Humulin R vs. Levemir

Humulin R (insulin [human recombinant]) and Levemir (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) are forms of insulin used to treat diabetes in adults and children.

Humulin R is a form of short-acting insulin and Levemir is a long-acting human insulin analog.

Side effects of Humulin R and Levemir that are similar include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) (symptoms include headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, tremors, irritability, trouble concentrating, rapid breathing, fast heartbeat, fainting, and seizures [severe hypoglycemia can be fatal]) and injection site reactions (e.g., pain, redness, irritation).

Side effects of Levemir that are different from Humulin R include swelling of the hands/feet, thickening of the skin where you inject Levemir, weight gain, headache, back pain, stomach pain, flu symptoms, and cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

Both Humulin R and Levemir may interact with albuterol, clonidine, reserpine, guanethidine, and beta-blockers.

Levemir may also interact with oral antidiabetic medications, pramlintide acetate, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, propoxyphene, pentoxifylline, salicylates, somatostatin analogs, sulfonamide antibiotics, corticosteroids, niacin, danazol, diuretics, sympathomimetic agents (e.g., epinephrine, terbutaline), glucagon, isoniazid, phenothiazine derivatives, somatropin, thyroid hormones, estrogens, progestogens (e.g., in oral contraceptives), protease inhibitors, atypical antipsychotic medications (e.g., olanzapine and clozapine), lithium salts, alcohol, and pentamidine.

What Are Side Effects of Humulin R?

Common side effects of Humulin R include:

• injection site reactions (e.g., pain, redness, irritation).

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is the most common side effect of Humulin R.

Symptoms of low blood sugar include:

• headache,
• hunger,
• weakness,
• sweating,
• tremors,
• irritability,
• trouble concentrating,
• rapid breathing,
• fast heartbeat,
• fainting, or
• seizure (severe hypoglycemia can be fatal).

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Humulin R including:

• signs of low potassium level in the blood (such as muscle cramps, weakness, irregular heartbeat).

Common side effects of Levemir include:

• injection site reactions (e.g., pain, redness, irritation),
• swelling of the hands/feet,
• thickening of the skin where you inject Levemir,
• weight gain,
• headache,
• back pain,
• stomach pain,
• flu symptoms, or
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Levemir including:

• signs of low potassium level in the blood (such as muscle cramps, weakness, or irregular heartbeat).

Humulin R (insulin (human recombinant)) is a hormone that is produced in the body used to treat diabetes.

Levemir (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) is a man-made form of a hormone that is produced in the body used to treat diabetes in adults and children.

Humulin R may interact with albuterol, clonidine, reserpine, guanethidine, or beta-blockers. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking.

Levemir may interact with albuterol, clonidine, reserpine, guanethidine, or beta-blockers. Other medicines can increase or decrease the effects of insulin Levemir on lowering your blood sugar. Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications you use.

The recommended starting dose of Humulin R for patients 6 years and older is 25 mg once daily in the morning. The dosage of Humulin R may be increased in increments of 10 to 15 mg at intervals of at least 5 days.

Levemir is for once- or twice-daily subcutaneous (under the skin) administration. Patients treated with Levemir once-daily should administer the dose with the evening meal or at bedtime. Patients requiring twice-daily dosing can administer the evening dose with the evening meal, at bedtime, or 12 hours after the morning dose.