Insulin lispro mix 75/25
Humalog 75/25 is an insulin mix that contains 75% insulin lispro protamine (an intermediate-acting insulin) and 25% insulin lispro (a rapid-acting insulin). It's used to control blood sugar levels in adults with Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes. Humalog 75/25 is injected under the skin, typically twice daily 15 minutes before a meal. Some side effects of this medication include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and reactions at the injection site. Humalog 75/25 comes as a vial and pen (KwikPen), and is available as a generic medication.
What is Humalog 75/25?
What is Humalog 75/25 used for?
- Type 1 diabetes in adults
- Type 2 diabetes in adults
How Humalog 75/25 works
Humalog 75/25 is a mix of two types of insulin:
- Insulin lispro protamine (an intermediate-acting insulin)
- Insulin lispro (a rapid-acting human insulin)
Insulin is a hormone that your body normally makes to control blood sugar levels. It helps your body absorb and store sugar from the bloodstream after a meal. Insulin also stops your liver from making glucose (sugar).
People with diabetes either can't make insulin, don't make enough insulin, or don't respond to insulin as they should. So to help control their blood sugar levels, they sometimes need insulin from an outside source, like Humalog 75/25. The mix of insulin in Humalog 75/25 works long enough to help control blood sugar levels over 2 meals, or a meal and a snack.
Drug facts
Side effects of Humalog 75/25
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 levels
- Reactions where the medication is injected (e.g., redness, swelling, itching)
Less Common Side Effects
- Fat deposits under the skin or pitting of the skin where the medication is injected
- Weight gain
- Swelling (e.g., in the legs, ankles, or feet)
Humalog 75/25 serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severely low blood sugar: dizziness, shakiness, feeling confused, feeling irritable or anxious, feeling faint, sweating, extreme hunger, can't think clearly
- Dangerously low potassium levels: weakness, muscle cramps or twitches, constipation, abnormal heartbeat, tiredness, trouble breathing
- Severe allergic reaction: rash; hives; swelling of the face, tongue, and throat; trouble breathing
The following Humalog 75/25 side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)—tremors or shaking, anxiety, sweating, cold or clammy skin, confusion, dizziness, rapid heartbeat
- Low potassium level—muscle pain or cramps, unusual weakness or fatigue, fast or irregular heartbeat, constipation
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Lipodystrophy—hardening or scarring of tissue at injection site
- Pain, redness, or irritation at injection site
- Weight gain
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Pros and cons of Humalog 75/25
Pros
- Starts to work in 15 minutes to lower blood sugar levels
- Helps to manage high blood sugar from meals and control blood sugar through 2 meals or a meal and a snack
- Can be stored at room temperature for short periods, so convenient for travel
Cons
- Needs to be given as an injection under the skin
- Can't customize the dose of each type of insulin in Humalog 75/25
- Not studied in children
Pharmacist tips for Humalog 75/25
- Inject Humalog 75/25 under the skin 15 minutes before a meal. Don't use Humalog 75/25 if you don't plan to eat, unless your diabetes care specialist specifically told you otherwise. Skipping meals and injecting Humalog 75/25 raises your risk for dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
- Ask your diabetes specialist about when you should check your blood sugar during the day. Jot down your blood sugar readings and share them with your care team at your office visits. This helps keep track of how well Humalog 75/25 is working for you and check whether you need any dose adjustments.
- Make sure you and your family members know how to recognize and treat low blood sugar. Watch out for symptoms like shakiness, anxiety, and hunger. Keep fast-acting sugar, such as glucose tablets, with you at all times so you can take it if your blood sugar level drops too low. Follow the "15-15 rule" to treat low blood sugar levels (below 70 mg/dL).
- Store unopened vials and pens in the refrigerator up until their expiration date. You can also keep them at room temperature, but only for up to 10 days (for the pens) or up to 28 days (for the vials).
- Store opened pens at room temperature for up to 10 days after opening; don't put them back into the refrigerator. For opened vials, keep them either at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 28 days after opening.
Tips on how to use Humalog 75/25:
- It's important that you know how to use Humalog 75/25 properly and safely. This helps avoid accidentally hurting yourself or wasting medication. Carefully review the instructions for use for the Humalog 75/25 vial or Humalog 75/25 KwikPen. Ask your care team for specific directions and for any questions you have.
