Humulin R dosage

Humulin R (insulin human) is a brand-name medication that’s available both over the counter and by prescription. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to improve blood sugar levels in adults and children with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Humulin R comes as a solution that’s given as a subcutaneous injection.

Humulin R belongs to a drug class called short-acting insulins. There’s currently no generic version of Humulin R.

Dosage chart

The dosage chart below summarizes Humulin R dosage for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The dosage is in units per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day. One kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb). Your doctor will determine the best dosage for you.

For information about the dosage of Humulin R, including its strengths and how to take the drug, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Humulin R, see this article.

This article describes typical dosages for Humulin R provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Humulin R, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

Below is information about Humulin R dosage for treating type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Humulin R forms

Humulin R comes as a solution that’s given as a subcutaneous injection.

Humulin R strengths

Humulin R comes in two strengths:

• Humulin R U-100 contains 100 units of insulin per 1 milliliter (mL) of solution. It comes in 3-mL and 10-mL vials.
• Humulin R U-500 contains 500 units of insulin per 1 mL of solution. It comes in a 3-mL KwikPen (a prefilled injection pen) and a 20-mL vial.

Humulin R U-500 contains 5 times as much insulin in 1 mL as Humulin R U-100. These drugs are not interchangeable.

Typical dosages

Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Then they’ll adjust it over time based on your blood sugar levels and other lab values. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Since there are no exact dosage guidelines for Humulin R, the amount taken will be different for each person. There’s no minimum or maximum dose. If you need more than 200 units of Humulin R per day, your doctor will likely prescribe Humulin R U-500.

The American Diabetes Association provides the following dosage recommendations for Humulin R for type 1 and type 2 diabetes:

Dosage for type 1 diabetes

The typical starting dosage of Humulin R for type 1 diabetes is 0.5 units per kg* per day. This total dosage is divided into two or three injections per day.

For example, a person who weighs 68.2 kg (about 150 lb) would have a Humulin R dosage of 34 units per day. Divided into three injections, this would be approximately 11 units per injection. Your doctor will calculate the dosage that’s right for you.

* 1 kilogram (kg) is about 2.2 pounds (lb).

Dosage for type 2 diabetes

The typical starting dosage range of Humulin R for type 2 diabetes is 0.1 to 0.2 units per kg* per day.

For example, a person who weighs 68.2 kg (about 150 lb) would have a Humulin R dosage range of 7 to 14 units per day.

* 1 kilogram (kg) is about 2.2 pounds (lb).

Sliding scale dosage

Your doctor may suggest using a sliding scale dosage for your insulin. This dosage plan involves keeping track of your blood sugar test results, meals, and activity levels. Your dosage of insulin may be different every day depending on what you eat, how your body responds to insulin, and how active you are.

Children’s dosage

The manufacturer of Humulin R does not give exact dosage recommendations for children using the drug for type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Your child’s doctor will determine the dosage that’s right for your child.

Long-term treatment

Humulin R is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Humulin R is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.

The Humulin R dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

• how active you are
• your weight
• which form of the drug you take
• how well your kidneys and liver function
• what food you eat and how far apart your meals are throughout the day
• if you’re sick

Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Humulin R dosage.

Dosage adjustments

Your dosage may need to be adjusted if you take other medications in combination with Humulin R. Your doctor may ask you to check your blood sugar levels more often if you take certain medications. These include:

• drugs that increase the risk of low blood sugar when taken with insulin, such as metformin (Fortamet, Glumetza, Riomet) or glipizide (Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL)
• drugs that may cause insulin to not work as well, such as prednisone (Rayos) or hydrochlorothiazide
• drugs that can increase or decrease how well Humulin R works, such as metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL) or lithium (Lithobid)
• blood pressure medications, such as atenolol (Tenormin) or clonidine

If you have questions about Humulin R and other medications, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you’ve been prescribed Humulin R, you may have questions. Below are some commonly asked questions about Humulin R.

