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Find information about Afrezza®, the only
ultra rapid-acting inhaled insulin, in an
easy to read alphabetical Afrezza® A-Z list.
A
Afrezza®
Afrezza® is an ultra rapid-acting mealtime insulin that is breathed in through your lungs using an oral inhaler.
B
Afrezza® before or after meals
Afrezza® stops lowering blood glucose after 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on the dose.* This gives you the flexibility to take additional doses if needed, based on your blood glucose level after meals.
*For the 4-unit and 12-unit cartridges, respectively.
C
Afrezza® Cost
MannKind offers several options to help you with the cost of Afrezza®, depending on the type of insurance you have. With the Afrezza® Savings Card, eligible commercially insured patients may pay as little as $35 per month.* Or with the cash pay program, you may be eligible to get Afrezza for as little as $99/month.**
D
Afrezza® Insulin Dosage
Afrezza® is available in 4-, 8- and 12-unit color-coded cartridges. If needed, you can mix and match cartridges to take your prescribed dose.
For example, two 12-unit cartridges provide a dose of 24 units of Afrezza®.
E
Afrezza® Side Effects
Afrezza® may cause serious side effects. It is critical that you consult your physician prior to taking Afrezza®. The most common side effects are low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), cough, and sore throat.
F
Insulin FOR type 2 diabetes
Afrezza® Insulin inhaler can be used for both type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
G
Insulin & Glucose
Insulin helps your body turn blood sugar (glucose) into energy. It also helps your body store it in your muscles, fat cells, and liver to use later, when your body needs it. After you eat, your blood sugar (glucose) rises. This rise in glucose triggers your pancreas to release insulin into the bloodstream.
H
How to use Afrezza® for blood sugar control
Before you take your first dose, make sure to learn proper inhalation technique and how Afrezza® works. You can download our step-by-step guide, or watch the How to Use Afrezza® video.
I
Inhale your Insulin
With Afrezza®, insulin is delivered through the large surface area of the lungs, which allows for ultra rapid absorption. The insulin passes through your lungs into your blood in less than 1 minute. Your blood sugar starts to lower in about 12 minutes. With other insulins, it may take longer for your blood sugars to start going down.
J
Your journey
We support you through every step of your diabetes management journey.
K
Insulin Kept in your fridge
Afrezza® should be stored in the refrigerator once picked up from the pharmacy. For more information on storage and handling, you can download our guide.
L
Living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes
Afrezza® gives you the flexibility to eat when you want while providing proven blood sugar control.
M
Manage your blood sugar
Afrezza® is an ultra rapid-acting mealtime insulin that is breathed in through your lungs using an oral inhaler. Once inhaled, Afrezza® passes quickly through your lungs and enters your bloodstream in less than 1 minute. The ultra-rapid acting insulin allows Afrezza® to start lowering blood sugars in about 12 minutes.
N
No mealtime injections
Afrezza® can help you with blood sugar control without the need for mealtime injections.
O
Fast in, Fast out
Afrezza® passes quickly through your lungs and enters your bloodstream in less than 1 minute. Afrezza® stops lowering blood glucose after 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on the dose.
*For the 4-unit and 12-unit cartridges, respectively.
P
Patient & Pharmacy support guides
Our Patient Support Guides can help you navigate costs and coverage for Afrezza®, as well as provide logistical assistance with filling Afrezza® and working with your pharmacy.
Q
Questions about inhaled insulin
Navigating a new therapy can be hard, that is why we have AfrezzaAssist℠.
R
Afrezza® Resources
Whether you’re new to Afrezza® or just want to learn more, AfrezzaAssist℠ is here to support you through every step of your Afrezza® journey to control your type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
S
Side effects
Always talk to your doctor before taking Afrezza®. The most common side effects are: low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), cough, sore throat.
T
Afrezza® Timing
Afrezza® starts lowering your blood sugar in about 12 minutes and leaves the body quickly, within 1.5–3 hours, depending on your dose.
*For the 4-unit and 12-unit cartridges, respectively.
U
Ultra rapid acting
Afrezza® is an ultra rapid-acting inhaled insulin which allows you to inhale your insulin right when food arrives.
V
Virtual Training Center
Our self-guided videos help you get started with Afrezza® inhaled insulin.
W
Where can I get Afrezza®
You can get Afrezza® from any pharmacy or delivered to your door.
X
What to expect
Afrezza® works fast and is different than injectable insulin. Since Afrezza® is an inhaled dry powder, it may cause a cough which can be helped by having a sip of water before and after taking Afrezza®. See “Side Effects” for more information on what to expect.
Y
On Your time
Afrezza® gives you the flexibility to eat when you want.
Z
AfreZZa®
Afrezza® is an ultra rapid-acting mealtime insulin used to manage type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
*What you pay for Afrezza® will depend on your insurance plan. Each plan has different preferred drug lists and out-of-pocket amounts, and most include an annual deductible. If you haven’t met your deductible, you’ll see higher prices until the deductible is met, then your out-of-pocket cost will likely drop. This offer is available for patients with commercial drug insurance coverage. It is not valid for patients enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal or state healthcare programs. Maximum savings limit applies; patient out-of-pocket expense may vary. If the patient’s health plan does not cover Afrezza® or requires a prior authorization, contact AfrezzaAssist℠ for more information. If approved by the patient’s health plan to take Afrezza®, a patient will pay as little as $35 per month. This applies to patient out-of-pocket costs, including deductible, co-insurance, and copayments for Afrezza®. See full Program Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility Criteria.
