would be great. Can someone let me know via e-mail..
Posted by rethamac | Jan 16, 2008 at 11:42 pmwhere can i bay symlin-pen
Posted by kiki1905 | Mar 27, 2008 at 6:26 pmHi kiki,
You can call your local pharmacies to see if they stock the SymlinPen, but keep in mind that it is available by prescription only, so you will need to see your doctor if you’re interested in trying it.
Posted by Tara Dairman, Web Editor | Mar 28, 2008 at 9:36 amIs there any place out there that will help pay for Symlin. I am a Type 2 Diabetic and have had it for almost 27 years. My Endocrinologist and Dietician just recently started me on Symlin,but my insurance company will not pay for it. I have Medicare Part D and Medicaid. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by coolpanda58 | Sep 11, 2008 at 3:03 pmI just started Symlin and my insurance won’t pay for it. I’m type 2 diabetic and overweight. I pray the symlin will help in weight loss and control my sugar. Is there coupons for this med. Thanks
Posted by Dearly | Feb 25, 2010 at 12:27 pm