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Levemir Essay

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Medication #1: Insulin detemir [rDNA Origin] injection
• Insulin detemir [rDNA Origin] injection is the generic name for this medication. The associated brand name is Levemir and Levemir Flexpen.
• Levemir is prescribed for hyperglycemia in the management of diabetes mellitus.
• Precise adult and pediatric dosing is dependent on body weight, type of diabetes, consideration of controlled verses uncontrolled diabetes, and adjustments based on measurements of blood glucose. Additionally Levemir is intended to supply about one third of the patient’s insulin requirements each day. o For diabetes mellitus type 1 an initial dose is calculated at 0.5-1 unit of insulin per kilogram. The resulting amount of insulin is divided into two daily doses, …show more content…

Levemir can be dosed once a day or given in two doses spaced 12 hours apart.
• There have been no studies on the efficacy of Levemir on children under the age of two years. With regard to pediatric specific dosing it is recommended 0.1-0.2 units per kilogram of body weight initially, with close monitoring for adjustments.
• The route of administration for Levemir is by subcutaneous injection.
• Levemir is prescribed as a clear liquid in a 10 ml vial, 3ml cartridge, or insulin pen (Levemir Flexpen) prefilled with 300 units. The patient fits a needle on the pen and adjusts the pen to deliver 1 to 80 units of insulin per injection.
• The contraindications for using Levemir are as follows: Levemir should not be used by anyone with an allergy to insulin detemir or any of the inactive ingredients. Levemir is not intended for patients experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis.
• The side effects of Levemir are hypoglycemia, skin changes/irritations where it is injected, edema of the extremities, and weight gain.
• An overdose of Levemir will result in hypoglycemia. Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia include XXXX
• Resources: Rxlist.com, reference.medscape.com,

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