Humalog 50/50
Humalog 50/50 is a combination insulin made up of an intermediate-acting insulin (lispro protamine) and a fast-acting insulin (lispro). Since it's a combination insulin, it's not as easy to adjust your dose compared to single-ingredient insulins.
What is Humalog 50/50?
What is Humalog 50/50 used for?
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
How Humalog 50/50 works
Humalog 50/50 releases a hormone called insulin into the body to lower glucose (sugar) levels in the blood.
Drug facts
Side effects of Humalog 50/50
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Low blood sugar
- Injection site reaction (e.g., redness, swelling, itching)
- Changes in skin shape at the site of the injection
- Weight gain
- Swelling in the hands and feet
- Itching
- Rash
Humalog 50/50 serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar): if not treated, severe hypoglycemia can lead to unconsciousness, seizures, and even death
- Severe allergic reactions: rash, hives, swelling of face, tongue, and throat, difficulty breathing
- Dangerously low levels of potassium: if not treated, it can lead to difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, and even death
The following Humalog 50/50 side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
blurred vision
chills
cold sweats
confusion
cool, pale skin
decreased urine
difficulty with swallowing
dizziness
fast heartbeat
flushing or redness of the skin
headache
increased hunger
increased thirst
irregular heartbeat
loss of appetite
muscle pain or cramps
nervousness
nightmares
numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
seizures
shakiness
slurred speech
sweating
swelling of the arms or legs
tightness in the chest
unusual tiredness or weakness
unusually warm skin
vomiting
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
redistribution or accumulation of body fat
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Humalog 50/50
Pros
- Works well for controlling your blood sugar
- Works quickly to control your sugar levels after meals
- Can be used in people with liver or kidney problems, unlike some diabetic medications that are taken by mouth
- Available in pens that are small and easy to use
Cons
- May be more difficult to control blood sugars if you don't have a steady eating schedule
- Can cause moderate weight gain (around 4 to 6 pounds)
- Higher risk of low blood sugar compared to diabetes medications taken by mouth
- Must be taken with 2 meals of the day (or a meal and a snack)
- Both the vial and pens are brand only, so it can be expensive
Pharmacist tips for Humalog 50/50
- Check your blood sugar levels regularly while using Humalog 50/50 to make sure that this medication is working correctly. Talk with your healthcare provider about what blood sugar is too high or low for you.
- Whether you're using the Humalog 50/50 vials or pens, gently roll the vial or pen in between your hands about 10 times. Then flip the vial or pen up and down (invert) about 10 times. This mixing technique helps to make sure you get the right dose of medication.
- Once you've mixed the vials or pens, the Humalog 50/50 solution should look cloudy and milky in color. Don't use Humalog 50/50 if the solution looks clear, has clumps, or if there's white particles sitting at the bottom of the container.
- After mixing Humalog 50/50, inject your dose shortly after. If you wait to inject your dose, you'll need to mix the insulin again.
- Inject Humalog 50/50 15 minutes before you eat a meal under the skin (subcutaneously) of your stomach area, buttocks, upper legs, or upper arms.
- Rotate injection sites to prevent hard lumps from forming.
- Never inject Humalog 50/50 into your vein (intravenously) or muscle (intramuscularly) or use it in an insulin infusion pump.
- Read the package insert for troubleshooting tips with the Humalog 50/50 pen. If you're still having trouble giving yourself the medication, talk to your provider or pharmacist.
Common questions about Humalog 50/50
Fifty percent of Humalog 50/50 contains a fast-acting insulin (lispro) and the other 50% contains an intermediate-acting insulin (lispro protamine). The fast-acting insulin is absorbed rather quickly and is meant to control your blood sugar during meals. The intermediate-acting insulin is absorbed more slowly and lasts longer in your body. It's meant to "hold you over" and control your blood sugar between meals.
It's important to understand how much basal insulin your body requires before switching to a fixed-dosed combination insulin medication like Humalog 50/50. Once you're on a steady dose of basal insulin, your provider will have a better idea of what dose of Humalog 50/50 to switch you to. Since it's a fixed combination medication, it's tricky to adjust if there are always changes in your diet or activity level.
Inject Humalog 50/50 within 15 minutes before you eat a meal because it starts acting fast.
Yes, you need to prime your pen before each injection. This removes any air that collects in the pen and makes sure your pen works correctly. If you don't prime it, you can get too much or too little insulin.
