Prescription medicine
Insulin glulisine Brand names: Apidra
Insulin glulisine (Apidra) is a prescription medicine. No generic is listed; pharmacies paid $8.16 per mL (Apidra 100 unit/mL vial) in the October 7, 2026 NADAC survey.
- No generic listed
Check it at the source: the insulin glulisine FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 25, 2025); every insulin glulisine label on DailyMed.
Highlights of the record
FDA label of November 25, 2025; NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA and Orange Book, October 8, 2026; NADAC October 7, 2026
Used for
From the label: indications and usageAPIDRA is indicated to improve glycemic control in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus.
Forms and strengths
Injection (solution).
On the market
- Generic approvals
- No generic approved
- Labelers listed (NDC)
- 1 of which 0 under generic applications, 1 under brand applications, repackagers included
Supply and safety
- Pharmacy cost (NADAC)
- $8.16 per mL Apidra 100 unit/mL vial
- Shortage (FDA)
- No current entry
- Recalls by its makers (FDA)
- No recall recorded
- FAERS reports
- 10,109 through July 30, 2026
What is insulin glulisine used for?
From the label: indications and usageAPIDRA is indicated to improve glycemic control in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus. APIDRA is a rapid-acting human insulin analog indicated to improve glycemic control in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus.
Conditions named in the indications of insulin glulisine's FDA labels, with every medicine labeled for each:
FDA pharmacologic class: Insulin Analog.
Source: FDA drug label (Apidra), sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC, effective November 25, 2025 (SPL set e7af6a7a-8046-4fb4-9979-4ec4230b23aa), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the patient leaflet for insulin glulisine say first?
The FDA-approved Medication Guide or Patient Information that comes with the medicine, in its own words.
From the patient leaflet: What should I avoid while using APIDRA?While using APIDRA do not: drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how APIDRA affects you. drink alcohol or use over-the-counter medicines that contain alcohol.
Source: FDA drug label (Apidra), sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC, effective November 25, 2025 (SPL set e7af6a7a-8046-4fb4-9979-4ec4230b23aa), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
Is there a generic for insulin glulisine (Apidra)?
No generic insulin glulisine is approved (Drugs@FDA, October 8, 2026).
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory and the Orange Book (openFDA bulk files, October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay for insulin glulisine (Apidra)?
In CMS's NADAC survey of October 7, 2026, pharmacies paid $8.16 per mL (Apidra 100 unit/mL vial), about the same as a year earlier. The chart's scale runs from the lowest to the highest price shown, not from zero. NADAC is what retail pharmacies paid their wholesalers, per unit, in CMS's monthly survey; what a patient pays depends on insurance and the pharmacy.
- Apidra 100 unit/mL vial (brand)
| Strength and form | Brand or generic | Pharmacy cost | 30 tablets, or one pen or vial | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apidra 100 unit/mL vial | Brand | $8.16 per mL | n/a | -0.1% |
| Apidra solostar 100 unit/mL | Brand | $10.50 per mL | n/a | -0.1% |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
What does the insulin glulisine label say about other medicines?
The insulin glulisine label names 15 other medicines in its interaction, contraindication or warning sections. The sentences are the labels' own; a label lists what its studies and reports found, not every interaction.
| Medicine named | Section | What the label says |
|---|---|---|
| Albuterol | drug interactions | … progestogens (e.g., in oral contraceptives), protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents (e.g., albuterol, epinephrine, terbutaline), and thyroid hormones. Intervention: Dose adjustment and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when APIDRA is coadministered with these drugs. |
| Clonidine | drug interactions | Drugs that May Increase or Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of APIDRA Drugs: Alcohol, beta-blockers, clonidine, and lithium salts. |
| Danazol | drug interactions | 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. … |
| Disopyramide | drug interactions | 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. … |
| Epinephrine | drug interactions | … (e.g., in oral contraceptives), protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents (e.g., albuterol, epinephrine, terbutaline), and thyroid hormones. Intervention: Dose adjustment and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when APIDRA is coadministered with these drugs. |
| Fluoxetine | drug interactions | 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. … |
| Glucagon | drug interactions | 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. … |
| Isoniazid | drug interactions | 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. … |
| Lithium | drug interactions | Drugs that May Increase or Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of APIDRA Drugs: Alcohol, beta-blockers, clonidine, and lithium salts. |
| Niacin | drug interactions | 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. … |
| Octreotide | drug interactions | 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. … |
| Pentoxifylline | drug interactions | 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. … |
| Pramlintide | drug interactions | 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. … |
| Somatropin | drug interactions | 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. … |
Every other medicine the insulin glulisine label names
| Medicine named | Section | What the label says |
|---|---|---|
| Terbutaline | drug interactions | … somatropin, sympathomimetic agents (e.g., albuterol, epinephrine, terbutaline), and thyroid hormones. Intervention: Dose adjustment and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when … |
Source: FDA drug label (Apidra), sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC, effective November 25, 2025 (SPL set e7af6a7a-8046-4fb4-9979-4ec4230b23aa), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What do FAERS reports show for insulin glulisine?
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 10,109 reports that list insulin glulisine among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 806 are coded as a death and 4,075 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is.
Reports received each year
The most reported reactions
Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA, reports through July 30, 2026
What else is labeled for the same conditions as insulin glulisine?
14 other medicines are given the same way (subcutaneous) and in the same FDA class as insulin glulisine or labeled mainly for the same use (type 2 diabetes), the same class first. Type 2 diabetes lists all 52 medicines labeled for it, by any route. The first 8 are below. They are listed as records, not as substitutes: whether one can replace another is a prescriber's decision.
| Medicine | Shared indication | Generic labelers (subcutaneous) | Pharmacy cost | Shortage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulin glargine | Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes | none listed | $2.90 per mL 100 pen | A presentation being discontinued |
| Insulin aspart | Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes | none listed | $6.95 per mL 100 unit/mL vial | No current entry |
| Insulin lispro | Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes | none listed | $10.19 per mL 100 unit/mL kwikpen | A presentation being discontinued |
| Insulin degludec | Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes | none listed | $11.39 per mL 100 unit/mL pen | No current entry |
| Insulin detemir | Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes | none listed | n/a | No current entry |
| Insulin degludec and liraglutide | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | $85.89 per mL 100 unit-3.6 mg/mL pen | No current entry |
| Insulin glargine and lixisenatide | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | $57.06 per mL 100 unit-33 mcg/mL pen | No current entry |
| Tirzepatide | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | $538.68 per mL 10 mg/0.5 mL pen | No current entry |
Every medicine labeled for the same conditions as insulin glulisine
Source: FDA drug labels (indications), NDC Directory, NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages (October 8, 2026)
How does insulin glulisine compare with medicines for the same use?
1 side-by-side page set insulin glulisine beside a medicine whose label shares a use: approvals, generics, pharmacy cost, warnings and supply.
What next?
- Alternatives to insulin glulisine
- 14 medicines for the same use
- Other insulin analogs
- the pharmacologic class, with prices and generics
- Insulin glulisine side effects
- the label's list beside FAERS reports
- Check an interaction
- what two or more labels say about each other