**MannKind also offers a direct purchase program. You may be eligible to get Afrezza® for as little as $99/month. For more information, please contact our patient support team at Afrezza Assist 1-844-323-7399, Monday-Friday 8am-8pm ET.
References:
- Afrezza® (insulin human) Inhalation Powder Prescribing Information. MannKind Corporation.
- Bode BW, McGill JB, Lorber DL, et al. Inhaled Technosphere insulin compared with injected prandial insulin in type 1 diabetes: a randomized 24-week trial. Diabetes Care. 2015;38(12):2266–2273.
- Rave K, Heise T, Heinemann L, Boss, AH. Inhaled Technosphere insulin in comparison to subcutaneous regular human insulin: time action profile and variability in subjects with type 2 diabetes. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2008;2(2):205–212.
- Rosenstock J, Franco D, Korpachev V, et al. Inhaled Technosphere insulin versus inhaled Technosphere placebo in insulin-naive subjects with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on oral antidiabetes agent. Diabetes Care. 2015;38(12):2274–2281.
- Akturk HK, Snell-Bergeon JK, Rewers A, et al. Improved post-prandial glucose with inhaled Technosphere insulin compared with insulin aspart in patients with type 1 diabetes on multiple daily injections: the STAT study. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2018;20(10):639-647.
- Rave K, Potocka E, Boss AH, Marino M, Costello D, Chen R. Pharmacokinetics and linear exposure of AFRESA compared with the subcutaneous injection of regular human insulin. Diabetes Obes. Metab. 2009;11(7):715-720.
US-AFR-2210
AFREZZA is a man-made insulin that is breathed-in through your lungs (inhaled) and is used to control high blood sugar in adults with diabetes mellitus.
- AFREZZA is not for use to treat diabetic ketoacidosis. AFREZZA must be used with basal insulin in people who have type 1 diabetes mellitus.
- It is not known if AFREZZA is safe and effective for use in people who smoke. AFREZZA is not for use in people who smoke or have recently stopped smoking (less than 6 months).
- It is not known if AFREZZA is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.
What is the most important information I should know about AFREZZA? AFREZZA can cause serious side effects, including:
Sudden lung problems (bronchospasms). In a study, some AFREZZA-treated patients with asthma, whose asthma medication was temporarily withheld, experienced sudden lung problems. Do not use AFREZZA if you have long-term (chronic) lung problems such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Before starting AFREZZA, your healthcare provider will give you a breathing test to check how your lungs are working.
Important Safety Information(cont’d)
Who should not use Afrezza®?
Do not use Afrezza® if you:
- Have chronic lung problems such as asthma or COPD.
- Are allergic to regular human insulin or any of the ingredients in Afrezza®.
- Are having an episode of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using Afrezza®?
Before using Afrezza®, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
- Have lung problems such as asthma or COPD
- Have or have had lung cancer
- Are using any inhaled medications
- Smoke or have recently stopped smoking
- Have kidney or liver problems
- Are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Afrezza® may harm your unborn or breastfeeding baby.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins or herbal supplements.
Before you start using Afrezza®, talk to your healthcare provider about low blood sugar and how to manage it.
What should I avoid while using Afrezza®?
While using Afrezza® do not:
- Drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how Afrezza® affects you.
- Drink alcohol or use over-the-counter medicines that contain alcohol.
- Smoke.
What are the possible side effects of Afrezza®?
Afrezza® may cause serious side effects that can lead to death, including:
See “What is the most important information I should know about Afrezza®?”
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Signs and symptoms that may indicate low blood sugar include:
- Dizziness or light-headedness, sweating, confusion, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heartbeat, anxiety, irritability or mood change, hunger.
- Decreased lung function. Your healthcare provider should check how your lungs are working before you start using AFREZZA, 6 months after you start using it, and yearly after that.
- Lung cancer. In studies of Afrezza® in people with diabetes, lung cancer occurred in a few more people who were taking Afrezza® than in people who were taking other diabetes medications. There were too few cases to know if lung cancer was related to Afrezza®. If you have lung cancer, you and your healthcare provider should decide if you should use Afrezza®.
- Diabetic ketoacidosis. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have an illness. Your Afrezza® dose or how often you check your blood sugar may need to be changed.
- Severe allergic reaction (whole body reaction). Get medical help right away if you have any of these signs or symptoms of a severe allergic reaction:
- A rash over your whole body, trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat, or sweating.
- Low potassium in your blood (hypokalemia).
- Heart failure. Taking certain diabetes pills called thiazolidinediones or “TZDs” with Afrezza® may cause heart failure in some people. This can happen even if you have never had heart failure or heart problems before. If you already have heart failure it may get worse while you take TZDs with Afrezza®. Your healthcare provider should monitor you closely while you are taking TZDs with Afrezza®. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or worse symptoms of heart failure including:
- Shortness of breath, swelling of your ankles or feet, sudden weight gain.
Treatment with TZDs and Afrezza® may need to be changed or stopped by your healthcare provider if you have new or worse heart failure.
Get emergency medical help if you have:
• Trouble breathing, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, sweating, extreme drowsiness, dizziness, confusion.
The most common side effects of Afrezza® include:
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), cough, sore throat
These are not all the possible side effects of Afrezza®. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).
Please See Full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING, Medication Guide and Instructions for Use for AFREZZA.
AFREZZA, the Afrezza logo, AFREZZAASSIST, AFREZZAASSIST and logo, MANNKIND, and BLUHALE VIS are registered trademarks of MannKind Corporation. © 2024 MannKind Corporation.
This site is intended for use by U.S. residents only.
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