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Drug Shortage Notice – Humalog (insulin lispro) 100units/ml solution for injection 10ml vials

July 8, 2024

Humalog (insulin lispro) 100units/ml solution for injection 10ml vials will be out of stock from early June 2024 until early July 2024.

Actions:

  • Prescribers should not initiate patients on Humalog vials during this time. Where patients are insulin pump users and have insufficient supplies to last until the re-supply date, prescribers should:
  • Consider prescribing either: NovoRapid 10ml vials for children and young people in paediatric care and women who are pregnant or in the first 12 months following pregnancy; or Trurapi or NovoRapid (insulin aspart) vials for adults (including young people under the care of adult diabetes services): After discussion with the patient, ensuring that appropriate education and training are provided (see Supporting Information); and ensure that all insulin pump users have a care plan that clearly documents a back-up Multiple Daily Insulin (MDI) regimens in the event of pump failure.
  • The back-up insulin regimen, whether by prefilled insulin pens, or cartridges with pen device, should remain available on repeat prescription at all times so that the patient can request when needed. All insulin pump users should ensure they have back-up insulin pens/cartridges/needles available, and within the expiry date.
  • Where an individual is administering insulin from a vial with an insulin syringe, prescribers should: Consider prescribing Humalog cartridges or Humalog KwikPens/Junior KwikPens where appropriate which can support the market during this time, considering the patient’s manual dexterity, vision, ability to use the new device correctly and whether support is required with administering the dose; and ensure that all patients initiated on a new device are counselled on the change in device, provided with appropriate reusable pens and/or needles and provided with training on their use, including signposting to training videos (see supporting information), as well as potential need for closer monitoring of blood glucose levels.
  • If the above options are not considered appropriate, advice should be sought from the specialist diabetes team on management options.
  • Pharmacy teams should: Ensure that all patients initiated on a new device are counselled on the change in device, provided with training on their use, including signposting to training videos, and advised closer monitoring of blood glucose levels may be required (see Supporting Information).

To see further alternatives and more information see Drug Safety Notice here

For further information, contact:

  • Your ward pharmacist or technician.
  • Pharmacy department – City: 5263 / Sandwell: 3783
  • Lead antimicrobial pharmacist: a.brush@nhs.net