Regular insulin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Regular insulin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Regular insulin includes regular human insulin also known

Regular insulin

as human insulin (regular) and is a short acting insulin.[1][2]

The two most common brand names are Humulin R and

Clinical data

Novolin R.[1] It is primarily used to treat high blood sugar

AHFS/Drugs.com monograph

levels in conditions like diabetes mellitus.[2]

MedlinePlus

a682611
US: -only

Legal status

Contents

Routes of
administration

Subcutaneous, intramuscular,
intravenous
Identifiers

1 Medical uses

Chemical data

2 Side effects
3 Society and culture
3.1 Manufacture
3.2 Formulations
4 References

Medical uses
It is used for the long term management of diabetes.[2] Regular insulin is the treatment of choice for the two
diabetic emergencies diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic states.[2] It may also be used in
combination with glucose to lower potassium levels in those with hyperkalemia.[2]

Side effects
Side effects may include: low blood sugar levels, skin reactions at the site of injection and low potassium levels
among others.[2]

Society and culture

Manufacture
Humulin one brand name for a group of biosynthetic human insulin products, developed by Arthur Riggs,
working with Genentech in 1978 (Generic names regular insulin, insulin isophane and the Lente series
consisting of Lente (known generically as insulin zinc suspension) is actually a mixture of Ultralente and
Semilente) and later acquired by Eli Lilly and Company, the company who arguably facilitated the product's
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approval with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Lente series was discontinued by Lilly in 2005.
Prior to the development of synthesized human insulin, patients were dependent on animal insulin which was
more costly, less accessible, and caused infections in some patients.
Humulin 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. The synthesized insulin is then combined with other compounds or types of insulin
which affect its shelf life and absorption. For example, Humulin N is combined with protamine to extend the
time-activity profile of Humulin R for an extended period.

Formulations
It is currently sold by Eli Lilly under different types:
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 N (human NPH insulin injection [rDNA origin]) is an intermediate-acting insulin with a slower
onset of action and a longer duration of activity than 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.
Humulin is identical in chemical structure to human insulin.

References
1. "insulin regular human (OTC) - Humulin R, Novolin R" (http://reference.medscape.com/drug/humulin-r-novolin-rinsulin-regular-human-999007). Retrieved 1 December 2014.
2. "Insulin Human" (http://www.drugs.com/monograph/insulin-human.html). www.drugs.com. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

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Categories: Eli Lilly and Company Insulin therapies Human proteins
This page was last modified on 14 April 2015, at 15:04.
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