What’s the Humulin R U-500 dosing?

There isn’t a specific dosing chart for Humulin R U-500. Humulin R U-500 is approved for use in adults and children with diabetes who need more than 200 units of insulin per day.

Humulin R U-500 is a concentrated human insulin. It contains five times as much insulin in 1 milliliter (mL) of solution as Humulin R-100. This means a smaller amount of Humulin U-500 can be injected for the same dosage as Humulin R-100.

If you have questions about Humulin R dosing, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is there a Humulin R dosage calculator?

No, there isn’t a specific dosage calculator for Humulin R.

The American Diabetes Association recommends a starting dosage of 0.5 units per kg* per day for type 1 diabetes. For type 2 diabetes, a typical starting dose range is 0.1 to 0.2 units per kg per day. The exact dosage of Humulin R will vary from person to person. (See “Typical dosages” in the “Humulin R dosage” section above to learn more.)

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about the amount of Humulin R that’s right for you.

* 1 kilogram (kg) is about 2.2 pounds.

Humulin R U-100 comes as a solution that’s given as a subcutaneous injection. Humulin R U-500 comes as a solution in vials and a KwikPen (a prefilled injection pen). Your doctor or healthcare professional will teach you how to give yourself injections.

You’ll inject Humulin R into one of the following areas:

• your upper arms
• your buttocks
• your abdomen, at least 2 inches away from your belly button
• your thighs

You should change the site where you inject each dose of Humulin R. This helps reduce your risk of getting pits or lumps in your skin. You should not inject Humulin R into thickened areas of the skin or areas that have pits or lumps. Do not inject the drug into scarred, damaged, bruised, tender, scaly, or hard areas of the skin.

Humulin supplies

You’ll also need supplies to give Humulin R injections. For the multidose vial, you’ll need:

• insulin syringe and needle (if taking Humulin R U-500, you’ll need the U-500 Syringe)
• alcohol swabs
• a sharps container

To use the KwikPen, you’ll need KwikPen compatible needles. You’ll also need alcohol swabs and a sharps container, which aren’t included with the drug.

It’s important to note that you should not reuse needles or share a needle with another person. This helps prevent the spread of germs and diseases.

Where to find more information

If you have questions about how to use Humulin R, see the drug’s instructions for use for the U-100 and U-500 doses. For the Humulin KwikPen, see the drug manufacture’s website for specific instructions. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Accessible drug labels and containers

If you’re having trouble reading your prescription label, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Humulin R in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.

If you miss a dose of Humulin R, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next scheduled dose. Don’t double up on doses to make up for the missed dose.

To help make sure you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.

If you use more Humulin R than your doctor prescribes, you may develop serious side effects.

It’s important that you don’t inject more Humulin R than your doctor advises.

Symptoms of an overdose

Overdose symptoms of Humulin R can include:

• hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which may cause symptoms such as:
  • fast or irregular heartbeat
  • fatigue
  • pale skin
  • shakiness
  • anxiety
  • sweating
  • hunger
  • irritability
• hypokalemia (low blood potassium level), which may cause symptoms such as:
  • weakness
  • fatigue
  • muscle cramps
  • bloating and constipation
  • fast or irregular heartbeat
  • numbness and tingling
  • mood changes
  • feeling short of breath

It’s important that you don’t use more Humulin R than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to side effects or overdose.

If you take more than the recommended amount of Humulin R

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Humulin R. Another option is to call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Humulin R for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.

As with any drug, never change your dosage of Humulin R without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Humulin R that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Humulin R. These additional articles might be helpful to you:

• More about Humulin R. For information about other aspects of Humulin R, refer to this article.
• Drug comparison. Find out how Humulin R compares with Humulin N and Novolin R.
• Details about diabetes. For information about your condition, see our diabetes hub, this list of related articles, as well as this article about Humulin R U-500 for diabetes.

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.