Afrezza (insulin human) is a brand-name inhaled insulin prescribed to manage blood sugars in adults with diabetes type 1 or 2. As with other drugs, Afrezza can cause side effects, such as a sore throat.
Afrezza can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Afrezza in clinical trials:
- sore throat
- diarrhea
- headache
- low blood sugar
- cough (see “Side effect specifics” below)
Mild side effects can occur with Afrezza use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Afrezza’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects that people who took Afrezza for type 1 diabetes in these trials reported include:
- sore throat
- diarrhea
- headache
- nausea
- fatigue
- low blood sugar
- cough (see “Side effect specifics” below)
- mild allergic reaction (see “Side effect specifics” below)
Mild side effects that people who took Afrezza for type 1 diabetes in these trials reported include:
- sore throat
- headache
- bronchitis
- urinary tract infection (UTI)
- cough (see “Side effect specifics” below)
- mild allergic reaction (see “Side effect specifics” below)
These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Afrezza and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.
Afrezza may cause serious side effects, but they aren’t common. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Afrezza’s prescribing information.
If you develop serious side effects while taking Afrezza, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects and their symptoms that people using Afrezza have reported include:
- severely low blood sugar, which may include symptoms such as:
- decreased lung function, which may include symptoms such as:
- difficulty breathing
- wheezing
- cough that does not go away or keeps coming back
- diabetic ketoacidosis, which may include symptoms such as:
- nausea
- rapid breathing
- fruity smelling breath
- confusion
- risk of acute bronchospasm in people with chronic lung disease
- severe allergic reaction (see “Side effect specifics” below)
Note: Afrezza has a boxed warning about this side effect. This is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.
Learn more about some of the side effects that Afrezza may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Afrezza.
Risk of acute bronchospasm in people with chronic lung disease
Afrezza has a boxed warning about the risk of acute bronchospasm in people with chronic lung disease, including asthma and COPD. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. It alerts doctors and patients about a drug’s effects that may be dangerous.
Acute bronchospasm has occurred in some people with COPD or asthma who took Afrezza in clinical trials. A bronchospasm is when the muscles in the lung’s airways tighten. Acute means the condition occurred suddenly.
Symptoms of an acute bronchospasm can include:
- wheezing
- difficulty breathing
- cough
What you can do
Due to this risk, you should not take Afrezza if you have chronic lung disease, such as COPD or asthma. Your doctor will likely recommend a different treatment option for you.
Cough
Afrezza comes as a powder you inhale. Like other powder inhalers, Afrezza may cause a cough when you first start therapy. A cough was one of the most commonly reported side effects in the drug’s clinical trials. It’s usually mild and typically decreases after taking the drug for 1 to 4 weeks.
What you can do
To help prevent a cough, sip some water before and after your dose of Afrezza. Also, it’s important to take your Afrezza dose out of the refrigerator about 10 minutes before using it. (You should store Afrezza in the refrigerator.) This allows the medication to warm to room temperature, which may help prevent a cough after you inhale it.
Talk with your doctor if you develop a cough that doesn’t go away or keeps coming back. If you experience difficulty breathing while taking Afrezza, tell your doctor right away. They may prescribe a different medication to treat your condition.
Allergic reaction
As with most drugs, Afrezza can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s clinical trials.
Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:
- skin rash
- itching
- flushing
- swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
What you can do
For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Afrezza. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Below is important information about precautions to consider before you start treatment with Afrezza.
Boxed warning: Risk of acute bronchospasm in people with asthma or COPD
This drug has a boxed warning for the risk of acute bronchospasm in people with chronic lung disease. This is the most serious warning from the FDA. For details, see the “Side effect specifics” section above.
Other precautions
Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Afrezza. This drug may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These include:
Heart failure: If you have heart failure and take a thiazolidinedione (TZD), such as pioglitazone (Actos), taking Afrezza may worsen your condition. This type of drug combination can also cause heart failure in people who do not already have it. Your doctor will monitor you closely for symptoms of new or worsening heart failure, such as fluid retention. If your condition worsens or you develop new symptoms, they may adjust your TZD dose. In some cases, they may remove the TZD from your treatment regimen.
Lung cancer: It’s possible for Afrezza to increase the risk of lung cancer. There were rare reports of people developing lung cancer in Afrezza’s clinical trials. However, it is unknown whether Afrezza was the cause. If you have lung cancer or a history of lung cancer, your doctor will probably recommend a different treatment option for you.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Afrezza or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Afrezza. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding: It is unknown whether it’s safe to take Afrezza while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor before taking Afrezza if you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Alcohol consumption: You should not drink alcohol during treatment with Afrezza. Alcohol can increase or decrease the effects of Afrezza, causing unpredictable blood sugar levels. In some cases, this may lead to severely low blood sugar. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about alcohol consumption while taking Afrezza.
Like all medications, Afrezza can cause side effects. Many are mild and tend to go away on their own within a few days to weeks. You should talk with your doctor if any side effects last, are bothersome, or are serious.
If you’d like to learn more about Afrezza, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.
Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:
- More information about Afrezza: For details about other aspects of Afrezza, refer to this article.
- A look at diabetes: For details about your condition, see our diabetes hub.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.