Regular insulin

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Regular insulin
Actrapid vial.jpg
A vial of regular human insulin
Names
Trade namesHumulin R, Novolin R, Actrapid, others[1][2]
Other namesinsulin injection (soluble),[2] neutral insulin,[2] regular human insulin, human insulin (regular)
Clinical data
Main usesDiabetes
Pregnancy
category
  • US: B (No risk in non-human studies)
Routes of
use
subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous[2]
Onset of action30 minutes
Duration of action8 hours
Defined daily dose40 U[3]
External links
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa682611
Legal
License data
Legal status

Regular insulin, also known as neutral insulin and soluble insulin is a type of short acting insulin.[2] It is used to treat diabetes mellitus type 1, diabetes mellitus type 2, gestational diabetes, and complications of diabetes such as diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic states.[4] It is also used along with glucose to treat high blood potassium levels.[5] Typically it is given by injection under the skin, but may also be used by injection into a vein or muscle.[2] Onset of effect is typically in 30 minutes and they last for 8 hours.[4]

The common side effect is low blood sugar.[4] Other side effects may include pain or skin changes at the sites of injection, low blood potassium, and allergic reactions.[4] Use during pregnancy is relatively safe for the baby.[4] Regular insulin can be made from the pancreas of pigs or cows.[2] Human versions can be made either by modifying pig versions or recombinant technology.[2]

Insulin was first used as a medication in Canada by Charles Best and Frederick Banting in 1922.[6] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[7] The wholesale cost in the developing world is about US$2–11 per 1,000 iu of regular insulin.[8] As of 2017 in the United Kingdom 1,000 iu costs the NHS £7.50, while in the United States this amount is about $134.[2][9] In 2017, it was the 73rd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than ten million prescriptions.[10][11] Versions are also available mixed with longer-acting versions of insulin, such as NPH insulin.[2]

Medical uses

Regular insulin is used for the long-term management of diabetes.[4] It is the treatment of choice for the two diabetic emergencies diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic states.[4] It may also be used in combination with glucose to lower potassium levels in those with hyperkalemia.[5]

Dosage

The defined daily dose is 40 U (by injection).[3]

Side effects

Side effects may include: low blood sugar levels, skin reactions at the site of injection and low potassium levels among others.[4]

Manufacture

Humulin, one brand name for a group of biosynthetic human insulin products, is synthesized in a laboratory strain of Escherichia coli bacteria which has been genetically altered with recombinant DNA to produce biosynthetic human insulin. Humulin R consists of zinc-insulin crystals dissolved in a clear fluid.

Formulations

It is currently sold by many manufacturers in a number of different forms.

By Eli Lilly these include:

  • Humulin R (REGULAR human insulin injection [rDNA origin]) is a short-acting insulin that has a relatively short duration of activity as compared with other insulins.
  • Humulin R Regular U-500 (Concentrated) insulin human injection, USP (rDNA Origin) is a stronger concentration (500 units/mL) of Humulin R.
  • Humulin 70/30 (70% human insulin isophane suspension, 30% human insulin injection [rDNA origin]) is a mixture insulin. It is an intermediate-acting insulin combined with the onset of action of Humulin
  • Humulin 50/50 (50% human insulin isophane suspension, 50% human insulin injection [rDNA origin]) is a mixture insulin. It is an intermediate-acting insulin combined with the onset of action of Humulin R.

In UK these include:[12]

  • Actrapid
  • Humulin S
  • Insuman Rapid

References

  1. "insulin regular human (OTC) – Humulin R, Novolin R". Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 British national formulary : BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. p. 464472. ISBN 9780857111562.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "WHOCC - ATC/DDD Index". www.whocc.no. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. "Insulin Human". www.drugs.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Mahoney, BA; Smith, WA; Lo, DS; Tsoi, K; Tonelli, M; Clase, CM (18 April 2005). "Emergency interventions for hyperkalaemia". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2): CD003235. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003235.pub2. PMC 6457842. PMID 15846652.
  6. Fleishman, Joel L.; Kohler, J. Scott; Schindler, Steven (2009). Casebook for The Foundation a Great American Secret. New York: PublicAffairs. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-7867-3425-2. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017.
  7. World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
  8. "Insulin, Neutral Soluble". International Drug Price Indicator Guide. Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  9. "NADAC as of 2016-12-07 | Data.Medicaid.gov". Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  10. "The Top 300 of 2020". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 18 March 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  11. "Insulin Human - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  12. "Human Insulin - Types, Production, Action, History". Archived from the original on 2017-11-27. Retrieved 2017-11-17.

External links

Identifiers:
  • "Insulin regular". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Archived from the original on 2020-08-02. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  • "Insulin". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Archived from the original on 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  • "Insulin [Injection], biphasic". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Archived from the original on 2019-06-28. Retrieved 2020-01-08.