Taking Humalog 50/50 without eating will put you at higher risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which can sometimes be life-threatening. Symptoms of low blood sugar include feeling shaky, being nervous or anxious, fast heartbeat, sweating or body chills, confusion, feeling sleepy, weakness or low energy, and excessive hunger. Make sure you know how to treat low blood sugar before using this medication. It's best to carry with you some form of sugar at all times while you are taking this medication because you can use these to raise your blood sugar if it becomes too low. Some examples of fast-acting sugars include: 3-4 glucose (sugar) tablets, 6-8 pieces of hard candy, or one-half cup of fruit juice.
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Risks and warnings for Humalog 50/50
Humalog 50/50 can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Infections or diseases
Never share Humalog 50/50 pens, syringes, or needles with anyone else, even if you change out the needle. Sharing Humalog 50/50 with someone puts you at risk of getting very dangerous diseases and infections.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Risk factors: Changes in diet and exercise | Drinking alcohol | Taking other medications for diabetes | Age 65 or older | Liver or kidney problems | Not injecting insulin correctly
Humalog 50/50 alone or together with other diabetic medications can cause low blood sugar. Very low blood sugar can be life-threatening. Symptoms of low blood sugar include feeling shaky, being nervous or anxious, fast heartbeat, sweating or body chills, confusion, feeling sleepy, weakness or low energy, and excessive hunger. This can happen suddenly and can appear differently for each person. Make sure you know how to treat low blood sugar before using this medication. It's best to carry with you some form of sugar at all times while you are taking this medication because you can use these to raise your blood sugar if it becomes too low. Some examples of fast-acting sugars include: 3-4 glucose (sugar) tablets, 6-8 pieces of hard candy, or one-half cup of fruit juice.
Low blood potassium levels
- Risk factors: Taking laxatives | Taking medications that increase urination
Humalog 50/50 can lower levels of potassium in your blood, which can be dangerous. You're at higher risk of this if you're already taking medications that lower your potassium. Your provider will check your potassium levels regularly and might give you medications to keep your potassium in the normal range. Symptoms of low potassium levels include weakness, muscle cramps or twitches, digestive problems, abnormal heartbeats, or kidney problems.
Swelling and heart failure
- Risk factors: Taking PPAR-gamma agonists | Heart failure
Taking Humalog 50/50 with thiazolidinediones (like pioglitazone or rosiglitazone), which are called PPAR-gamma agonists, can cause your body to hold onto fluid. This can be especially dangerous if you have heart failure because additional fluid can worsen your heart failure. Make sure your provider knows about your complete medical history before starting this medication.
Humalog 50/50 dosage
Typical dosage for Humalog 50/50
The dose of Humalog 50/50 will be different for every person. The amount you need will depend on your blood sugar level, your weight, and how responsive you are to insulin. Please follow the directions from your provider carefully.
Humalog 50/50 is typically injected under the skin twice a day (with each dose meant to cover 2 meals or a meal and a snack). The medication should be injected within 15 minutes before a meal.
Interactions between Humalog 50/50 and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Balofloxacin
- Besifloxacin
- Chloroquine
- Ciprofloxacin
- Enoxacin
- Fleroxacin
- Flumequine
- Gatifloxacin
- Gemifloxacin
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Lanreotide
- Levofloxacin
- Liraglutide
- Lomefloxacin
- Macimorelin
- Metoclopramide
- Metreleptin
- Moxifloxacin
- Nadifloxacin
- Norfloxacin
- Octreotide
- Ofloxacin
- Pasireotide
- Pazufloxacin
- Pefloxacin
- Pioglitazone
- Pramlintide
- Prulifloxacin
- Rosiglitazone
- Rufloxacin
- Sparfloxacin
- Thioctic Acid
- Tosufloxacin
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Acebutolol
- Albiglutide
- Atenolol
- Betaxolol
- Bisoprolol
- Bitter Melon
- Carteolol
- Carvedilol
- Celiprolol
- Dulaglutide
- Esmolol
- Exenatide
- Fenugreek
- Furazolidone
- Glucomannan
- Guar Gum
- Iproniazid
- Isocarboxazid
- Labetalol
- Levobunolol
- Linezolid
- Lixisenatide
- Methylene Blue
- Metipranolol
- Metoprolol
- Moclobemide
- Nadolol
- Nebivolol
- Nialamide
- Oxprenolol
- Penbutolol
- Phenelzine
- Pindolol
- Practolol
- Procarbazine
- Propranolol
- Psyllium
- Rasagiline
- Safinamide
- Saxagliptin
- Selegiline
- Sotalol
- Timolol
- Tranylcypromine
How much does Humalog 50/50 cost?
$88.24
Humalog 50/50 contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Humalog 50/50 will not be safe for you to take.
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
What are alternatives to Humalog 50/50?
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