Humulin 50/50 Drug Interactions

ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, certain antibiotics, and many other medications can potentially interact with Humulin 50/50. Drug interactions could lead to dangerously low blood sugar levels, which can cause serious and even life-threatening complications. To help prevent any negative drug interactions, make sure to notify your healthcare provider any time you start, stop, or change the dose of any medication.

An Overview of Humulin 50/50 Interactions

As of July 2009, Eli Lilly and Company has decided to stop producing

 Humulin 50/50 due to low product demand. It is estimated that current supplies of the medication may last until April 2010. If you are currently taking Humulin 50/50, your healthcare provider will need to switch you to one of the other types of insulin.

 

Humulin® 50/50 (NPH insulin/regular insulin) can potentially interact with many different medications. In fact, any medication that affects blood sugar levels has the potential to interact with Humulin 50/50. Due to the large number of potential Humulin 50/50 interactions (and because many are relatively insignificant), this article does not discuss every possible Humulin 50/50 interaction.
 
Interactions that may increase blood sugar levels are not discussed in this article. High blood sugar is certainly not healthy, but it is usually not immediately dangerous. Typically, most people will notice higher blood sugar levels (when testing) and will adjust their insulin dosage as recommended by their healthcare provider long before these interactions become dangerous.
 
Other Humulin 50/50 drug interactions can result in dangerously low blood sugar levels (known medically as hypoglycemia). These interactions can potentially be dangerous (even fatal) rather quickly, even if you check your blood sugar levels regularly. Some of the medicines that may cause dangerously low blood sugar levels when combined with Humulin 50/50 include:
 
  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors ("ACE inhibitors"), such as:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    • Aspirin (Ecotrin®, Bayer®, Anacin®)
    • Choline magnesium trisalicylate (Trilisate®)
    • Diflunisal (Dolobid®)
    • Salsalate (Salflex®, Disalcid®, Amigesic®) 

 

  • Sulfonamide antibiotics ("sulfa drugs"), such as:

 

    • Sulfadiazine
    • Sulfadoxine (Fansidar®)
    • Sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim®, Septra®)
    • Sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin®). 

 


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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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