Levemir FlexPen (Insulin detemir) 100 units/ml solution for injection in pre-filled pen

*
Pharmacy Only: Prescription
  • Company:

    Novo Nordisk Limited
  • Status:

    No Recent Update
  • Legal Category:

    Product subject to medical prescription which may be renewed (B)
  • Active Ingredient(s):

    *Additional information is available within the SPC or upon request to the company

Updated on 05 April 2023

File name

Levemir FlexPen PIL UK-IE_09-2022-cl.pdf

Reasons for updating

  • Change to section 6 - date of revision
  • Addition of information on reporting a side effect.

Free text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company

Addition of Northern Ireland to reporting of side effects section. Update of revision date.

Updated on 15 September 2021

File name

Levemir FlexPen PIL UK-IE_09-2020_clean.pdf

Reasons for updating

  • XPIL Removed

Updated on 27 May 2021

File name

Levemir SmPC-IE-ver 23-April2021-clean.pdf

Reasons for updating

  • Change to section 4.6 - Pregnancy and lactation
  • Change to section 5.1 - Pharmacodynamic properties
  • Change to section 10 - Date of revision of the text

Legal category:Product subject to medical prescription which may be renewed (B)

Free text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company

Section 4.6

Pregnancy section updated:

The use of Levemir in pregnant women with diabetes has been investigated in a clinical trial and in a prospective non-interventional post-authorisation safety study (see section 5.1). Post-marketing data in pregnant women using Levemir, with more than 4,500 pregnancy outcomes do not indicate any increased risk of malformative or feto/neonatal toxicity. Treatment with Levemir can be considered during pregnancy, if clinically needed but any potential benefit must be weighed against a possibly increased risk of an adverse pregnancy outcome

In general, intensified blood glucose control and monitoring of pregnant women with diabetes are recommended throughout pregnancy and when contemplating pregnancy. Insulin requirements usually fall in the first trimester and increase subsequently during the second and third trimester. After delivery, insulin requirements normally return rapidly to pre-pregnancy values.

In an open-label randomised controlled clinical trial pregnant women with type 1 diabetes (n=310) were treated in a basal-bolus treatment regimen with Levemir (n=152) or NPH insulin (n=158) as basal insulin, both in combination with NovoRapid. Primary objective of this study was to assess the effect of Levemir on blood glucose regulation in pregnant women with diabetes (see section 5.1).

The overall rates of maternal adverse events were similar for Levemir and NPH insulin treatment groups; however, a numerically higher frequency of serious adverse events in the mothers (61 (40%) vs. 49 (31%)) and in the newborn children (36 (24%) vs. 32 (20%)) was seen for Levemir compared to NPH insulin. The number of live born children of women becoming pregnant after randomisation were 50 (83%) for Levemir and 55 (89%) for NPH. The frequency of congenital malformations was 4 (5%) for Levemir and 11 (7%) for NPH with 3 (4%) major malformations for Levemir and 3 (2%) for NPH.

Post-marketing data from an additional 250 outcomes from pregnant women exposed to Levemir indicate no adverse effects of insulin detemir on pregnancy and no malformative or foetal/neonatal toxicity of insulin detemir.

Animal data do not indicate reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3).

 

Section 5.1

Pregnancy section updated:

In a prospective non-interventional post-authorisation safety study, pregnant women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes exposed to Levemir (n=727, 680 liveborn infants) or other basal insulins (n=730, 668 liveborn infants) were monitored for pregnancy outcomes.

No statistically significant difference was observed between Levemir and other basal insulins for the components of the malformation endpoint (induced abortion due to major congenital malformations, major congenital malformations or minor congenital malformations). The results from the study indicated that Levemir is not associated with an excess risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, when compared to other basal insulins, in women with pre-existing diabetes.

Levemir has been was studied in an open-label randomised controlled clinical trial, in which pregnant women with type 1 diabetes (n=310) were treated with in a basal-bolus treatment regimen with Levemir (n=152) or NPH insulin (n=158) as basal insulin, both in combination with NovoRapid (see section 4.6).

