insulin glulisine vs octreotide
Side-by-side comparison of insulin glulisine 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
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Table 6: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with APIDRA 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 analog (e.g., octreotide), and sulfonamide antibiotics.
Recommendation: Your doctor may need to adjust your insulin dose and you should check your blood sugar more often.
Apidra
Sandostatin
Apidra is a rapid-acting insulin that helps control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. It works quickly to lower blood sugar after meals.
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.
Apidra is used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with diabetes. Diabetes is a condition where your body does not make enough insulin or cannot use insulin properly, leading to high blood sugar levels. This medicine helps to lower your blood sugar levels.
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).
Apidra is a type of insulin that works fast. It helps your body use sugar from the food you eat. This lowers the amount of sugar in your blood.
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.
- • Upper respiratory infection
- • Nasopharyngitis (common cold)
- • Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- • Edema peripheral (swelling in hands or feet)
- • Arthralgia (joint pain)
- • Gallbladder problems
- • Slow heart rate
- • Diarrhea
- • Loose stools
- • Nausea
- High blood sugar 1,527
- Low blood sugar 756
- High blood sugar 634
- Low blood sugar 445
- Feeling dizzy 401
- Diarrhea 526
- Death 375
- Nausea 345
- Tiredness 305
- Cancer getting worse 235
Never share your Apidra SoloStar pen with anyone else, even if you change the needle. Sharing pens can spread blood-borne diseases. Changes in your insulin regimen should be made carefully under medical supervision because it can cause hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. Low potassium levels in your blood can occur and may be life-threatening. Watch for signs of heart failure if you are also taking thiazolidinediones (TZDs).
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Poorly controlled diabetes during pregnancy can harm both the mother and the baby. Discuss the risks and benefits of using Apidra with your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
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.
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How to Read This insulin glulisine vs octreotide Comparison
insulin glulisine is classified in the Rapid-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 glulisine has 3,763 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 octreotide can increase the risk of low blood sugar when taken with insulin.. 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 glulisine 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.