Humulin R

• Overview
• Consumer Information
• Professional Information

 

Humulin R Side Effects Center

What Is Humulin R?

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

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).

Dosage for Humulin R

Each patient's diabetes is different, and the injection schedule and use of Humulin R is individualized. A doctor determines which insulin to use, how much, and when and how often to inject it.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Humulin R?

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

Humulin R During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before using Humulin R. If you are planning pregnancy, discuss a plan for managing your blood sugars with your doctor before you become pregnant. Your doctor may switch the type of insulin you use during pregnancy. This medication does not pass into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding. Insulin needs may change while breastfeeding.

Additional Information

Our Humulin R (insulin (human recombinant)) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

 

Humulin R Consumer Information

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of insulin allergy: redness, swelling, sweating, itchy skin rash over the entire body, trouble breathing, fast heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out, or swelling in your tongue or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• low potassium--leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling.

Common side effects may include:

• low blood sugar;
• swelling in your hands or feet;
• weight gain; or
• thickening or hollowing of the skin where you injected the medicine.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Humulin R (Insulin (Human Recombinant))

 

Humulin R Professional Information

SIDE EFFECTS

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is one of the most frequent adverse events experienced by insulin users.

Symptoms of mild to moderate hypoglycemia may occur suddenly and can include:

sweating dizziness palpitation tremor hunger restlessness tingling in the hands, feet, lips, or tongue lightheadedness inability to concentrate headache

drowsiness sleep disturbances anxiety blurred vision slurred speech depressed mood irritability abnormal behavior unsteady movement personality changes

Signs of severe hypoglycemia can include:

disorientation unconsciousness death

seizures coma

Early warning symptoms of hypoglycemia may be different or less pronounced under certain conditions, such as long duration of diabetes, autonomic diabetic neuropathy, use of medications such as beta-adrenergic blockers, changing insulin preparations, or intensified control (3 or more insulin injections per day) of diabetes.

Without recognition of early warning symptoms, the patient may not be able to take steps to avoid more serious hypoglycemia. Patients who experience hypoglycemia without early warning symptoms should monitor their blood glucose more frequently, especially prior to activities such as driving. Mild to moderate hypoglycemia may be treated by eating foods or taking drinks that contain sugar. Patients should always carry a quick source of sugar, such as hard candy, non-diet carbohydrate-containing drinks or glucose tablets.

Hypokalemia

See PRECAUTIONS

Lipodystrophy

Administration of insulin subcutaneously can result in lipoatrophy (depression in the skin) or lipohypertrophy (enlargement or thickening of tissue).

Allergy

Local Allergy – Patients occasionally experience erythema, local edema, and pruritus at the site of injection. This condition usually is self-limiting. In some instances, this condition may be related to factors other than insulin, such as irritants in the skin cleansing agent or poor injection technique.

Systemic Allergy – Less common, but potentially more serious, is generalized allergy to insulin, which may cause rash over the whole body, shortness of breath, wheezing, reduction in blood pressure, fast pulse, or sweating. Severe cases of generalized allergy (anaphylaxis) may be life threatening.

Weight Gain

Weight gain can occur with some insulin therapies and has been attributed to the anabolic effects of insulin and the decrease in glycosuria.

Peripheral Edema

Insulin may cause sodium retention and edema, particularly if previously poor metabolic control is improved by intensified insulin therapy.

Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Humulin R (Insulin (Human Recombinant))

&Copy; Humulin R Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Humulin R Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.