Novolin N
Novolin N, a brand name of insulin NPH, is an intermediate-acting insulin. It helps control blood sugar levels in adults and children with Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes. This type of insulin comes in a vial (Novolin N) and a pen (Novolin N Flexpen). There's also a Novolin N ReliOn brand name. Novolin N is injected under the skin once or twice daily to regulate blood sugar levels. Side effects include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and reactions at the injection site.
What is Novolin N?
What is Novolin N used for?
- Type 1 diabetes in adults and children
- Type 2 diabetes in adults
How Novolin N works
Novolin N is an insulin. Insulin is a hormone that your body normally makes to control blood sugar levels in a few ways. It helps your body absorb and store sugar from the bloodstream after a meal. Insulin also lowers the amount of glucose (sugar) made by your liver.
People with diabetes either can't make insulin, don't make enough insulin, or don't respond to insulin as they should. Sometimes, these people need insulin from an outside source, like with Novolin N, to help control their blood sugar levels.
Drug facts
More on Novolin N essentials
Side effects of Novolin N
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
- Reactions where the medication is injected (e.g., redness, swelling, itching)
Less Common Side Effects
- Allergic reactions
- Fat deposits under the skin or pitting of the skin where the medication is injected
- Weight gain
- Swelling
Novolin N 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
- Ketoacidosis (high ketone levels in the blood): nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, thirsty, dry mouth, fruity breath, trouble breathing
- Dangerously low potassium levels: weakness, muscle cramps or twitches, constipation, abnormal heartbeat, tiredness, trouble breathing
- Severe allergic reaction: rash; hives; swelling of face, tongue, and throat; trouble breathing
More on Novolin N side effects
The following Novolin N 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 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
Get your GoodRx coupon
Pros and cons of Novolin N
Pros
- Available over the counter without a prescription
- Can help manage both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
- Available as a pen and vial
- Pens are small enough to fit in your purse or pocket
Cons
- Might need to inject twice daily
- Must give as an injection under the skin
- Risk of low blood sugar and weight gain
- Only available as a brand-name medication
Pharmacist tips for Novolin N
- Ask your prescriber about when you should check your blood sugar during the day as you take Novolin N. Keep a log of your blood sugar readings and show it to your prescriber at your office visits. This helps you and your prescriber keep track of how well Novolin N is working for you and whether you need dose adjustments.
- It's important that you and your loved ones know how to recognize and treat low blood sugar. Check your blood sugar if you have symptoms like shakiness, anxiety, and hunger. Always have fast-acting sugar, such as glucose tablets, with you 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 until the expiration date written on the product. You can also keep them at room temperature for up to 28 days (for pens) or up to 42 days (for vials).
- Keep opened pens at room temperature for up to 28 days. Place opened vials at room temperature for up to 42 days. Don't put opened medication back in the refrigerator.
- Ask your prescriber or pharmacist about the best way to take your insulins if you're prescribed Novolin N with other types of insulin. You might need to take each type of insulin at different times of the day.
Tips on how to use Novolin N:
- Before each time you use Novolin N, double check that you're using the correct insulin product and that your dose (number of units) that you've prepared is correct. This is important to prevent dosing mistakes that could lead to dangerously low blood sugar if you accidentally inject too much insulin.
- Always use a new needle for each injection to help prevent infections and blocked needles. Don't reuse or share your injection supplies with other people to avoid spreading infections.
- How to mix the insulin in the Novolin N vial: Roll the vial gently about 10 times in your hands. After mixing, the liquid in the vial should be uniform, white, and cloudy. Don't shake the vial too much because bubbles can form, which can lead you to draw up the wrong amount of medication into the syringe and take the wrong dose.
- How to mix the insulin in the Novolin N FlexPen: Move the pen up and down to move the glass ball from one end to the other. Do this 20 times until the insulin looks white and cloudy.
- How to prime the Novolin N FlexPen: Prime the pen each time before you use it. Turn the dose selector to 2 units. Hold the pen with the needle pointing up and tap it so any air bubbles go to the top. With the needle still pointing up, press the push-button down; you should see a small amount of insulin at the needle tip.
- Where to inject Novolin N: Inject the medication under the skin in the stomach area, buttocks, upper legs (thighs), 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 or thickened skin, and irritated skin.