- Because Humalog 75/25 is a suspension, you must mix the medication in the vial or KwikPen before using by rolling it in between your hands. It's easier to mix the insulin when it's at room temperature.
- How to mix the insulin in the Humalog 75/25 vial: Roll the vial gently at least 10 times in your hands and slowly turn the vial upside down at least 10 times. After mixing, the liquid in the vial should be uniform, white, and cloudy. Don't use it if it looks clear or contains any lumps or particles (solid chunks).
- How to mix the insulin in the Humalog 75/25 KwikPen: Slowly roll the pen between your hands 10 times. Then, move the pen up and down 10 times. The insulin should look white and cloudy after you mix it.
- How to prime the Humalog 75/25 KwikPen: Prime the pen each time before you use it to make sure you get the right amount of insulin when you inject. Turn the dose knob to "2 units." Hold the pen with the needle pointing up and tap it to get air bubbles to the top. Keep the needle pointing up and press and hold in the knob. You should see a small amount of insulin at the needle tip.
- Where to inject Humalog 75/25: Inject the insulin under the skin in the stomach area, upper legs (thighs), buttocks, or upper arms. For each injection, pick a different place within the area that you choose. This helps prevent hard lumps from forming in the skin, pitted skin, and irritated skin.
- After you inject Humalog 75/25, throw the needle or syringe away in a sharps container or a heavy-duty plastic container (e.g., empty milk carton, laundry detergent bottle). Throw away empty KwikPens in the same type of container. This helps lower the risk of needle-stick injuries. Don't throw away injection supplies into the regular trash.
Common questions about Humalog 75/25
Humalog 75/25 is a mixture of two types of insulin within a single product: 75% insulin lispro protamine (an intermediate-acting insulin) and 25% insulin lispro (a rapid-acting insulin). It starts to lower blood sugar levels 15 minutes after injection, each dose can help manage blood sugar levels through two meals, or a meal and a snack. Because of this, Humalog 75/25 is typically injected twice daily.
Insulin lispro in Humalog 75/25 is a fast-acting insulin. It starts to lower blood sugar about 15 minutes after injection, which is why Humalog 75/25 is injected within 15 minutes before a meal. Keep in mind that Humalog 75/25 also contains insulin lispro protamine, which is an intermediate-acting insulin that helps your body manage blood sugar levels over 2 meals.
No, Novolog 70/30 and Humalog 75/25 are two different brands of insulin mixtures, but they're very similar to each other. They both contain a rapid-acting insulin and an intermediate-acting insulin. They're both available as vials and pre-filled pens, and are typically injected twice daily. The main difference is the composition of insulin in each brand. Humalog 75/25 contains 75% insulin lispro protamine (an intermediate-acting insulin) and 25% insulin lispro (a rapid-acting insulin). Novolog 70/30 contains 70% insulin aspart protamine (an intermediate-acting insulin) and 30% insulin aspart (a rapid-acting insulin). Talk with your diabetes care specialist if you have specific questions about each brand.
Humalog 75/25 should be taken within 15 minutes before a meal because it starts to work quickly to lower blood sugar. Taking it too early before a meal can cause hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar).
Yes. Before drawing up a dose, you'll need to gently roll the Humalog 75/25 vial or KwikPen in between your hands at least 10 times. Then, you'll need to move the vial or pen up and down 10 times. This helps mix the Humalog 75/25 suspension so that you can draw up the right dose. After completing these steps, the liquid in the vial or pen should be uniform, white, and cloudy. Don't use it if it looks clear or contains any lumps or particles (solid chunks).
Yes, it's possible to gain weight from Humalog 75/25. This is a typical side effect of insulin because of how it works in your body. In clinical studies, people using Humalog 75/25 for 30 months gained about 12 pounds. But the amount of weight you can gain from insulin typically depends on your insulin dose and your lifestyle habits. To lower your risk for weight gain, your healthcare team can help you plan a nutritious diet and an exercise routine that works best for you. Talk with your healthcare team if you have more questions about the risk of weight gain from Humalog 75/25.
Yes, Humalog 75/25 isn't a type of insulin that's available over the counter; it's only available by a prescription from a healthcare professional.
