Prescription medication · Rapid-Acting Insulin

insulin glulisine

Name: insulin glulisine - FDA Drug Safety & Adverse Event Data
Creator: PlainMeds
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Also sold as Apidra. Apidra is used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with diabetes.

Compiled by PlainMeds, Drug Information Editorial Process

Data updated 2026-05-15

9,944
FDA reportsLightly reported: 9
InteractionsFew interactions: $8.17
Brand price (NADAC)

What the data shows

insulin glulisine (Apidra) is a prescription Rapid-Acting Insulin, reported less often than most tracked drugs (9,944 FDA reports), with 9 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 glulisine (Apidra) is a prescription Rapid-Acting Insulin. Apidra is used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with diabetes.

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.

Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →

Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Brand Price

$8.17/unit

Generic Available

Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →

View Alternatives → Compare with Another Drug → Full Side Effects Report →

What it does

Apidra is used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with diabetes.

Common side effects

Upper respiratory infection, Nasopharyngitis (common cold), Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

Key warnings

Never share your Apidra SoloStar pen with anyone else, even if you change the needle.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from insulin glulisine's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

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.

Side Effects (from patient reports)

Based on 9,944 FDA adverse event reports.

Blood Glucose Increased

1,526
Hypoglycaemia

756
Hyperglycaemia

634
Blood Glucose Decreased

445
Dizziness

401
Malaise

392
Dyspnoea

383
Nausea

370
Vomiting

335
Acute Kidney Injury

304

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 glulisine 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 glulisine sits

insulin glulisine has more FDA adverse-event reports than 39% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.

fewest reports most reports

Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is insulin glulisine; the line is the median (50th percentile).

FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis

Detailed analysis of 9,944 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2005–2025.

Total Reports

9,944

Reports Mentioning Death

795

8.0% of reports — not proof of cause

Hospitalization Reports

4,001

Top Indication

Diabetes Mellitus

Gender Distribution

Female 4,904 (53%)

Male 4,360 (47%)

Age Distribution

0–17 211

18–44 970

45–64 2,851

65–74 1,861

75+ 1,372

Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)

#	Reaction	Reports
1	BLOOD GLUCOSE INCREASED	1,526
2	HYPOGLYCAEMIA	756
3	HYPERGLYCAEMIA	634
5	BLOOD GLUCOSE DECREASED	445
6	DIZZINESS	401
7	MALAISE	392
8	DYSPNOEA	383
9	NAUSEA	370
10	VOMITING	335
11	ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY	304
12	FATIGUE	297
13	ASTHENIA	293
14	DIARRHOEA	279
15	PAIN	271
16	FALL	269

Reactions in Death Reports

DEATH 207

RENAL FAILURE 78

GASTROINTESTINAL HAEMORRHAGE 56

PNEUMONIA 49

BALANCE DISORDER 48

BLOOD GLUCOSE FLUCTUATION 48

COGNITIVE DISORDER 48

CONTRAINDICATED PRODUCT ADMINISTERED 47

HAEMATOMA 47

URINARY INCONTINENCE 47

Reactions in Hospitalization Reports

BLOOD GLUCOSE INCREASED 359

HYPOGLYCAEMIA 335

HYPERGLYCAEMIA 330

DYSPNOEA 246

ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY 225

VOMITING 218

DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS 192

PNEUMONIA 170

MALAISE 162

ASTHENIA 160

Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation

Serious Warnings

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).

Known Drug Interactions

moderate fluoxetine

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.

Mechanism: Fluoxetine can increase the risk of low blood sugar when taken with insulin.

moderate pramlintide

Mechanism: Pramlintide can increase the risk of low blood sugar when taken with insulin.

moderate octreotide

Mechanism: Octreotide can increase the risk of low blood sugar when taken with insulin.

minor albuterol

Drugs that May Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of APIDRA Drugs: Atypical antipsychotics, corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, phenothiazine derivatives, progestogens (e.g., in oral contraceptives), protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents (e.g., albuterol, epinephrine, terbutaline), and thyroid hormones.

Mechanism: Albuterol can cause blood sugar levels to rise, which counteracts the effect of the insulin.

minor clonidine

Drugs that May Increase or Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of APIDRA Drugs: Alcohol, beta-blockers, clonidine, and lithium salts. Drugs that May Blunt Signs and Symptoms of Hypoglycemia Drugs: Beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine. ( 7 ) Antiadrenergic Drugs (e.g., beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine): Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia may be reduced or absent.

Mechanism: Clonidine can change how insulin affects your blood sugar and can also hide the warning signs of low blood sugar.

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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?

Follow your doctor's instructions for managing high blood sugar. This may include adjusting your insulin dose or diet.

Can I mix Apidra with other insulins?

Do not mix Apidra with other insulins except for NPH insulin. If mixing with NPH, draw Apidra into the syringe first and inject immediately.

How often should I check my blood sugar?

Check your blood sugar as often as your doctor recommends. This may be more frequent when you start Apidra or if your insulin regimen changes.

What are the symptoms of low blood sugar?

Symptoms of low blood sugar can include sweating, shaking, dizziness, hunger, confusion, and rapid heartbeat.

What should I do if I have low blood sugar?

If you have low blood sugar, eat or drink something with sugar in it, such as glucose tablets, juice, or regular soda.

Can other medicines affect Apidra?

Yes, many medicines can affect your blood sugar levels and may require your Apidra dose to be adjusted. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take.

What if my insulin pump malfunctions?

If your insulin pump malfunctions, monitor your blood sugar and administer Apidra by subcutaneous injection.

How long does Apidra last in my system?

Apidra is a rapid-acting insulin, so its effects last for a shorter period compared to longer-acting insulins.

Can I travel with Apidra?

Yes, you can travel with Apidra. Keep it in its original packaging and avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures.

What do I do with used needles?

Dispose of used needles in a sharps container to prevent accidental injury.

What are the common side effects of insulin glulisine?

The registry lists Upper respiratory infection, Nasopharyngitis (common cold), Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), Edema peripheral (swelling in hands or feet), Arthralgia (joint pain) among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for insulin glulisine. The compiled record contains 9,944 FDA adverse-event reports. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.

Does insulin glulisine interact with other medications?

The registry has 9 documented interaction rows for insulin glulisine. Notable source-record pairings include fluoxetine, pramlintide, octreotide. These rows are not a complete medication review.

What drug class is insulin glulisine?

insulin glulisine belongs to the Rapid-Acting Insulin drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). Apidra is used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with diabetes.

What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for insulin glulisine?

The FDA label for insulin glulisine contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

Other drugs grouped near insulin glulisine - same-class peers and common alternatives.

acarbose

Precose

Acarbose is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.