Levemir was non-inferior to NPH insulin as measured by HbA1c at gestational week (GW) 36, and the reduction in mean HbA1c through pregnancy was similar, see table 4.

Table 4. Maternal glycaemic control

 

Levemir

NPH

Difference/ Odds Ratio/

Rate Ratio 95% CI

Mean HbA1c (%) at GW 36

6.27

6.33

Difference:

-0.06 [-0.21; 0.08]

Mean FPG at GW 36 (mmol/l)

4.76

5.41

Difference:

-0.65 [-1.19; -0.12]

Proportions of patients achieving HbA1c ≤6% targets at both GW 24 and GW 36 (%)

41%

32%

Odds Ratio:

1.36 [0.78; 2.37]

Overall number of major hypoglycaemia episodes during pregnancy (per patient year)

1.1

1.2

Rate Ratio:

0.82 [0.39; 1.75]

 

Section 10 Date of revision of the text

Updated to: 04/2021

Updated on 03 October 2020

File name

Levemir FlexPen PIL UK-IE_09-2020_clean.pdf

Reasons for updating

  • XPIL Removed

Updated on 03 October 2020

File name

Levemir FlexPen PIL UK-IE_09-2020_clean.pdf

Reasons for updating

  • Change to section 2 - what you need to know - warnings and precautions
  • Change to section 4 - possible side effects
  • Change to section 4 - how to report a side effect

Free text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company

Section 2 – what you need to know - warnings and precautions

New text:

Skin changes at the injection site

The injection site should be rotated to help prevent changes to the fatty tissue under the skin, such as skin thickening, skin shrinking or lumps under the skin. The insulin may not work very well if you inject into a lumpy, shrunken or thickened area (see section 3 How to use Levemir®). Tell your doctor if you notice any skin changes at the injection site. Tell your doctor if you are currently injecting into these affected areas before you start injecting in a different area. Your doctor may tell you to check your blood sugar more closely, and to adjust your insulin or your other antidiabetic medications dose.

 

Section 4 – possible side effects

New text:

Skin changes at the injection site: If you inject insulin at the same place, the fatty tissue may shrink (lipoatrophy) or thicken (lipohypertrophy) (may affect up to 1 in 100 people). Lumps under the skin may also be caused by build-up of a protein called amyloid (cutaneous amyloidosis; how often this occurs is not known). The insulin may not work very well if you inject into a lumpy, shrunken or thickened area. Change the injection site with each injection to help prevent these skin changes.

Deleted text:

Uncommon side effects

Changes at the injection site (lipodystrophy): The fatty tissue under the skin at the injection site may shrink (lipoatrophy) or thicken (lipohypertrophy). Changing the site with each injection reduces the risk of developing such skin changes. If you notice your skin pitting or thickening at the injection site, tell your doctor or nurse. These reactions can become more severe, or they may change the absorption of your insulin, if you inject in such a site.

 

Section 4 – how to report a side effect

HPRA contact details updated to short version

Updated on 03 October 2020

File name

Levemir SmPC-IE-ver 22-Sep2020-clean.pdf

Reasons for updating

  • Addition of joint SPC covering all presentations
  • Change to section 4.2 - Posology and method of administration
  • Change to section 4.4 - Special warnings and precautions for use
  • Change to section 4.8 - Undesirable effects

Legal category:Product subject to medical prescription which may be renewed (B)

Free text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company

Section 4.2 - method of administration

Updated text:

Injection sites should always be rotated within the same region in order to reduce the risk of lipodystrophy and cutaneous amyloidosis (see sections 4.4 and 4.8).