Yes, Humalog 75/25 can spoil if it's kept past the written expiration date or if it's not stored properly. Store unopened vials and pens in the refrigerator up until their expiration date written on the box or actual product. You can also keep them at room temperature, but only for up to 10 days for the pens and up to 28 days for the vials before they expire. Keep opened pens at room temperature for up to 10 days after opening; don't put them back into the refrigerator. For opened vials, keep them either at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 28 days after opening. It's highly recommended you write the new expiration date on the vial or pen so you don't accidentally use an expired medication.
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Risks and warnings for Humalog 75/25
Humalog 75/25 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.
Risk of infections from sharing injection supplies
Never share Humalog 75/25 pens, any syringes, or any needles with anyone else. Sharing Humalog 75/25 and other injection supplies with someone can raise the risk of spreading very dangerous infections to each other.
Risk of changes to blood sugar levels with changes to your insulin regimen
- Risk factors: Changes in insulin strength | Changes in type of insulins you take | Change in insulin brand-name products | Changes in injection site
Changing your insulin or insulin routine, such as where you inject Humalog 75/25 or switching to a different brand name of your insulins, can affect how your body responds to insulin. This can lead to either high or low blood sugar levels. In addition, injecting Humalog 75/25 repeatedly into areas of skin that show signs of lipodystrophy, such as pitting or thickened skin, can result in high blood sugar levels.
Be sure to check your blood sugar levels more often if your diabetes care team instructs you to make certain changes to your insulin or insulin routine. This helps you see how the changes affect your blood sugar levels. Don't make changes to your Humalog 75/25 dose or routine without first checking in with your diabetes care team.
Dangerously low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia)
- Risk factors: Changes in diet and exercise | Drinking alcohol | Taking other diabetes medications with Humalog 75/25 | Liver or kidney problems
Humalog 75/25 can cause hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels. When your blood sugar level is too low, it can be dangerous and even life-threatening, especially if it's not treated in time. Check your blood sugar level regularly to make sure it's within a safe range.
Check that you're taking the correct insulin at the right time by reading the label of the insulins you have if you're prescribed multiple types of insulins. This helps prevent accidental mix-ups between your insulin products and possible low blood sugar.
Let your diabetes care team know if you make any changes to your diet or meal patterns, other medications, or amount of exercise you do. These changes can affect your blood sugar levels, so your care team might need to adjust the dose of Humalog 75/25 and your other diabetes medications.
Be familiar with symptoms of hypoglycemia, such as feeling shaky, being nervous or anxious, sweating, having body chills, and being very hungry. Keep fast-acting sugars, such as glucose tablets, with you at all times so you can treat hypoglycemia quickly. Get medical help right away if your blood sugar levels don't improve even after you try to treat it.
Low blood potassium levels
- Risk factors: Taking other medications that lower potassium levels
Humalog 75/25 can lower the levels of potassium in your blood, which can sometimes be dangerous. You're more at risk if you're already taking medications that lower your potassium, like certain diuretics (water pills). If needed, your prescriber might check your potassium levels regularly and give you medications to keep your potassium in the normal range. Tell your prescriber if you have symptoms of low potassium, such as weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, or abnormal heartbeats, while you're taking Humalog 75/25.
Swelling from fluid buildup and risk of heart failure when taken with certain diabetes medications
- Risk factors: Taking glitazones together with insulin | History of heart failure
Taking insulin, including Humalog 75/25, with medications called glitazones (also known as thiazolidinediones), like pioglitazone (Actos), can cause your body to hold onto fluid. This can lead to or worsen heart failure because the additional fluid can put stress on the heart. Let your prescriber know if you notice symptoms of fluid buildup or heart failure, such as sudden weight gain, swelling, trouble breathing, and tiredness. Your prescriber might need to make changes to your diabetes treatment.
Humalog 75/25 dosage
Carton| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| five 3ml kwikpens of 100 units/ml | 1 carton | $81.36 | $81.36 |
Typical dosage for Humalog 75/25
Your diabetes care team will determine your dose of Humalog 75/25. The dose depends on different factors, including whether you have Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes and how well your body respond to insulin.
- Adults: In general, Humalog 75/25 is injected under the skin into the fatty tissue of the stomach, thigh, upper arm, or buttocks, within 15 minutes before a meal. Humalog 75/25 is typically injected twice per day, with each dose intended to cover 2 meals or a meal and a snack.
How much does Humalog 75/25 cost?
Humalog 75/25 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 75/25 will not be safe for you to take.
- Use during episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
What are alternatives to Humalog 75/25?
