Pramlintide: Curbs After-Meal Highs

What You Should Know About Pramlintide

Side Effects: Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure any other medications you're taking won't be affected by pramlintide.

One of the major side effects of pramlintide is low blood glucose, or hypoglycemia. You will need to monitor your blood glucose levels frequently, especially 2-3 hours after meals, to make sure they're not dropping too low. Keep glucose tablets handy to treat hypoglycemia.

"I had to monitor my blood glucose frequently when I started taking Symlin," says Lou Wheaton of Albany, New York, who has type 2 diabetes. "It's important to test three hours after your injection to avoid problems with low blood glucose. I also lost weight, which was a wonderful side effect."

Unfortunately, nausea also is a common initial side effect, but this usually improves as your body adjusts to the drug.

Interactions with other drugs also are a concern. Because pramlintide controls stomach emptying, it may alter the absorption of other drugs, such as oral contraceptives. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start taking pramlintide.