 

Section 4.4

New text:

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Patients must be instructed to perform continuous rotation of the injection site to reduce the risk of developing lipodystrophy and cutaneous amyloidosis. There is a potential risk of delayed insulin absorption and worsened glycaemic control following insulin injections at sites with these reactions. A sudden change in the injection site to an unaffected area has been reported to result in hypoglycaemia. Blood glucose monitoring is recommended after the change in the injection site from an affected to an unaffected area, and dose adjustment of antidiabetic medications may be considered.

Traceability

In order to improve the traceability of biological medicinal products, the name and the batch number of the administered product should be clearly recorded.

 

Section 4.8

Addition to adverse reaction list, skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:

Not known – cutaneous amyloidosis

† ADR from postmarketing sources.

 

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Lipodystrophy (including lipohypertrophy, lipoatrophy) and cutaneous amyloidosis may occur at the injection site and delay local insulin absorption. Continuous rotation of the injection site within the particular given injection area may help to reduce or prevent the risk of developing these reactions (see section 4.4).

 

Addition of joint SmPC covering all presentations

Additional presentations added as per the authorised EMA-approved SmPC (Levemir FlexTouch 100 IU/ml). This presentation is added to the local SmPC but are not marketed. 

Updated on 21 June 2019

File name

Levemir-combined-SmPC-ver-21-UKIE-clean.pdf

Reasons for updating

  • File format updated to PDF

Legal category:Product subject to medical prescription which may be renewed (B)

Free text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company

PDF of SPC uploaded to replace Word document

Updated on 05 June 2018

File name

Levemir-combined-SmPC-ver-21-UKIE-clean.docx

Reasons for updating

  • New SPC for new product

Legal category:Product subject to medical prescription which may be renewed (B)

Free text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company

Following updates were made:

section 4.2 - table "Adult type 2 diabetes titration guideline" was updated to add!If one SMPG measurement"

sub-section "Method of Administration": addition of information that product is suitable only for subcutaneous injection. If administration by syringe is necessary, a vial should be used.

 

Updated on 05 June 2018

File name

20180408 Levemir FlexPen PIL UK_IE.pdf

Reasons for updating

  • Change to section 2 - what you need to know - contraindications
  • Change to section 3 - how to take/use
  • Change to section 6 - date of revision

Updated on 03 March 2017

File name

PIL_11537_368.pdf

Reasons for updating

  • New PIL for new product

Updated on 03 March 2017

Reasons for updating

  • Change to section 5 - how to store or dispose
  • Change to section 6 - date of revision

Updated on 10 May 2016

Reasons for updating

  • Change to date of revision

Updated on 13 August 2015

Reasons for updating

  • Change to date of revision
  • Changes to therapeutic indications
  • Addition of information on reporting a side effect.

Updated on 01 June 2015

Reasons for updating

  • Change to, or new use for medicine

Updated on 06 March 2014

Reasons for updating

  • Change to warnings or special precautions for use
  • Change of contraindications
  • Change to instructions about missed dose
  • Change to instructions about overdose
  • Change to storage instructions
  • Change to information about pregnancy or lactation
  • Change to information about driving or using machinery
  • Change to further information section
  • Change to date of revision
  • Change to dosage and administration
  • Addition of information on reporting a side effect.

Updated on 25 May 2012

Reasons for updating

  • Change due to user-testing of patient information

Updated on 15 February 2012

Reasons for updating

  • Change to side-effects
  • Change to information about pregnancy or lactation
  • Change to date of revision
  • Change to dosage and administration
  • Changes to therapeutic indications

Updated on 16 September 2011

Reasons for updating

  • Change to warnings or special precautions for use
  • Change to date of revision

Updated on 10 February 2010

Reasons for updating

  • Change to warnings or special precautions for use
  • Change to storage instructions
  • Change to side-effects
  • Change to how the medicine works
  • Change to further information section
  • Change to date of revision
  • Change to dosage and administration
  • Addition of manufacturer

Updated on 06 February 2008

Reasons for updating

  • Change to date of revision

Updated on 11 October 2006

Reasons for updating

  • New PIL for medicines.ie