As with other drugs, Lyumjev (insulin lispro-aabc) can cause side effects such as low blood sugar and burning at the injection site. If you’re not able to tolerate side effects of Lyumjev, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Lyumjev (insulin lispro-aabc) is a brand-name injection prescribed for managing blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes.

If you have problems with side effects from Lyumjev, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss ways to manage side effects or other available treatment options. Do not stop using Lyumjev without consulting your doctor first.

For additional information about Lyumjev, including details about its uses, see this Lyumjev overview article.

Lyumjev can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Lyumjev in clinical trials:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics.”

Mild side effects can occur with Lyumjev use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to the drug’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Lyumjev include:

  • lipodystrophy (thickening or dimpling of the skin) or skin lumps at the site of injection or infusion
  • swelling in the ankles or feet
  • weight gain
  • mild hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels)*
  • injection or infusion site reactions*

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while using Lyumjev and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics.”

Lyumjev may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to the Lyumjev prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while using Lyumjev, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

  • hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels, which can occur if you use Lyumjev in an insulin pump and it malfunctions), which may include symptoms such as:
    • blurred vision
    • excessive thirst
    • frequent need to urinate
    • headache
    • hunger
    • irritability
  • hypokalemia (low blood potassium levels), which may include symptoms such as:
  • severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels)*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics.”

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, Lyumjev can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep using the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Lyumjev, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Lyumjev may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Lyumjev.

Hypoglycemia

As with other insulin medications, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) is the most common side effect of Lyumjev. Hypoglycemia can range from mild to severe. Severe hypoglycemia means your blood sugar is so low it requires help from another person.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia may include:

Severe hypoglycemia can lead to seizures, loss of consciousness, or even death.

You may have an increased risk of developing hypoglycemia during Lyumjev treatment if you have kidney or liver disease.

What you can do

If you have diabetes and use any kind of insulin, it’s important to know how to treat hypoglycemia. You can raise your blood sugar levels quickly by eating or drinking fast-acting carbohydrates. Examples include:

  • fruit juice
  • glucose tablets or gel, which you can buy over the counter
  • honey or syrup
  • regular sodas that contain sugar (not diet or zero-calorie sodas)
  • sugary candies, such as hard candy or jelly beans

Severe hypoglycemia is an emergency that requires immediate treatment. Due to this risk, your doctor may prescribe a drug called glucagon. This drug can help raise your blood sugar levels when you have severe hypoglycemia. Family members, friends, and co-workers may need to know how to give you glucagon in case of an emergency.

Call 911 (or a local emergency number) or get emergency medical treatment for severe hypoglycemia, even if you’ve already used glucagon. Glucagon is not a substitute for emergency medical care.

Learn more about treating a hypoglycemic episode.

Injection or infusion site reactions

Injection and infusion site reactions are also common side effects of Lyumjev treatment. These side effects occur at the site where the injection or infusion goes into the skin.* Most of the time, these reactions are mild. In clinical trials, injection or infusion site reactions rarely caused people to stop using Lyumjev.

Symptoms of injection or infusion site reactions include:

  • bruising
  • burning
  • itching
  • pain
  • rash
  • redness or discoloration
  • swelling

Lipodystrophy (skin thickening or dimpling) or skin lumps may also develop around the site of injection or infusion.

* Lyumjev can be given as a subcutaneous injection or infusion. Lyumjev can also be given as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare professional.

What you can do

To help prevent lipodystrophy, your doctor or other healthcare professional will show you how to rotate injection or infusion sites. This means you’ll pick a new spot of skin within the area you inject Lyumjev for each dose or each time you change pump infusion sets. In addition, avoid giving Lyumjev into the skin that’s bruised, tender, damaged, or scarred.

If you develop lipodystrophy or a skin lump, do not inject or infuse Lyumjev in that area. Talk with your doctor to learn more about this. You can also refer to this article about Lyumjev and dosage and how the drug is given.

Lyumjev may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

What are the side effects of Lyumjev vs. Humalog and Lyumjev vs. Fiasp?

The side effects of Lyumjev are similar to those of both insulin lispro (Humalog) and insulin aspart (Fiasp). Humalog and Fiasp are forms of fast-acting insulins, as is Lyumjev. Their chemical makeups are different from that of Lyumjev. But all three of these insulins resemble the natural insulin your body makes. Because they’re alike in this way, their side effects will be similar.

To find out more about how these medications compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How do side effects of Lyumjev in children compare with side effects seen in adults?

The side effects of Lyumjev are expected to be the same in children as they are in adults. However, in clinical trials of Lyumjev in children, injection site reactions happened more often than they did in trials with adults.

Children using Lyumjev in an insulin pump may also be more likely to experience infusion site reactions. You can find more about injection and infusion site reactions in the “Side effect specifics” section.

Talk with your child’s doctor if you’re concerned about side effects with this drug. If your child is having bothersome side effects with Lyumjev, call your child’s doctor. Do not stop Lyumjev without consulting your doctor first.

Before starting Lyumjev, discuss your health history with your doctor. Lyumjev may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

  • heart failure or other heart problems
  • kidney disease
  • liver disease
  • taking medications that lower potassium levels
  • previous allergic reaction to this or a similar drug
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding
  • alcohol consumption

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.