Levemir Side Effects

mazea · #1 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 08:27 PM

Has anyone taken Levemir and what were your side effects? When I started taking Levemir 5 days ago, noticed a feeling of being confused, tired, dazed, an-aware and poor ability to concentrate- so much so I wouldn't feel safe to drive a car. Has anyone had this?

d_k_moon · #2 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 08:55 PM

I've been on Levemir for over 3 weeks with no side effects. I'm taking 16 units 1X per day. How much are you taking?

xMenace · #3 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 08:58 PM

Did you test your sugars at the time? have your sugars been running high before the levemir? It could be a sudden drop into normal range after extended highs. If so, it's a good thing that will pass.

You could also be hypo. Have you ever been hypo before?

mazea · #4 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 09:01 PM

My blood sugars were 5.6 at the time. It seems to be a general vague confused feeling ALL of the time. I'm taking 5 units Levemir once a day. And my blood sugars have been pretty stable for 3 months.

xMenace · #5 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazea

My blood sugars were 5.6 at the time. It seems to be a general vague confused feeling ALL of the time. I'm taking 5 units Levemir a day. And my blood sugars have been pretty stable for 3 months.

What were you averaging before?

mazea · #6 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 09:04 PM

My last HBAC1 was 6.3

xMenace · #7 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazea

My last HBAC1 was 6.3

Were you testing with a meter? Fine if you weren't. You got put on Levemir for a reason though, generally it's because of high blood sugars. My 'guess' is you were running high, say mid-teens (200-250) or higher for some weeks or months. You've suddenly dropped back into a normal range and now your body is reacting. It's a common phenomenon.

I've never heard of any reactions to Levemir, only Lantus. I can't rule it out though. If it continues or gets worse, call your doctor.

mazea · #8 (**permalink**) 09-04-2008, 03:06 PM

Thanks for the ideas x menace. I usually check my blood sugars on my meter 7 times a day. Yesterday my blood sugars were between 4.3 and 9.3. It helps me to check my blood sugars and I am pretty hypo aware. I often will check my blood sugars when I have hypos. This is more of a cotton wool head feeling. My husband also noticed that I have been wandering around with a cotton wool head for 3 days.

seanmarr · #9 (**permalink**) 09-05-2008, 09:46 AM

In January 2007 I was moved to Levemir after telling the Community Diabetes nurse that Lantus was not lasting the full 24 hours that it was advertised for, and she refused to prescribe in a twice daily form. I also raised concerns that since beginning MDI therapy a few years before with the analogues my personality had changed, and I was experiencing symptoms similar to what you describe, but I only realized this on reading the posts such as DeusXM's. Being the naive soul I was back then, I accepted her changing me to Levemir.

Within one week of going on to Levemir, I had the first full-blown DKA episode of my entire diabetic career. After being discharged from hospital, I was again readmitted with DKA a month later, and a month after that.

In May I refused to continue taking any analogue insulin. I was also experiencing rashes and was finding it very difficult to find a doctor to take my concerns seriously, as they were treating me as a non-compliant diabetic. I therefore refused insulin treatment unless it was given as animal insulin.

Since changing to animal insulin I have not had any episodes of DKA. I would say my psychology changed as well but as I have intercurrent depression I cannot be too specific about that.

In some people, particularly those that have used animal insulin in the past, analogues seem to be having psychological effects in people, and this certainly happened in me, but I would be more concerned about the fact it causes DKA, I suspect because Levemir works by making you allergic to the insulin in order to extend its duration of insulin action.

mazea · #10 (**permalink**) 09-05-2008, 05:49 PM

Glad to here that you are feeling better Seanmarr.

Perhaps the cotton wool head thing might be the result of the Levemir not working in me the full 24 hours. So I split the dose into morning and evening and seem to be a bit clearer in the head now.

mazea · #11 (**permalink**) 09-06-2008, 07:35 PM

I have gone back to the protophane, which I was taking a week ago. The depression was starting to come on the Levemir, like the Lantus, which I took 2 months ago. I don't seem to be able to take any of the newer insulins because of reactions to them.

. The first 3 months of diabetes treatment, Lantus my feet swelled up and I couldn't walk and got really bad moods. I'm glad that with Protophane, I feel better and have good moods and can walk. Although with Potophane, I have to work more to get good blood sugars with it.

lucia · #12 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 06:16 AM

For a few years no medication; but in time I needed it to control sugars. My number generally soar. It is rare when I get very low, only infrequently. I tried pills with no success; more side effects..then Levemir..and it was working well. 18 units AM, and 16 PM. I do have itching..which is driving me crazy..not much of a visible rash..only very slight, but the skin feels like it is reptilian.I went to the Dr's ..he thought could be attributed to Crestor;..I have to wait a long time for an appt.to a dermitologist and I only hope that this can be identified. My diab.spec.nurse doesnt think it is levemir. .the rash is on my sides near the waistline..can anyone relate to this experience ? .. I wonder if it is the cresol or other ingredient that is causing this, the Diab.spec. mentioned Lantus.. is it better or worse than Levemir I only hope that it is not Levemir..for it's ease, and mgmt. Thank you..for any help in advance. L.