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Prefilled insulin pens (KwikPen®)
This information is intended for UK registered healthcare professionals only in response to your search for information. For current information for all Lilly products, including Summaries of Product Characteristics, Patient Information Leaflets and Instructions for Use, please visit: www.medicines.org.uk
Why should air bubbles be removed from the Lilly insulin KwikPen®?
Air bubbles in the pen may affect the insulin dose. The pen needs priming before each use to clear the air bubbles. Small air bubbles left in the pen after priming are harmless and will not affect the dose.
When does the pen need priming?
The patient should prime the Pen before each injection.1
- Priming the pen means removing the air from the needle and cartridge that may collect during normal use and ensures that the pen is working correctly.
- If the patient does not prime the Pen before each injection, they may get too much or too little insulin.
How should the pre-filled pen be primed to remove the air bubbles?
The priming is described in the instructions for use of each prefilled pen. Patients should:1
Turn the dose knob to select 2 units (Turn the dose knob to select 2 units.).1
Note: The figure here shows a Lyumjev KwikPen. The appearance of the patient's specific pen might be different. The patient should check the instructions for use that comes with the respective pen.
Hold the pen with the needle pointing up and tap the cartridge holder gently to collect air bubbles at the top (Hold pen with needle pointing up and tap cartridge holder gently.).1
Note: The figure here shows a Lyumjev KwikPen. The appearance of the patient's specific pen might be different. The patient should check the instructions for use that comes with the respective pen.
- Continue holding the Pen with the needle pointing up.
- Push the dose knob in until it stops and “0” is seen in the dose window.
- Hold the dose knob in and count to 5 slowly.
Patients should see insulin at the tip of the needle (Push dose knob until it stops and "0" is seen in the dose window.).1
Note: The figure here shows a Lyumjev KwikPen. The appearance of the patient's specific pen might be different. The patient should check the instructions for use that comes with the respective pen.
If patients do not see insulin, they should repeat the priming steps, but not more than 4 times (for pens containing 100 units/ml insulin) or 8 times (for pens containing 200 units/ml insulin), respectively.
If they still do not see insulin, they should change the needle and repeat the priming steps.1
How can the patient prevent air bubbles?
The patient should not store the pen with the needle attached. Removing the needle prevents2
- air from entering the pen
- leaking and
- blocking the needle.
The instructions for use describes how to remove the needle. After the injection, the patient should:1
Carefully replace the outer needle shield (Carefully replace the outer needle shield.).
Note: The figure here shows a Lyumjev KwikPen. The appearance of the patient's specific pen might be different. The patient should check the instructions for use that comes with the respective pen.
Unscrew the capped needle and dispose of it properly (Unscrew the capped needle).1
Do not store the pen with the needle attached to prevent leaking, blocking the needle, and air from entering the pen.1
Note: The figure here shows a Lyumjev KwikPen. The appearance of the patient's specific pen might be different. The patient should check the instructions for use that comes with the respective pen.
Replace the Pen cap by lining up the cap clip with the dose indicator and pushing straight on (Line up the cap clip with the dose indicator and push it straight on.).1
Note: The figure here shows a Lyumjev KwikPen. The appearance of the patient's specific pen might be different. The patient should check the instructions for use that comes with the respective pen.
Which pens does this information apply to?
This information applies to all of Eli Lilly and Company's pre-filled pens:
- Abasaglar 100 units/mL KwikPen3
- Humalog 100 units/mL KwikPen4
- Humalog Mix25 100 units/mL KwikPen4
- Humalog Mix50 100 units/mL KwikPen4
- Humalog 100 units/mL Junior KwikPen5
- Humalog 200 units/mL KwikPen6
- Humulin I 100 units/mL KwikPen7
- Humulin M3 100 units/mL KwikPen7
- Lyumjev 100 units/mL KwikPen2
- Lyumjev 200 units/mL KwikPen8
- Lyumjev 100 units/mL Junior KwikPen9
For further information about a specific pre-filled pen, please refer to the corresponding user manual, patient leaflet and summary of product characteristics.
References
1Data on file, Eli Lilly and Company and/or one of its subsidiaries.
2Lyumjev® 100 units/ml KwikPen® [instructions for use]. Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., The Netherlands.
3Abasaglar 100 units/mL KwikPen [instructions for use]. Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., The Netherlands.
4Humalog® 100 units/ml KwikPen® [instructions for use]. Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., The Netherlands.
5Humalog® 100 units/ml Junior KwikPen® [instructions for use]. Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., The Netherlands.
6Humalog® 200 units/ml KwikPen® [instructions for use]. Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., The Netherlands.
7Humulin® 100 IU/ml KwikPen® [instructions for use]. Eli Lilly and Company Limited, United Kingdom.
8Lyumjev® 200 units/ml KwikPen® [instructions for use]. Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., The Netherlands.
9Lyumjev® 100 units/ml Junior KwikPen® [instructions for use]. Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., The Netherlands.
Date of Last Review: 28 September 2022