Afrezza

Generic name:insulin human
Dosage form: inhalation powder
Drug class:Insulin

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on Oct 7, 2021.

What is Afrezza?

• 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 in place of long-acting insulin. Afrezza must be used with long-acting insulin in people who have type 1 diabetes mellitus.
• Afrezza is not for use to treat diabetic ketoacidosis.
• 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).

Important information

Afrezza can cause serious side effects, including:

• Sudden lung problems (bronchospasms). Do not use Afrezza if you have long-term (chronic) lung problems such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Before starting this medicine, your healthcare provider will give you a breathing test to check how your lungs are working.

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. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients.

Before using this medicine

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.

What other drugs will affect Afrezza?

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.

How should I use Afrezza?

• Read the detailed Instructions for Use that comes with your Afrezza.
• Take Afrezza exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to. Your healthcare provider should tell you how much of this medicine to use and when to use it.
• Know the strength of Afrezza you use. Do not change the amount of Afrezza you use unless your healthcare...