Apidra Problems

[w5wjp]

About 4 months , when I first started using Apidra, I got a real bad sinus infection. It seemed like the Apdira quit working, it was like I was pumping saline. I figured it was due to the infection and started using some Humalog I had left and the Humalog worked just fine. After the infection cleared, I went back to the Apidra and it did just fine. Now, after another 3 months or so on Apidra, it has stopped working again. No infection or any other illness going on right now, it is not even very hot outside. I still had a script on file at the pharmacy for Humalog, so back to the Humalog. Any one else had this happen with Apidra or any reason why this might be happening?

[JungleJim]

The only Apidra I've used was two sample vials my endo gave me, so I only used it for about 7 weeks. I couldn't tell any difference between it and Novolog, so I'm no help.

Did you switch to Apidra because it helped with spikes? I know you have a high intake of insulin, and I just wondered what the benefit was that you were hoping for.

[NoelD]

Novolog does that to me after 2 days. Just stops working. I haven't had that problem with Apidra though.

[Lloyd]

I am in the process of switching my pump over from Apidra to Novolog, at the insistence of my insurance.

Both work, but the Apidra is both faster (much) and more efficient (I need less of it).

-Lloyd

[w5wjp]

I started using Apidra because it leaves the smallest welt at the infusion site. I had samples of all 3 (Humalog, Novolog and Apidra) from the endo and shecked them all out. They all worked and the size of the welt left was the only difference. Novolog left the largest welt.

[condensr]

Well I finally gave Apidra a go, and have had some interesting (euphemism!) results so far.

I was given a sample vial by my doc. It was of course refrigerated. I took it home (was in my backpack all day unrefrigerated, but in my air conditioned office building) and loaded some up. It certainly wasn't any faster, seemed about like Novolog. On the 3rd day of it in my pump, it was definitely losing potency, and my bgs were running higher. I loaded up a new cartridge full, put in a new site, then ate dinner and bolused. I might as well have not bolused at all- BGs went through the roof. I corrected with the Apidra in the pump, and it didn't do anything. I finally took an injection of some of the Novolog I had left, and that did the trick.

So, I have to wonder, what happened with the Apidra? Did it go bad, or did my body decide it didn't like it after only 4 days? I thought it might have been a bad site, but I loaded up the 40u of Novolog I had left in a fresh cartridge, with a fresh tube, and the site has been working great with that.

I just picked up a new bottle of Apidra tonight at the pharmacy. I'll see what happens with it tomorrow. I'm keeping it in the fridge at all times, even after opening. I usually keep my open vial at room temp (as I did the first vial of Apidra), as it makes cartridge filling easier, but I'll try it this way with the second vial of Apidra.

[jillsp]

I've been pumping apidra for over a year now and love it. I halfed my insulin intake from what I was pumping with Humalog and find that apidra works much faster for me (in terms of post prandial spikes). I have also left it in my pump for 4 (ok maybe 5) days and not noticed it losing effectiveness.

Maybe the sample you had was expired or near expiration? I don't know????

[NoelD]

I've been pumping apidra for over a year now and love it. I halfed my insulin intake from what I was pumping with Humalog and find that apidra works much faster for me (in terms of post prandial spikes). I have also left it in my pump for 4 (ok maybe 5) days and not noticed it losing effectiveness.

Maybe the sample you had was expired or near expiration? I don't know????

Me too. I go 4 days, sometimes 5 if I eat light. Haven't noticed any loss of potency myself.

[condensr]

The expiration date on the sample is 9/2008. The first pharmacy I went to though, Kroger, tried to give me an expired vial of Apidra yesterday though. (OK, they DID give me an expired vial, but I noticed it on the way home and took it back.)

[Keezheekoni]

The expiration date on the sample is 9/2008. The first pharmacy I went to though, Kroger, tried to give me an expired vial of Apidra yesterday though. (OK, they DID give me an expired vial, but I noticed it on the way home and took it back.)
OT but where in the heck is a Kroger in Washington??? I know Freddy's is owned by them, but I *so* want to shop at a Kroger again! I love the double coupons they do!!!

/me walks away mumbling something about even if she could shop at a Kroger here in WA, she'd end up using all the money she'd save in coupons on gas to get to where Shane lives.... ;)

[statdeac]

For some reason, my Apidra seemed to lose effectiveness about half way through the vial. When I switched back to Novolog, no more problems. I could never figure out why it happened because it worked well initially.

[condensr]

OT but where in the heck is a Kroger in Washington??? I know Freddy's is owned by them, but I *so* want to shop at a Kroger again! I love the double coupons they do!!!

Ok, that was misleading, it was QFC.. but to me, QFC = Kroger since they're the same company and QFC even stocks all the Kroger store brand items.. Sorry if I got your hopes up. :o

Regarding the Apidra, I tried a shot of the new vial for my breakfast bolus today, (Novolog still running basal in the pump) and it worked fine. Just fine. I took it as a shot to eliminate the variables of any possible site problems. I guess the sample vial just went bad. I'll have to call Sanofi Aventis.

[condensr]

Well, it appears to possibly have been a combination of insulin and site: The Apidra and that site just didn't get along. Novolog in the same site worked fine though.

With a new site, Apidra is working fine. I'll have to try a shot of the old vial and see if it still seems inert.

[Cyborg]

I tried Apidra, but found Novolog worked better for me. I certainly did not notice Apidra working faster nor did it have a shorter duration as I had hoped. If anything, I ended up using more Apidra than Novolog for an equivalent amount of food.