- After you inject Novolin N, throw the needle or syringe away in a sharps container or a heavy-duty plastic container (e.g., empty milk carton, laundry detergent bottle). This helps lower the risk of needle-stick injuries. Don't throw away needles or syringes in your trash can. Visit the FDA's website for guidance on how to throw away your sharps container when it's full in your specific state.
Common questions about Novolin N
Yes, the Novolin N insulin is white and cloudy. For the vial, you'll need to gently roll the vial 10 times in your hand to mix it and make sure it's white and cloudy all throughout before you use it. And for the pen, you'll need to gently move the pen up and down 20 times to mix the insulin inside.
You can mix both Novolin N and insulin regular (Novolin R) into the same syringe before you inject your insulin. But there's a specific order that you should follow in terms of which insulin to draw up first. Remember "clear before cloudy". Draw up insulin regular (Novolin R) into the syringe first, then draw up Novolin N. Don't mix Novolin N with the Humulin R brand name of insulin regular, or any other type or brand of insulin, into the same syringe.
Neither. Novolin N is an intermediate-acting insulin. It starts to work within 1 to 3 hours after an injection. It doesn't work as quickly as rapid-acting or regular-acting (short-acting) insulins, so Novolin N isn't used to manage blood sugar levels right after meals. The effects of Novolin N lasts for several hours, so it's used a little bit more like long-acting insulins to help control blood sugar over a long period of time.
The blood sugar-lowering effects of Novolin N can last anywhere from 14 to 24 hours after a dose. There's a wide range of time because the insulin isn't absorbed consistently into the body. Depending on how your body responds to the medication, you typically take Novolin N once or twice per day. Your prescriber will work closely with you to find a dosing schedule that best manages your blood sugar levels throughout the day.
No, Novolin N and Novolin R are two completely different brand names and they contain two different types of insulin. The active ingredient in Novolin N is called "insulin isophane human," also called "insulin NPH." This is an intermediate-acting insulin that takes about 1 to 3 hours to work and lasts anywhere between 14 and 24 hours. Novolin N isn't a mealtime insulin that's used to treat high blood sugar from food. In contrast, the active ingredient in Novolin R is called "insulin regular." It's a short-acting insulin that starts to work a little quicker and lasts for a shorter period of time than insulin NPH. As a result, Novolin R is typically used as a mealtime insulin.
No, but they're very similar. Humulin and Novolin are lines of branded products that are made by different manufacturers. Humulin N and Novolin N both contain insulin NPH as the active ingredient. One main difference is how each brand name is supplied: both come as a 10 mL vial and 3 mL prefilled pen, but Humulin N also comes as a 3 mL vial. Humulin N and Novolin N also differ in how the vials are stored and when they expire. Of note, there are also two other brand names called Humulin R and Novolin R that both contain regular insulin as the active ingredient.
It depends on whether you have the vial or the pen version of Novolin N. After opening, vials are good for up to 42 days at room temperature and pens are good for up to 28 days at room temperature. It's best to write the new expiration date on the Novolin N vial or pen to help remember when you should throw it away.
It depends on whether you've opened the Novolin N vial or pen yet. It's preferred that you store unopened vials and pens in the refrigerator because then you can use them until their expiration dates. You can also keep them at room temperature, but only for up to 28 days for the pens, and up to 42 days for the vials, before you need to throw them out. Once opened, keep the vials and pens at room temperature; don't put them back into the refrigerator.
How to save using GoodRx
Risks and warnings for Novolin N
Novolin N 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 Novolin N pens, syringes, needles, or cartridges with anyone else. Sharing Novolin N and 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 Novolin N 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 Novolin N 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 Novolin N 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 Novolin N | Liver or kidney problems
Novolin N can cause hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels. When your blood sugar levels are 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 Novolin N 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
Novolin N 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 Novolin N.
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 Novolin N, 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.
Novolin N dosage
Typical dosage for Novolin N
Your diabetes care team will determine your dose of Novolin N based on different factors, such as your blood sugar levels and your body weight.
In general, Novolin N is injected under the skin once or twice per day. It's injected into the fatty tissue of the stomach, thigh, upper arm, or buttocks.
How much does Novolin N cost?
$24.88
Novolin N 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 Novolin N will not be safe for you to take.
- Use during episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
What are alternatives to Novolin N?
News about Novolin N
Novolin N images
