Novolin

Insulin (human) is a prescription medication used to control hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Insulin (human) is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin helps move sugar from the blood into other tissues that use it for energy.

This medication comes in solution and suspension for injection and inhalational forms. The dose and frequency of administration will depend on many factors, including diet, lifestyle, and other conditions you have.

The most common side effect of insulin (human) is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).                                                                                  

Hypoglycemia related to insulin can also cause dizziness, drowsiness, and blurred vision. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how insulin (human) affects you.

Serious side effects have been reported with Insulin (human). See the “Insulin (human) Precautions” section.

The most common side effect of insulin (human) is hypoglycemia, which can include the following symptoms:

• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Palpitation
• Tremor
• Hunger
• Restlessness
• Tingling in the hands, feet, lips, or tongue
• Lightheadedness
• Decreased concentration
• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Sleep disturbances
• Anxiety
• Blurred vision
• Slurred speech
• Depressed mood
• Irritability
• Abnormal behavior
• Unsteady movement
• Personality changes

This is not a complete list of insulin (human) side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Many medicines alter glucose metabolism and may require insulin dose adjustment or close monitoring. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik)
• Beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Normodyne), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), and propranolol (Inderal)
• Certain cholesterol-lowering medications such as fenofibrate (Antara, Lofibra, TriCor, Triglide), gemfibrozil (Lopid), and niacin (Niacor, Niaspan, in Advicor)
• Clonidine (Catapres, Catapres-TTS, in Clorpres)
• Danazol
• Digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin)
• Disopyramide (Norpace, Norpace CR)
• Diuretics
• Fuoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, in Symbyax)
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid)
• Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
• Medications for asthma and colds
• Medications for mental illness
• Medications for nausea
• Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl) and Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
• Octreotide (Sandostatin)
• Oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
• Oral medications for diabetes such as pioglitazone (Actos, in Actoplus Met and others) and rosiglitazone (Avandia, in Avandamet and others)
• Oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone); Pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam)
• Reserpine
• Salicylate pain relievers such as aspirin, choline magnesium trisalicylate (Tricosal, Trilisate), choline salicylate (Arthropan), diflunisal (Dolobid), magnesium salicylate (Doan's, others), and salsalate (Argesic, Disalcid, Salgesic)
• Somatropin (Nutropin, Serostim, others)
• Sulfa antibiotics
• Thyroid medications

This is not a complete list of insulin (human) drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Inhalational:

Serious side effects have been reported with inhalations insulin (human) including the following:

Hypoglycemia. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of hypoglycemia.

• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Palpitation
• Tremor
• Hunger
• Restlessness
• Tingling in the hands, feet, lips, or tongue
• Lightheadedness
• Decreased concentration
• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Sleep disturbances
• Anxiety
• Blurred vision
• Slurred speech
• Depressed mood
• Irritability
• Abnormal behavior
• Unsteady movement
• Personality changes

Dry mouth

Decreased respiratory function

Cough

Shortness of breath

Injectable:

Serious side effects have been reported with injectable insulin (human) including the following:

Hypoglycemia. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of hypoglycemia.

• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Palpitation
• Tremor
• Hunger
• Restlessness
• Tingling in the hands, feet, lips, or tongue
• Lightheadedness
• Decreased concentration
• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Sleep disturbances
• Anxiety
• Blurred vision
• Slurred speech
• Depressed mood
• Irritability
• Abnormal behavior
• Unsteady movement
• Personality changes

Peripheral edema

Weight gain

Local redness and itching at the site of injection

Hypoglycemia related to insulin can also cause dizziness, drowsiness, and blurred vision. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how insulin (human) affects you.

Do not take insulin (human) if you:

• are allergic to insulin (human) or to any of its ingredients
• are experiencing hypoglycemia

If you take too much insulin (human), call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Inhalational:

• Unopened cartridges or blister packs of insulin (human) for inhalation should be stored in the refrigerator.
• Opened cartridges or blister packs of insulin (human) for inhalation may be stored out of the refrigerator, as long as it is kept cool (below 86°F) and away from heat and light. Opened cartridges or blister packs must be discarded after 10 days.

Injectable:

• Unopened vials of insulin (human) for injection should be stored in the refrigerator.
• Opened bottles of insulin (human) for injection may be stored out of the refrigerator, as long as it is kept cool (below 86°F) and away from heat and light. Opened vials must be discarded after 31 days.