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albuterol vs insulin degludec

Side-by-side comparison of albuterol and insulin degludec. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

Drugs That May Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of XULTOPHY 100/3.6 Drugs: Atypical antipsychotics (e.g., olanzapine and clozapine), corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens (e.g., in oral contraceptives), protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents (e.g., albuterol, epinephrine, terbutaline), and thyroid hormones.

Recommendation: Monitor your blood sugar levels closely if you are using albuterol. Your healthcare provider may need to adjust your insulin dose.

Drug Class
albuterol Short-Acting Beta-2 Agonist
insulin degludec Ultra-Long-Acting Insulin
Type
albuterol Prescription
insulin degludec Prescription
Summary
albuterol

Albuterol is a drug that helps you breathe easier. It opens up your airways when they get too narrow.

insulin degludec

No summary available.

What It Treats
albuterol

This medicine treats or prevents bronchospasm in adults and kids 4 years and older who have reversible obstructive airway disease. This means it helps when your airways narrow, making it hard to breathe. It can also prevent bronchospasm caused by exercise in adults and kids 4 years and older.

insulin degludec

Information not available.

How It Works
albuterol

Albuterol is a beta-2 agonist. It works by relaxing the muscles in your airways. This allows more air to flow in and out of your lungs.

insulin degludec

Information not available.

Common Side Effects
albuterol
  • Throat irritation
  • Viral respiratory infections
  • Upper respiratory inflammation
  • Cough
  • Muscle or bone pain
insulin degludec
  • Common cold
  • Headache
  • Feeling sick to your stomach
  • Diarrhea
  • Increased lipase (an enzyme)
FAERS Reports
albuterol
  • Difficulty breathing 15,966
  • Asthma 9,278
  • Cough 7,340
  • Pneumonia 6,990
  • Nausea 6,757
insulin degludec
  • High blood sugar 3,617
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 1,381
  • Low blood sugar 1,252
  • Throwing up 894
  • Low blood sugar 886
Serious Warnings
albuterol

In rare cases, this medicine can make your bronchospasm worse. If this happens, stop using it right away and get medical help. Using too much albuterol can be fatal. If you need more albuterol than usual, your asthma may be getting worse.

insulin degludec

No specific warnings noted.

Pregnancy
albuterol

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if albuterol will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using albuterol while pregnant or breastfeeding.

insulin degludec

No pregnancy information available.

How to Read This albuterol vs insulin degludec Comparison

albuterol is classified in the Short-Acting Beta-2 Agonist drug class, while insulin degludec sits within the Ultra-Long-Acting Insulin class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, albuterol has 46,331 submissions while insulin degludec has 8,030. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to albuterol can decrease the blood-sugar-lowering effect of insulin. this can lead to higher blood sugar levels while you are using the medication.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between albuterol and insulin degludec - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.