Home Drug Guide Insulin Aspart Recombinant

Drug Guide

Generic Name

Insulin Aspart Recombinant

Brand Names Novolog, Novolog Penfill, Novolog Flexpen, Novolog Innolet, Novolog Flextouch

Classification

Therapeutic: Antidiabetic Agent

Pharmacological: Rapid-Acting Insulin

FDA Approved Indications

  • Improvement of glycemic control in adults and children with diabetes mellitus

Mechanism of Action

Insulin Aspart is a fast-acting insulin analog that mimics endogenous insulin response to a meal by facilitating cellular glucose uptake and inhibiting hepatic glucose production.

Dosage and Administration

Adult: Individualized dosing; typically injected before meals with adjustments based on blood glucose levels.

Pediatric: Dosing based on weight and blood glucose levels, similar to adults; initial dosing varies.

Geriatric: Adjustments based on renal and hepatic function and comorbidities.

Renal Impairment: Possible need for dose adjustment; monitor blood glucose closely.

Hepatic Impairment: Use with caution; monitor for hypoglycemia due to altered glucose metabolism.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: Rapid absorption with peak effect approximately 1-3 hours post-injection.

Distribution: Distributed to body tissues, small volume of distribution.

Metabolism: Metabolized by insulin-degrading enzymes; hepatic and renal pathways involved.

Excretion: Excreted in urine as metabolites.

Half Life: Approximately 1 hour (elimination half-life).

Contraindications

  • Hypoglycemia
  • Allergy to insulin or excipients

Precautions

  • Use with caution in renal or hepatic impairment, during illness or stress, and in pregnant or lactating women.

Adverse Reactions - Common

  • Hypoglycemia (Common)
  • Lipodystrophy at injection sites (Uncommon)

Adverse Reactions - Serious

  • Severe hypoglycemia (Rare)
  • Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis (Rare)

Drug-Drug Interactions

  • Other antidiabetic agents (risk of hypoglycemia), corticosteroids (may raise blood glucose)

Drug-Food Interactions

  • Alcohol may potentiate or impair glycemic control.

Drug-Herb Interactions

N/A

Nursing Implications

Assessment: Monitor blood glucose regularly, especially around insulin administration.

Diagnoses:

  • Risk for unstable blood glucose
  • Risk for hypoglycemia

Implementation: Administer as prescribed, typically 15 minutes before meals.

Evaluation: Assess blood glucose and HbA1c periodically to evaluate control.

Patient/Family Teaching

  • Inject insulin as prescribed, recognize signs of hypoglycemia, carry quick-acting glucose source.
  • Report hypoglycemic symptoms immediately.
  • Maintain proper storage of insulin.

Special Considerations

Black Box Warnings:

  • Risk of severe hypoglycemia, which can be life-threatening.
  • Potential for hypoglycemia with dosing errors.

Genetic Factors: None specified.

Lab Test Interference: May affect some assays for insulin measurement.

Overdose Management

Signs/Symptoms: Severe hypoglycemia, including sweating, trembling, confusion, unconsciousness.

Treatment: Administer oral glucose if alert; in severe cases, administer glucagon or IV dextrose under medical supervision.

Storage and Handling

Storage: Store unopened vials and pens at 2°C to 8°C. Once in use, can be kept at room temperature (up to 25°C) for up to 28 days.

Stability: Stable for 28 days at room temperature when in use.

🛡️ 5 Critical Medication Safety Tips for Nurses

1

Triple-Check High-Risk Medications

Always have another nurse verify insulin, heparin, warfarin, and chemotherapy drugs. These "high-alert" medications cause the most serious errors. Check concentration, dose calculation, and pump settings twice.

2

Know Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Drugs

Common mix-ups: hydromorphone/morphine, Celebrex/Celexa, Zyprexa/Zyrtec. Always use BOTH generic and brand names, read labels twice, and use barcode scanning when available. One wrong letter can be fatal.

3

Assess Before AND After Giving Meds

Check vitals before cardiac meds, pain levels before analgesics, and blood glucose before insulin. Always reassess within 30 minutes to evaluate effectiveness and watch for adverse reactions.

4

Watch for Drug Interactions

Common dangerous combinations: warfarin + aspirin (bleeding), ACE inhibitors + potassium (hyperkalemia), digoxin + diuretics (toxicity). Always check drug interactions before administering new medications.

5

Educate Your Patients

Teach patients medication names, purposes, major side effects, and what to report. Informed patients catch errors and improve compliance. Always encourage questions - an educated patient is a safer patient.

⚡ Remember: When in doubt, don't give it out! It's always safer to double-check than regret later.

⚠️ Medical Disclaimer

This drug guide is for educational purposes only and is NOT intended for clinical use. Always consult current prescribing information, healthcare providers, and institutional protocols before administering any medication. Do not use this information for patient care decisions.