Prescription medication · Long-Acting Insulin
insulin detemir
Also sold as Levemir. Levemir is used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with diabetes.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 38,664
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 11
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- $10.36
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
insulin detemir (Levemir) is a prescription Long-Acting Insulin, reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (38,664 FDA reports), with 11 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
insulin detemir (Levemir) is a prescription Long-Acting Insulin. Levemir is used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with diabetes.
Levemir is a long-acting insulin that helps control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. It works slowly over about 24 hours to keep your blood sugar stable.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$10.36/unit
Generic Available
No
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Levemir is used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with diabetes.
Common side effects
Upper respiratory infection, Headache, Sore throat
Key warnings
Never share your Levemir FlexPen, needle, or insulin syringe with anyone else, even if you change the needle.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from insulin detemir's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Levemir is a long-acting form of insulin. It works by helping your body use sugar from the blood for energy. This lowers your blood sugar levels and keeps them more stable over time.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 38,664 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for insulin detemir, by number of reports
- Blood Glucose Increased
Blood Glucose Increased
6,220 reports
- Nausea 1,972
Nausea
1,972 reports
- Blood Glucose Decreased 1,568
Blood Glucose Decreased
1,568 reports
- Fatigue 1,534
Fatigue
1,534 reports
- Diarrhoea 1,399
Diarrhoea
1,399 reports
- Vomiting 1,313
Vomiting
1,313 reports
- Dyspnoea 1,293
Dyspnoea
1,293 reports
- Malaise 1,203
Malaise
1,203 reports
- Fall 1,189
Fall
1,189 reports
- Dizziness 1,161
Dizziness
1,161 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for insulin detemir each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where insulin detemir sits
insulin detemir has more FDA adverse-event reports than 69% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is insulin detemir; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 38,664 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
38,664
Reports Mentioning Death
2,535
6.6% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
12,948
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLOOD GLUCOSE INCREASED | 6,220 |
| 2 | NAUSEA | 1,972 |
| 3 | BLOOD GLUCOSE DECREASED | 1,568 |
| 4 | FATIGUE | 1,534 |
| 5 | DIARRHOEA | 1,399 |
| 7 | VOMITING | 1,313 |
| 8 | DYSPNOEA | 1,293 |
| 9 | MALAISE | 1,203 |
| 10 | FALL | 1,189 |
| 11 | DIZZINESS | 1,161 |
| 12 | HEADACHE | 1,099 |
| 13 | PAIN | 1,077 |
| 14 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 1,067 |
| 15 | HYPOGLYCAEMIA | 1,061 |
| 16 | ASTHENIA | 1,049 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Never share your Levemir FlexPen, needle, or insulin syringe with anyone else, even if you change the needle. Sharing these items can spread blood-borne diseases. Changes in your insulin regimen can cause high or low blood sugar. Always check the insulin label before injecting to avoid medication errors. Low potassium can occur, monitor potassium levels. Heart failure can occur when taking Levemir with thiazolidinediones (TZDs).
Known Drug Interactions
Table 6: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with LEVEMIR 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, GLP-1 receptor agonists, DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors.
Mechanism: Fluoxetine can interfere with how your body manages sugar, which increases the risk of your blood sugar falling too low while on insulin.
Table 6: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with LEVEMIR 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, GLP-1 receptor agonists, DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors.
Mechanism: Both drugs lower blood sugar, so taking them together increases the chance of your blood sugar dropping to a dangerous level.
Table 6: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with LEVEMIR 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, GLP-1 receptor agonists, DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors.
Mechanism: Octreotide can lower blood sugar, which adds to the effect of insulin and makes low blood sugar more likely.
Drugs That May Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of LEVEMIR 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.
Mechanism: Albuterol can increase blood sugar levels, which counteracts the blood-sugar-lowering effect of insulin.
Drugs That May Increase or Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of LEVEMIR 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 LEVEMIR 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.
Mechanism: Clonidine can make blood sugar levels unpredictable and can also hide the physical warning signs of low blood sugar.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
What should I do if my blood sugar is too high?
Can I mix Levemir with other insulins?
Where should I inject Levemir?
How often should I check my blood sugar?
What are the symptoms of low blood sugar?
What should I do if I have low blood sugar?
Can other medicines affect Levemir?
What happens if I take too much Levemir?
How long does Levemir last?
Can I travel with Levemir?
What are the common side effects of insulin detemir?
Does insulin detemir interact with other medications?
What drug class is insulin detemir?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for insulin detemir?
Related Medications in Long-Acting Insulin
Other drugs grouped near insulin detemir - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acarbose
Precose
Acarbose is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
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alogliptin
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bromocriptine
Cycloset
Bromocriptine (Cycloset) is a medicine that acts like dopamine in your body.
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canagliflozin
Invokana
Invokana is a medicine used with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
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colesevelam
Welchol
Colesevelam is a medicine that helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL-C) and control blood sugar in adults.
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Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for insulin detemir: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 38,664.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 6.56%.
- niacin Δ 0.01 pts · 11,382 reports · Vitamin B3 (Lipid-Modifying) 6.55%death share
- clobazam Δ 0.02 pts · 23,107 reports · Benzodiazepine (Anticonvulsant) 6.54%death share
- abatacept Δ 0.06 pts · 133,227 reports · T-Cell Co-Stimulation Modulator 6.50%death share
- amoxicillin Δ 0.07 pts · 73,430 reports · Penicillin Antibiotic 6.63%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for insulin detemir
The FDA label for insulin detemir (sold under brand names such as Levemir) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Long-Acting Insulin class. Levemir is used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with diabetes. Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Upper respiratory infection, Headache, Sore throat.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 38,664 voluntary reports. The database also lists 11 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: March 12, 2023
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages