Here's some good news for anyone who's on Symlin or who's thinking about it:

The FDA has approved two Symlin pens.

The pens offer fixed dosaging: a SymlinPen 60 will allow for 15, 30, 45, or 60 micrograms per dose while the SymlinPen offers fixed dosages of 60 or 120 micrograms per dose. Both pens can be kept at room temperature after initial usage, and both are purchased as pre-filled injection devices (which suggests they are disposable units, though I am unable to find any exact information). Release date is expected to be December 2007.

I cannot speculate on the price of these devices; isn't Symlin fairly expensive already?

Now if only they could get Symlin approved for us Canadians.

Well that answers that question....I have been looking for Symlin in Canada with no luck thus far......

When I first went on the pump my doctor prescribed me a bottle of Symlin, said something about it helping your stomach empty slower and told me to call when I was ready to start it's use. I filled the prescription but didn't understand why I would need it. It may have been too much all at once. I didn't understand the post meal spike and how Symlin would help with that.

The main reason why I went on the pump was because of the bruising I got with syringes. If I knew what I did now about needle gages and lengths I probably wouldn't have pushed so hard for an insulin pump and just switched to the smaller gaged short syringe but I thought that all syringes were equal. Heck, if I knew then what I do now about insulin pens and the mini 31g pen tips I would have been just fine with those. I am glad I didn't have that knowledge because the pump has given me so much more then just the freedom from bruising. The military base that supplied my syringes only had 29g gage syringes - ouch!!

After having just rid myself of the multiple injections there was no way I wanted to start up with another type of injection so I let the Symlin sit in my fridge until it expired and was eventually thrown away. I am now finally ready to consider Symlin - almost 2 1/2 years later. I'm a little afraid of it's side effects but the fact that it comes in a pen now makes me even more attractive. I didn't try an insulin pen until after the pump (for the several failures I had) and have found insulin pens much more convenient and comfortable than syringes.

All input would be welcomed. Personal effectiveness. How often it is actually used a day. Side effects. Cost, and if there have been insurance issues. I still don't like the idea of adding yet another thing to try to remember to take but the benefits may outweigh the disadvantages.

I've been a Diabetic for over 13yr. Why have I never heard of Symlin? I've heard of Byetta (sp?) but it was never an option for me as it is for type II diabetics.

Anybody on Symlin?