Skip to main content

Compare
Humalog vs. Actos

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Humalog (insulin lispro) and Actos (pioglitazone) are both used to manage diabetes, but they work in different ways and are used for different types of diabetes. Humalog is a rapid-acting insulin that you inject to control blood sugar levels in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It starts working within 15 minutes and lasts for 2 to 4 hours and taken multiple times a day with meals. On the other hand, Actos is a thiazolidinedione taken as a pill once daily with or without food, to help your body use insulin better only for patients with type 2 diabetes. Actos can take several weeks to show its full effect. Humalog can cause low blood sugar and weight gain, while Actos can cause fluid buildup, weight gain, and has a risk of bladder cancer and heart failure. Actos is not recommended for people with type 1 diabetes or those with bladder cancer.

Humalog

(insulin lispro)

Get free coupons

Pioglitazone

(Actos)

Get free coupons

Summary for Humalog

Prescription only

Humalog (insulin lispro) is a fast-acting insulin for adults and children with diabetes. It helps prevent and treat high blood sugar from meals. This medication lowers your blood sugar levels by moving the sugar from your blood and into your body. Humalog (insulin lispro) is typically given as an injection under the skin. In certain situations, it's injected into the veins by a healthcare provider. Humalog (insulin lispro) is available as vials and ready-to-use prefilled pens. Side effects include headache and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Indications for Humalog

Pros and Cons for Humalog

Pros

  • Starts to work within 15 minutes to lower blood sugar levels
  • Dose can be easily adjusted to make a treatment plan that's tailored to your specific needs
  • Available as a prefilled pen for easier and convenient use
  • Can use at home after proper training
  • Can use in children as young as 3 years old with Type 1 diabetes

Cons

  • Given multiple times a day (before each meal)
  • Must give as an injection
  • Might be hard for some people to take properly
  • Risk of low blood sugar
  • Can cause weight gain

Common Side Effects for Humalog

Type 1 diabetes:

  • Flu-like symptoms (35%)
  • Sore throat (33%)
  • Runny nose (25%)
  • Headache (30%)
  • Pain (20%)
  • Cough (17%)
  • Infection (14%)

Type 2 diabetes:

  • Headache (12%)
  • Pain (11%)
  • Infection (10%)

Warnings for Humalog

  • Spread of infections from sharing injection supplies
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • Low blood potassium levels
  • Swelling from fluid buildup and risk of heart failure when taken with certain blood sugar medications
  • Dangerously high blood sugar levels or buildup of ketones (for people who use insulin pump)

Summary for Actos

Prescription only

Pioglitazone (Actos) is an oral medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults, along with diet and exercise. It's a thiazolidinedione, which works by helping your body respond better to insulin. This medication is taken by mouth once a day and is available in both brand and generic forms. Side effects include headache, swelling in the body, and weight gain. There's also a serious warning that it can cause or worsen heart failure.

Indications for Actos

Pros and Cons for Actos

Pros

  • Only taken once a day
  • Rarely causes dangerously low blood sugar when taken by itself
  • Can be taken with or without food

Cons

  • Can cause fluid buildup in the body
  • Not safe for people with moderate to severe heart failure
  • Not a good choice for people with bladder cancer

Common Side Effects for Actos

  • Swelling (27%)
  • Upper respiratory tract infection (13%)
  • Headache (9%)
  • Heart failure (8%)
  • Sinus infection (6%)
  • Pain in the arms and legs (6%)

Side effects above are for pioglitazone (Actos) taken alone. These might differ if it's taken with other medications.

Warnings for Actos

  • Heart failure and swelling
  • Low blood sugar (when used with other medications)
  • Liver problems
  • Bladder cancer
  • Risk of bone fractures
  • Eye problems

Prices with our coupons for Humalog vs. Actos

Price Card Drug Icon
Insulin Lispro1 vial / 10ml of 100 units/ml
$33.00$140.10
Get free coupons
More Information
Price Card Drug Icon
Pioglitazone30 tablets / 30mg
$12.52$19.04
Get free coupons
More Information

Compare other Diabetes Type 2 drugs

Admelog vs. HumalogGlucovance vs. HumalogHumalog vs. ActosHumalog vs. ApidraHumulin-r vs. Humalog
Lantus vs. HumalogLevemir vs. HumalogLyumjev vs. HumalogMetaglip vs. HumalogNesina vs. HumalogOnglyza vs. HumalogPrecose vs. HumalogToujeo vs. HumalogTresiba vs. HumalogAdmelog vs. LantusGlucovance vs. LantusHumulin-r vs. LantusHumulin-r vs. Novolin-rInvokana vs. LantusLantus vs. ActosLantus vs. ApidraLantus vs. BasaglarLantus vs. Humulin-nLantus vs. LevemirLantus vs. NovologLantus vs. OzempicLantus vs. SemgleeLantus vs. ToujeoMetaglip vs. LantusPrandin vs. Lantus

Browse medications by letter

Show All

Browse prescription and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.