Afrezza (Insulin) for Diabetes

Overview

Afrezza is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat diabetes in adults. Afrezza is not recommended for people who smoke or have recently stopped smoking. Afrezza is also referred to by its drug name, Insulin human. Your doctor may prescribe another type of insulin or an oral medication such as Metformin to take along with Afrezza.

Afrezza is a fast-acting insulin and a synthetically produced human insulin.

How do I take it?

Prescribing information states that Afrezza should be inhaled immediately before a meal.

Afrezza comes as a powder encased in cartridges. The cartridges must be placed into a special inhaler for dispensing.

Side effects

The FDA-approved label for Afrezza lists common side effects including hypoglycemia (low blood glucose), coughing, and throat pain or irritation.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Afrezza include bronchospasm in people with chronic lung disease and systemic allergic reaction.