Symilin

jeggeman31 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-08-2006, 10:01 AM

Well I got back from the DR and I start on Symilin today. Looking forward to this.

My DR has started me on 10 units at dinner for one week, then 10 units at lunch and 20 units at dinner, then up to 20 units lunch and 20 units dinner over the next month.

Now did I read that I should inject 15min prior to eating ?

bbrian · #2 (**permalink**) 11-08-2006, 11:30 AM

I have been on Symlin for 8 weeks now taking 20u before meals (yes 15min before) and the nausea has been unreal. I also jusst came from the doctor today and he told me to go back to 15u or even 10u if the nausea is too much. I am to go back in 2 months to see how things are going...but he did hint that this may not be the way to go with me I have not lost weight and my bgs are still about the same as they were w/o Symlin and I have had to increase my Humalog and Lantus back to where they were when i started.

Brian

JediSkipdogg · #3 (**permalink**) 11-08-2006, 11:39 AM

Jim, I'm confused on the fast past of increasing. Usually it's only an increase each month and I thought the max was 20 units. I'm not on Symlin, so I may be wrong, but that fast of a change each level and going that high just seems kinda crazy to me.

ProudNanaof5 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-08-2006, 01:18 PM

I started out with 2.5 units of symlin, then 1 week later went to 5. 2 weeks later I went up to 7.5 with no problems. She then increased me to 20 units.....woeeee... sick oh sick. And was having lows. She told me to go back down to 5. I have worked my way back up to 7.5 in morn 10at lunch and 7.5 at Dinner. Very rarely do I get sick...I guess it depends on everyone.

Cyborg · #5 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 04:00 PM

I started Symlin at 5 units and increased the dosage every couple days as long as I had no nausea. At 20 units I do experience fairly strong nausea so I've backed off to 17.5 units, which is much more tolerable. On the pump, I've experimented with many kinds of boluses while taking Symlin. The best one I've found to date is a 50/50 combo bolus over 2 hours, taking the normal amount of insulin.

Mr Jensee · #6 (**permalink**) 01-11-2007, 12:29 PM

Hi, I have a question. Seems my Dr. Just put me on Symilin and I am not on insulin. I am on glimipiride (amaryl) and was on Byetta. I am not getting any results from the Symilin, 20 units at meal time, and definitely no nausea as I did when I was on 10 mcg. Byetta. Before going on Symilin I was on 5 mcg. of Byetta twice a day. My blood glucose seems to stay near 300mcg/kg. and and this is disturbing me. Question, should I be on Symilin when I am not on insulin?
Thanks.

Keezheekoni · #7 (**permalink**) 01-11-2007, 12:47 PM

I started Symlin last Friday. My endo has me following a pattern that her office wrote up...
Days 1-3: 2.5U 15 mins. before every 30gm CHO meal (up to three times a day)
Days 4-6: 5U " " "
Days 7-10: 7.5U " " "
Days 10-15: 10U " " " and reduce insulin bolus to half of normal
Days 15-20: 15U " " " and reduce insulin bolus to half of the above rate
Days 20 on: 20U " " " and reduce insulin bolus to half again (or 1/4 of normal)

She also gave me her email address and cell number in order to call and let her know if I'm overly sick or my adjusted boluses aren't quite correct. However, I'm doing good thus far. Have had a few highs, probably from not waiting an entire 15 minutes sometimes...I'm not used to having to bolus and then wait to eat. When I'm hungry, I'm *hungry*!

Now, she's only having me go to 20U because I want to lose weight. She's giving me two years to get to my "goal" weight, and then she wants me to back off the Symlin to 10U for those over 30 gm meals.

I did find it interesting to read in the Symlin patient info box that most Type 2s are started at 10U. Why is that? Less possibility of hypos? I'm confused!

Mr Jensee · #8 (**permalink**) 01-13-2007, 04:46 AM

Well I have taken as much as 30 units and so far nothing. This morning my blood sugar is still high, 284. Last night when I went to bed it was 294. Called them and the nurse said to just keep increasing the dosage. WTF?? 5 mcg of Byetta did fine for me this **** isn't doing a thing. My vision right now is so blurred I can't read fine print anymore. I feel like **** and all I want to do is sleep. Can't though, I am offshore, at work and have nearly 2 weeks left out here before I go in. This is starting to worry me. I can't even eat one meal a day now, it spikes my glucose levels. I think this Symilin is ****.

JediSkipdogg · #9 (**permalink**) 01-13-2007, 05:06 AM

Mr. Jensee....Without insulin symlin is pretty pointless. I don't know if you are type 1 or type 2, but I don't see how symlin will help a type 2 without insulin. Symlin is designed to work WITH insulin injections. Also, I would think as a type 2 with insulin resistance one would have a symlin resistance as well.

Is they any reason they took you off Byetta? If it worked, why change?

Cyborg · #10 (**permalink**) 01-13-2007, 09:39 AM

I would not go above the max dosage of 20 units....

Mr Jensee · #11 (**permalink**) 01-13-2007, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

Mr. Jensee....Without insulin symlin is pretty pointless. I don't know if you are type 1 or type 2, but I don't see how symlin will help a type 2 without insulin. Symlin is designed to work WITH insulin injections. Also, I would think as a type 2 with insulin resistance one would have a symlin resistance as well.

Is they any reason they took you off Byetta? If it worked, why change?

I spoke with the Dr's nurse on Friday. She told me that initially it was used for only insulin dependence but the medicine has been cleared for type 2 non-insulin dependence for a year now. She said they have had great success using it on their patients. I told them last time I was at the office that the 5 mcg Byetta was not reducing my appetite and asked them to put me on the Byetta 10 which I was on initially. Instead they put me on this stuff. It is like injecting saline. Nothing is happening. Even double dosing my glimpiride has had no effect on my blood sugar the last 2 days. I have been without any food now for over 24 hrs. and my blood glucose is still 220. I am not hungry of course but I can't see how starving myself is going to help either. Can't contact the Dr. until at least Monday.

Cyborg · #12 (**permalink**) 01-13-2007, 10:20 AM

Do you exercise?

JediSkipdogg · #13 (**permalink**) 01-13-2007, 10:22 AM

It sounds to me like you also need to add insulin to your treatment. Many type 2s use some insulin a day. I betcha that would help some now.

Cyborg · #14 (**permalink**) 01-13-2007, 10:23 AM

Have you ever had a C-Peptide and/or GAD Antibody test done to confirm diabetes type?

jeggeman31 · #15 (**permalink**) 01-13-2007, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Jensee

I spoke with the Dr's nurse on Friday. She told me that initially it was used for only insulin dependence but the medicine has been cleared for type 2 non-insulin dependence for a year now.

The below is from Symlin website. I would think their website would be changed a year ago if your Dr's Nurse was correct. I have always been told that Symlin is always to be taken with insulin and no more than 20 units.

I would check into it more, because my DR even told me it was 100% only taken with insulin. But then again, I am not a DR nor do I play one on TV

Quote:

Originally Posted by From The Symlin Website

It is always used with insulin to help lower blood sugar during the 3 hours after meals