Pramlintide
( Brand name: Symlin )

How It Works

Pramlintide (brand name Symlin) is a diabetes drug. It is used in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who have not been able to achieve good control of their blood sugars with insulin. Symlin is similar to a chemical your body makes called amylin.

Amylin gets released from your pancreas along with insulin. It does several things: 1.) Slows down the rate at which food goes out of your stomach to your intestines, 2.) blocks the release of glucagon, and 3.) decreases appetite.

Pros

Studies have shown that people who use this medicine lose weight. One of these studies showed that over one year, people with type 2 diabetes lost 3 lbs while people who were not on Symlin gained 1.5 lbs. Another study in obese people who were not on insulin showed that they lost 3.7% of their body weight after 16 weeks.

Cons

This is a fairly new medicine, and many doctors may not have much experience using it.

This is an injection. People who use it have to be able to give themselves shots. It is supposed to be used in people who are already using insulin, which also is given a a shot.

Side effects include: nausea, injection site irritations, low blood sugar, headache, and some others. Because it slows the rate at which food goes out of your stomach to your intestines, Symlin may interfere with the absorption of other medicines.

It should not be used by people who have a condition called gastroparesis.

Return to Home Page or Weight Loss Drugs.

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It is important you discuss any weight loss or exercise plan with your doctor. Only you and your physician can decide what is best for you. Some people have certain conditions that prevent them from doing all exercises, and goal body weights may be different for different people. You need to discuss all these things with your physician before starting any weight loss or exercise program. In addition, the dosage of any medicine may be different if it is used for weight loss and not its FDA approved indication. You should also discuss this with your doctor.

This article was written by John Vickery, MD.

References
Treatment Guidelines from the Medical Letter 2008;6:23-28
Lexi Comp database accessed on 6/7/08
"Amylin analogs for the treatment of diabetes mellitus" Up To Date ver 16.1