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clonidine vs insulin human/insulin isophane

Side-by-side comparison of clonidine and insulin human/insulin isophane. 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 Increase or Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of HUMULIN 70/30 Drugs: Alcohol, beta-blockers, clonidine, and lithium salts. Drugs that May Blunt Signs and Symptoms of Hypoglycemia Drugs: Beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine Intervention: Increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when HUMULIN 70/30 is co-administered with these drugs. ( 7 ) Antiadrenergic Drugs (e.g., beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine): Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia may be reduced or absent.

Recommendation: You should check your blood sugar levels more often when taking these two medicines together.

Drug Class
clonidine Central Alpha-2 Agonist
insulin human/insulin isophane Intermediate-Acting Insulin Combination
Type
clonidine Prescription
insulin human/insulin isophane Prescription
Summary
clonidine

Clonidine (Catapres) is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure. It can be used alone or with other blood pressure medicines.

insulin human/insulin isophane

Humulin 70/30 is a mix of two types of insulin. It helps control blood sugar in adults with diabetes.

What It Treats
clonidine

Clonidine is used to treat high blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. This medicine helps to lower your blood pressure to a safer level.

insulin human/insulin isophane

Humulin 70/30 is used to improve blood sugar control in adults with diabetes. Diabetes is a condition where your body does not make enough insulin or cannot use insulin properly. This medicine helps your body use sugar from the food you eat for energy.

How It Works
clonidine

Clonidine works in the brain to lower blood pressure. It tells your blood vessels to relax and widen. This makes it easier for blood to flow through your body, which lowers blood pressure.

insulin human/insulin isophane

This medicine is a mix of two insulins: one that works quickly and one that works longer. The short-acting insulin helps control blood sugar after meals. The intermediate-acting insulin works between meals and during the night.

Common Side Effects
clonidine
  • Dry mouth (occurs in about 40 out of 100 people)
  • Drowsiness (occurs in about 33 out of 100 people)
  • Dizziness (occurs in about 16 out of 100 people)
  • Constipation (occurs in about 10 out of 100 people)
  • Feeling sleepy or sedated (occurs in about 10 out of 100 people)
insulin human/insulin isophane
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • Allergic reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site
  • Skin changes at the injection site
  • Weight gain
FAERS Reports
clonidine
  • Pain 3,038
  • Tiredness 2,922
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 2,918
  • Headache 2,799
  • High blood pressure 2,597
insulin human/insulin isophane
  • High blood sugar 10,557
  • Low blood sugar 3,451
  • Wrong dose given 2,164
  • Low blood sugar 1,532
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 1,473
Serious Warnings
clonidine

If you suddenly stop taking clonidine, your blood pressure may increase. This can cause serious problems. Talk to your doctor before stopping this medicine.

insulin human/insulin isophane

Never share a Humulin 70/30 KwikPen or syringe with anyone else, even if the needle is changed. Sharing pens or syringes can spread blood-borne diseases. Changes in your insulin dose should be done carefully with your doctor's supervision. Low blood sugar can be life-threatening. Fluid retention and heart failure can occur if you also take thiazolidinediones (TZDs).

Pregnancy
clonidine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if clonidine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

insulin human/insulin isophane

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Good control of diabetes is important during pregnancy. This medicine may pass into breast milk, but it is not expected to harm your baby.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This clonidine vs insulin human/insulin isophane Comparison

clonidine is classified in the Central Alpha-2 Agonist drug class, while insulin human/insulin isophane sits within the Intermediate-Acting Insulin Combination 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, clonidine has 14,274 submissions while insulin human/insulin isophane has 19,177. 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 clonidine can change how well insulin works and hide the normal warning signs of low blood sugar, such as a fast heartbeat.. 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 clonidine and insulin human/insulin isophane - 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.