Levemir (Insulin Detemir Subcutaneous) - Side Effects and Adverse Reactions

ADVERSE REACTIONS

Adverse events commonly associated with human insulin therapy include the following:

Body as Whole: allergic reactions (see PRECAUTIONS, Allergy).

Skin and Appendages: lipodystrophy, pruritus, rash. Mild injection site reactions occurred more frequently with LEVEMIR than with NPH human insulin and usually resolved in a few days to a few weeks (see PRECAUTIONS, Allergy).

Other:

Hypoglycemia: (see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS).

In trials of up to 6 months duration in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the incidence of severe hypoglycemia with LEVEMIR was comparable to the incidence with NPH, and, as expected, greater overall in patients with type 1 diabetes (Table 4).

Weight gain:

In trials of up to 6 months duration in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, LEVEMIR was associated with somewhat less weight gain than NPH (Table 4). Whether these observed differences represent true differences in the effects of LEVEMIR and NPH insulin is not known, since these trials were not blinded and the protocols (e.g., diet and exercise instructions and monitoring) were not specifically directed at exploring hypotheses related to weight effects of the treatments compared. The clinical significance of the observed differences has not been established.

Table 4: Safety Information on Clinical Studies ¹  

			Weight (kg)		Hypoglycemia (events/subject/month)
	Treatment	# of subjects	Baseline	End of treatment	Major 2	Minor 3
Type 1
Study A	LEVEMIR	N=276	75.0	75.1	0.045	2.184
	NPH	N=133	75.7	76.4	0.035	3.063
Study C	LEVEMIR	N=492	76.5	76.3	0.029	2.397
	NPH	N=257	76.1	76.5	0.027	2.564
Study D Pediatric	LEVEMIR	N=232	N/A	N/A	0.076	2.677
	NPH	N=115	N/A	N/A	0.083	3.203
Type 2
Study E	LEVEMIR	N=237	82.7	83.7	0.001	0.306
	NPH	N=239	82.4	85.2	0.006	0.595
Study F	LEVEMIR	N=195	81.8	82.3	0.003	0.193
	NPH	N=200	79.6	80.9	0.006	0.235

REPORTS OF SUSPECTED LEVEMIR SIDE EFFECTS / ADVERSE REACTIONS

Possible Levemir side effects / adverse reactions in 34 year old female

Reported by a physician from United States on 2011-10-06

Patient: 34 year old female

Reactions: Dyspnoea, Chest Pain, Rash Pruritic

Adverse event resulted in: hospitalization

Suspect drug(s):
Levemir

Possible Levemir side effects / adverse reactions in 39 year old female

Reported by a consumer/non-health professional from United States on 2011-10-10

Patient: 39 year old female weighing 100.7 kg (221.5 pounds)

Reactions: Weight Increased, Dyspnoea, Balance Disorder, Insomnia, Oedema Peripheral

Suspect drug(s):
Novolog
    Dosage: 7 u, tid, before meals
    Indication: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
    Start date: 2011-08-29
    End date: 2011-09-19

Levemir
    Dosage: 30 u, qhs
    Indication: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
    Start date: 2011-08-29
    End date: 2011-09-19

Other drugs received by patient: Multivitamin /00097801/; Vitamin D; Flaxseed OIL; Prenatal Vitamins /01549301/

Possible Levemir side effects / adverse reactions in 78 year old female

Reported by a consumer/non-health professional from United States on 2011-10-14

Patient: 78 year old female

Reactions: Cellulitis, Dehydration, Azotaemia

Adverse event resulted in: hospitalization

Suspect drug(s):
Blinded: Saxagliptin
    Indication: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
    Start date: 2011-02-18

Blinded: Placebo
    Indication: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
    Start date: 2011-02-18

Levemir
    Indication: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Metoprolol Tartrate

Other drugs received by patient: Aspirin