Your SYMLIN dose

Dosing: How to determine the right SYMLIN dose for you

Always follow your healthcare provider's directions for how much SYMLIN to take. SYMLIN should be started at a low dose and then increased. The highest dose you take is called a maintenance dose. This is the dose you will stay on (or maintain). Once you have reached this dose, you do not need to change it unless your healthcare provider tells you to.

For people with type 2 diabetes

  • The starting dose of SYMLIN is 60 micrograms taken right before each major meal
  • Your healthcare provider will tell you to increase the dose of SYMLIN to 120 micrograms if you have not had any nausea for 3 or more days. You should not change your dose of SYMLIN unless your healthcare provider tells you to

For people with type 1 diabetes

  • The starting dose of SYMLIN is 15 micrograms taken right before each major meal
  • Your healthcare provider will tell you to increase the dose of SYMLIN every 3 days if you are not having nausea. The dose will increase to 30, then to 45, and lastly to 60 micrograms. You should not change your dose of SYMLIN unless your healthcare provider tells you to

Taking SYMLIN and mealtime insulin

SYMLIN itself does not cause low blood sugar. But even when SYMLIN is carefully added to your mealtime insulin treatment, the insulin you take may cause your blood sugar to drop too low (severe hypoglycemia). This happens because SYMLIN affects how much sugar gets into your blood after meals and how fast it gets there. Less sugar going into your blood means you need less mealtime insulin to control your blood sugar after meals.

It's really important for you to know how much mealtime insulin your healthcare provider wants you to take before each meal. Please be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about your mealtime insulin doses.

What is mealtime insulin?

Mealtime insulin is usually taken before a meal. It is the type of insulin that helps the body use the sugar that comes from the foods you eat in a meal. Examples of mealtime insulin include:

  • Rapid-acting insulin, such as:
    • - Humalog® (insulin lispro)
    • - NovoLog® (insulin aspart)
    • - Apidra® (insulin glulisine)

  • Regular (short-acting) insulin

Premixed insulins also contain some rapid-acting insulin. Examples include Humalog® Mix 75/25™ and NovoLog® Mix 70/30.

Be sure to work closely with your healthcare provider to understand how to add SYMLIN to your mealtime insulin therapy.

SYMLIN is an injectable medicine for adults with type 2 and type 1 diabetes to control blood sugar. It is always used with insulin to help lower blood sugar during the 3 hours after meals. SYMLIN is used with insulin to lower blood sugar but your blood sugar may drop too low (severe hypoglycemia), especially if you have type 1 diabetes. You must use SYMLIN exactly as prescribed. Nausea is the most common side effect with SYMLIN. When you start taking SYMLIN, it is important to follow your healthcare provider's directions. Only your healthcare provider can decide what changes you need to make to your diabetes treatment plan to reduce your chance of very low blood sugar, which is also called severe hypoglycemia. Never mix SYMLIN and insulin.

Please see the SYMLIN Medication Guide and Important Patient Safety Information, including information about the risk of severe low blood sugar.