- Prescribing Advice for GPs - https://www.prescriber.org.uk -

Medication error risk with Tresiba

The manufacturer of insulin degludec (Tresiba®) has written to healthcare professionals to pre-emptively warn about the potential risk of medication errors with this new product.

The new insulin will be available in two strengths, 100 units/ml and 200 units/ml, and as such there is a risk of incorrect does administration should the wrong strength product be supplied. The manufacturer has visually differentiated the two strengths with the lower strength pen being bright green and in boxes of five whereas the higher strength is dark green and in boxes or three. The higher strength also contains a prominent indication of the strength in a red box on both the packaging and the pen. Finally, there are tactile differences on the injector button for visually impaired patients.

The manufacturer advises that:

Action: Clinicians who initiate or prescribe insulin should be aware of the differences in these products. Great care should be taken when prescribing, dispensing and using this product.