insulin degludec vs octreotide
Side-by-side comparison of insulin degludec and octreotide. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
Drugs That May Increase the Risk of Hypoglycemia Drugs: Antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, salicylates, somatostatin analogs (e.g., octreotide), and sulfonamide antibiotics Intervention: Dosage reductions and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when XULTOPHY 100/3.6 is coadministered with these drugs.
Recommendation: Your doctor may need to lower your insulin dose, and you should check your blood sugar more frequently.
Tresiba
Sandostatin
No summary available.
Octreotide is a drug that mimics a natural hormone in your body. It is used to treat certain conditions caused by too much of certain hormones.
Information not available.
Octreotide is used to lower growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 in people with acromegaly who haven't responded to other treatments. It also helps manage severe diarrhea and flushing caused by carcinoid tumors. Additionally, it can treat watery diarrhea caused by VIPomas (tumors that release vasoactive intestinal peptide).
Information not available.
This medicine works by mimicking somatostatin, a natural hormone in your body. It reduces the amount of certain hormones, like growth hormone, that your body makes. By doing this, it helps control the symptoms caused by having too much of these hormones.
- • Common cold
- • Headache
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- • Diarrhea
- • Increased lipase (an enzyme)
- • Gallbladder problems
- • Slow heart rate
- • Diarrhea
- • Loose stools
- • Nausea
- High blood sugar 3,617
- Feeling sick to your stomach 1,381
- Low blood sugar 1,252
- Throwing up 894
- Low blood sugar 886
- Diarrhea 526
- Death 375
- Nausea 345
- Tiredness 305
- Cancer getting worse 235
No specific warnings noted.
Octreotide can cause heart problems, including a higher risk of certain types of heart block. Your doctor may monitor your heart if you receive this drug intravenously. It can also cause gallbladder problems, high or low blood sugar, and thyroid issues. Tell your doctor right away if you notice new or worsening symptoms.
No pregnancy information available.
There is limited information about the safety of octreotide during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if octreotide passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while using this medicine.
How to Read This insulin degludec vs octreotide Comparison
insulin degludec is classified in the Ultra-Long-Acting Insulin drug class, while octreotide sits within the Somatostatin Analog 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, insulin degludec has 8,030 submissions while octreotide has 1,786. 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 moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to this medication can make your body more sensitive to insulin, which increases the risk of having low blood sugar.. 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 insulin degludec and octreotide - 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.