Humalog (insulin lispro) and Humulin N (insulin isophane human) are brand-name prescription* medications. They’re approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes in adults and certain children.
This article explains many of the similarities and differences between Humalog and Humulin N. If you’re considering treatment with one of these insulins, talk with your doctor. They can help you decide whether one of them may be right for you.
For more comprehensive information about these two drugs, you can refer to our Humalog and Humulin N articles.
Note: Humalog comes in two forms called Humalog and Humalog Mix. Humalog Mix is approved for use in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This medication contains different drugs than Humalog, so it will act differently in the body and the dosage will also be different. This article does not discuss Humalog Mix. If you have any questions about this form of Humalog, talk with your doctor.
* Humulin N is also available over-the-counter (OTC). This means you can purchase Humulin N without a prescription from a healthcare professional. However, it’s still important to talk with a healthcare professional before using the OTC form of Humulin N.
Key differences between Humalog and Humulin N
These are a few of the main differences between Humalog and Humulin N:
- Active ingredients: Humalog contains a rapid-acting insulin called insulin lispro. Humulin N contains an intermediate-acting insulin called insulin isophane human. (See “Generics or biosimilars: Humalog and Humulin N” below.)
- Dosage: Humalog is a mealtime insulin. It can be given more often than Humulin N, which is a basal insulin. (See “Generics and biosimilars: Humalog and Humulin N” and “Dosages, forms, and administration” below.)
Humalog is used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes in adults and type 1 diabetes in certain children. Humulin R is used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes in adults and children.
Humalog contains the active ingredient insulin lispro, which is a rapid-acting insulin. Humulin R contains a short-acting insulin called insulin regular as its active ingredient.
Humalog and Humulin R help manage sharp increases in blood sugar that happen when you eat. The dosage of each drug is slightly different. Humalog is injected within 15 minutes before or after a meal, and Humulin R is typically injected 30 minutes before a meal.
To learn more about how Humalog compares with Humulin R, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to our Humalog and Humulin R articles.
Below are answers to some common questions about Humalog and Humulin N.
How do Humulin N, Humalog, and insulin lispro compare?
Below are a few ways Humulin N and Humalog compare with insulin lispro.
Humulin N contains the active ingredient insulin isophane human. This is an intermediate-acting insulin. It’s used to help manage blood sugar levels between meals and during the night.
Humalog is used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes in adults and type 1 diabetes in certain children. Humulin N is used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes in adults and children.
Humalog contains insulin lispro as its active ingredient. This is a rapid-acting insulin used to help manage sharp increases in blood sugar that can occur when you eat. Insulin lispro is also the active ingredient in another brand-name drug called Admelog. (To learn how Humalog compares with Admelog, refer to this article.)
In addition, a drug similar to insulin lispro (insulin lispro-aabc) is the active ingredient in the brand-name drug Lyumjev. This form of insulin lispro is absorbed more quickly by the body than the form in Humalog. To learn more, you can refer to this Lyumjev article.
If you have more questions about how Humulin N and Humalog compare with insulin lispro, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Which Humalog and Humulin N medications are safe for use in children?
Humalog and Humulin N can both be used to treat children with type 1 diabetes. However, Humalog is only approved for children ages 3 years and older while Humulin N is approved for all ages. Additionally, Humulin N can also be used in children with type 2 diabetes, for all ages.
If you have additional questions about which medication is best for your child, talk with your doctor.
Here’s information about the generic and biosimilar status for Humalog and Humulin N, as well as their active ingredients.
| Humalog | Humulin N | |
| Generic available | yes (see note below) | no |
| Biosimilar available | no (see note below) | no |
| Active ingredients | insulin lispro | insulin isophane human |
| Drug class | rapid-acting insulin, which is sometimes called a mealtime insulin* | intermediate-acting insulin, which is sometimes called a basal insulin† |
* Mealtime insulins are used to help manage sharp increases in blood sugar that happen when you eat.
† Basal insulins are used to help manage blood sugar levels between meals and overnight.
Note: Humalog and Humulin N are biologic drugs. While traditional drugs are made from chemicals, biologics are made from parts of living cells. With traditional brand-name medications, the active drug can be copied exactly. These copies can be made available as generics. Because biologics cannot be copied exactly, they have biosimilars instead of generics.
