What is Novolin GE 50/50 Penfill Cartridge?

It is a pre-mixed insulin cartridge that contains 40% Regular Insulin (a short-acting Insulin) and 60% Insulin Isophane or NPH (intermediate-acting insulin).

Novolin GE 50/50 Penfill Cartridge appears to be a cloudy or milky suspension. It is an Over the Counter (OTC) medicine that has 100 units/mL solution for injection.

What is it used for?

Novolin GE 50/50 helps reduce blood glucose levels in adults or pediatric patients who have Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Novolin helps prevent blindness, nerve problems, kidney damage, heart attack, and stroke.

How does it work?

Novolin regulates glucose metabolism by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake and enhances amino acid synthesis. It can also inhibit lipolysis, proteolysis, and hepatic glucose synthesis. It has a maximum effect between 2-8 hours after injection and stops working after 18 hours.

How to take it?

Inspect if the Novolin cartridge contains a cloudy or white solution. Gently roll the pen between the palms before injection. Discard the cartridge immediately if the medicine appears grainy, has crystals, or is lumpy. The patient can take this medication 30 minutes before meals. The patient may inject Novolin subcutaneously in the abdomen, upper arms, buttocks, or upper legs and change the administration site every after the dose to lessen the risk of developing skin problems in the injection site. Do not inject intravenously or intramuscularly. Do not rub the site of injection after administration.

Dosage

Dosage is based on the patient’s metabolic needs, blood sugar monitoring, and glycemic control goal. Dose adjustments may be done with patients taking Novolin with other drugs or a Change in Insulin regimen.

Side Effects

Sweating, dizziness or light-headedness, hunger, fast heart rate, headache, slurred speech, blurred vision, and anxiety are the common symptoms of taking this medication.

Warnings, Precautions, and Contraindications

Never share Novolin GE 50/50 Cartridges with other patients even if the needle is changed. Thiazolidinediones or other Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR)-gamma agonists in combination with Novolin can cause fluid retention and may progress to heart failure. Dose adjustments must be done for a patient taking this medication with ACE inhibitors, Antidiabetic agents, Angiotensin II receptor blockers, sulphonamide antibiotics, atypical antipsychotics, corticosteroids, sympathomimetic agents, alcohol, beta-blockers, pentamidine, and reserpine. Patients with Renal impairment and Hepatic impairment have an increased risk of having hypoglycemia and thus require frequent blood sugar monitoring.

Adverse Effect

Novolin may cause acute peripheral neuropathy, worsen diabetic retinopathy, Anaphylaxis due to hypersensitivity, Hypoglycemia, Hypokalemia, depression of the skin, enlargement or thickening of tissue, weight gain, sodium retention, edema because of poor metabolic control, Localized cutaneous amyloidosis.

Storage

Do not freeze or expose to direct heat as it will destroy the product. Keep Novolin 30/70 cartridges inside the carton so they will stay clean. The sealed cartridge is stored in a refrigerator with a temperature ranging from 2-8°C The cartridge that is currently in use should not be stored in the refrigerator and be kept a room temperature. Unrefrigerated cartridges must be thrown away 28 days if stored in room temperature.

Disposal

Do not dispose of this drug in wastewater or recycle needles and syringes. Placed used needles in a puncture-resistant sharps container with a screw cap.