Humalog and Humulin N do not have a biosimilar form. However, the manufacturer of Humalog was able to authorize generic versions of this insulin instead of biosimilars. The generic forms of Humalog are identical to the brand-name forms, except they have generic names.
Humulin N is also available over-the-counter (OTC). This means you can purchase Humulin N without a prescription from a healthcare professional. However, it’s still important to talk with a healthcare professional before using the OTC form of Humulin N.
Humalog and Humulin N have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes in adults.
Humalog or Humulin N and children
The FDA has approved Humalog and Humulin N to treat the following conditions in children:
- Humalog is FDA-approved to treat:
- type 1 diabetes in children ages 3 years and older
- Humulin N is also FDA-approved to treat:
- type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children
Note: For more information about the drugs’ uses, see our articles about Humalog and Humulin N.
Here’s a quick look at the dosage and administration of Humalog and Humulin N for the conditions both drugs treat.
Dosage for type 1 diabetes
| Humalog for type 1 diabetes | Humulin N for type 1 diabetes | |
| Forms | Humalog: • solution in 3-milliliter (mL) single-use cartridge, given by subcutaneous (SC) injection • solution in 3-mL and 10-mL multiple-use vials, given by SC injection or IV infusion, or used in an insulin pump • solution in 3-mL single-use injection pens called a KwikPen, Junior KwikPen, and Tempo Pen, given by SC injection | • liquid suspension in 3-mL and 10-mL multiple-use vials, given by SC injection • liquid suspension in 3-mL single-use injection pen called a KwikPen, given by SC injection |
| Strengths | • Humalog, cartridges, vials, and injection pens: 100 units of insulin per mL (U-100) • Humalog KwikPen: 200 units of insulin per mL (U-200) | Humulin N vials and KwikPen: U-100 |
| Dose | 50% of your total daily insulin dosage divided over each meal | 50% of your total daily insulin dosage |
| Frequency | Humalog: within 15 minutes before or after a meal, for as many meals as your doctor advises each day | either once per day or divided into twice daily dosing, as directed by your doctor |
| Given by | healthcare professional or self (see below) | healthcare professional or self (see below) |
Your doctor will tell you the exact dosage of Humalog or Humulin N that’s right for you.
A healthcare professional will show you or your caregiver how to give Humalog or Humulin N injections at home.
If Humalog is given as an IV infusion in the hospital, a healthcare professional will give the infusion.
Dosage for type 2 diabetes
| Humalog for type 2 diabetes | Humulin N for type 2 diabetes | |
| Forms | Humalog: • solution in 3-milliliter (mL) single-use cartridge, given by subcutaneous (SC) injection • solution in 3-mL and 10-mL multiple-use vials, given by SC injection or IV infusion, or used in an insulin pump • solution in 3-mL single-use injection pens called a KwikPen, Junior KwikPen, and Tempo Pen, given by SC injection | • liquid suspension in 3-mL and 10-mL multiple-use vials, given by SC injection • liquid suspension in 3-mL single-use injection pen called a KwikPen, given by SC injection |
| Strengths | • Humalog, cartridges, vials, and injection pens: 100 units of insulin per mL (U-100) • Humalog KwikPen: 200 units of insulin per mL (U-200) | Humulin N vials and KwikPen: U-100 |
| Dosage | either 10% of your total daily insulin dosage or 4 units per day, divided over each meal | 0.1 to 0.2 units per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day* |
| Frequency | Humalog: within 15 minutes before or after the largest meal each day | either once per day or divided into twice per day dosing, as directed by your doctor |
| Given by | healthcare professional or self (see below) | healthcare professional or self (see below) |
* One kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb). As a sample Humulin N dosage, a person weighing 60 kg (about 132 lb) would use 6 to 12 units of Humulin N each day.
Your doctor will tell you the exact dosage of Humalog or Humulin N that’s right for you.
A healthcare professional will show you or your caregiver how to give Humalog or Humulin N injections at home.
Humalog may be given as an IV infusion in the hospital. However, you won’t give yourself infusions of Humalog. In this case, a healthcare professional will give you your infusions.
Note: For more information about dosage, see these Humalog and Humulin N articles.
Humalog and Humulin N are used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes. These drugs can cause some of the same side effects, as well as some different ones. Some of the side effects reported in clinical trials of these drugs are mentioned below.
For details about side effects of the two drugs, see these Humalog and Humulin N articles. You can also refer to the prescribing information for Humalog or Humulin N.
Mild side effects
The following table lists some of the more commonly reported mild side effects of Humalog and Humulin N. The table may also include less common mild side effects that you might have concerns about in some cases.
| Mild side effects | Humalog | Humulin N |
| skin rash | ✓ | ✓ |
| itching | ✓ | ✓ |
| weight gain | ✓ | ✓ |
| swelling of your hands or feet | ✓ | ✓ |
| injection site reactions, such as swelling or discoloration around the injection area | ✓ | ✓ |
| mildly low blood sugar level | ✓ | ✓ |
| digestive problems, such as diarrhea and nausea | ✓ | |
| headache | ✓ | |
| mild allergic reaction* | ✓ | ✓ |
These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. If the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* An allergic reaction is possible after using Humalog and Humulin N. This side wasn’t reported in clinical trials of either drug. However, it has been reported since Humalog and Humulin N became available for use. You can find details about the drug’s clinical trials in the prescribing information mentioned above.
Serious side effects
The following table lists the reported serious side effects of Humalog and Humulin N.
| Serious side effects | Humalog | Humulin N |
| severely low blood sugar level | ✓ | ✓ |
| low blood potassium level | ✓ | ✓ |
| severe allergic reaction* | ✓ | ✓ |
If you have serious side effects while using Humalog or Humulin N, call your doctor immediately. If the side effects feel life threatening or you believe you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number right away.
* An allergic reaction is possible after using Humalog and Humulin N. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials of either drug. However, it has been reported since Humalog and Humulin N became available for use.
Below are details about the effectiveness of Humalog and Humulin N.
Prescribing information. For information about how these drugs performed in clinical trials, refer to the prescribing information for the form of Humalog or Humulin N you’re using. You can also refer to the prescribing information for Humalog or Humulin N.
Treatment guidelines. Another way to see whether a drug is considered effective is to look at treatment guidelines. When an organization includes certain drugs in treatment guidelines, this means research has shown the drug to be safe and effective.
Rapid-acting insulins (such as Humalog) and intermediate-acting insulins (such as Humulin N) are recommended treatment options for people with diabetes. These recommendations can be found in guidelines from the American Diabetes Association.
How much Humalog or Humulin N costs depends on the treatment plan your doctor prescribes, your insurance plan, and your pharmacy. It’ll also depend on the cost of your injection supplies, such as insulin pen needs or insulin syringes.
Humalog and Humulin N are brand-name drugs. Humalog also comes in a generic form. Brand-name medications are often more expensive than generics. For details about the generic form of Humalog, see the note in “Generics or biosimilars: Humalog and Humulin N” above. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Humalog and Humulin N may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These drugs share some of the same precautions, but they also have different ones. Some of these precautions are mentioned below.
If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors are relevant to you, talk with your doctor before using Humalog or Humulin N.
| Precaution | Humalog | Humulin N |
| if you’ve had an allergic reaction to either drug or any of its ingredients | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you’re pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you’re breastfeeding or thinking about breastfeeding | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you have a low blood potassium level or low blood sugar level | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you have heart failure and take a diabetes medication called a thiazolidinedione | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you have liver or kidney problems | ✓ | ✓ |
Note: For more comprehensive information about these two drugs, you can refer to our Humalog and Humulin N articles.
Switching between Humalog and Humulin N is not recommended. Even though the two insulins are used to treat the same conditions, the drugs are used for different purposes.
If you’d like to know more about why switching between Humalog and Humulin N is not recommended, talk with your doctor. They can give you additional details and help determine the best course of action for your situation. It’s important that you do not stop, start, or switch any of your drug treatments without your doctor’s recommendation.
Some key points to remember when comparing Humalog and Humulin N are described below.
Humalog contains a rapid-acting insulin called insulin lispro. It’s a mealtime insulin, meaning it’s used to help manage sharp increases in blood sugar that happen when you eat.
Humalog can be given more frequently than Humulin N, which contains an intermediate-acting insulin called insulin isophane human. This type of insulin is sometimes called a basal insulin. Humulin N is used to help manage blood sugar levels between meals and overnight.
If you’d like to learn more about Humalog or Humulin N, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about similarities and differences between the drugs. They can also help determine whether one drug or the other might work better for you.
Note: For more information about diabetes, see our diabetes hub.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.