Prescription medication · Intermediate-Acting Insulin Combination

insulin human/insulin isophane

Also sold as Humulin 70/30. Humulin 70/30 is used to improve blood sugar control in adults with diabetes.

Data updated 2026-05-15

25,642
FDA reports
11
InteractionsSeveral interactions
Rx
Availability

What the data shows

insulin human/insulin isophane (Humulin 70/30) is a prescription Intermediate-Acting Insulin Combination, with 25,642 FDA adverse-event reports on file, 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 human/insulin isophane (Humulin 70/30) is a prescription Intermediate-Acting Insulin Combination. Humulin 70/30 is used to improve blood sugar control in adults with diabetes.

Humulin 70/30 is a mix of two types of insulin. It helps control blood sugar in adults with diabetes.

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What it does

Humulin 70/30 is used to improve blood sugar control in adults with diabetes.

Common side effects

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), Allergic reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site, Skin changes at the injection site

Key warnings

Never share a Humulin 70/30 KwikPen or syringe with anyone else, even if the needle is changed.

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

How It Works

This medicine is a mix of two insulins: one that works quickly and one that works longer. The short-acting insulin helps control blood sugar after meals. The intermediate-acting insulin works between meals and during the night.

Side Effects (from patient reports)

Based on 25,642 FDA adverse event reports.

Most-reported reactions

Adverse reactions in FAERS for insulin human/insulin isophane, by number of reports

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.

Source FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS)

Serious Warnings

Never share a Humulin 70/30 KwikPen or syringe with anyone else, even if the needle is changed. Sharing pens or syringes can spread blood-borne diseases. Changes in your insulin dose should be done carefully with your doctor's supervision. Low blood sugar can be life-threatening. Fluid retention and heart failure can occur if you also take thiazolidinediones (TZDs).

Known Drug Interactions

moderate fluoxetine

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Table 1: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with HUMULIN 70/30 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 Intervention: Dose adjustment and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when HUMULIN 70/30 is co-administered with these drugs.

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

moderate pramlintide

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Table 1: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with HUMULIN 70/30 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 Intervention: Dose adjustment and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when HUMULIN 70/30 is co-administered with these drugs.

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

moderate octreotide

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Table 1: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with HUMULIN 70/30 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 Intervention: Dose adjustment and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when HUMULIN 70/30 is co-administered with these drugs.

Mechanism: Octreotide can lower blood sugar levels, which adds to the effect of insulin and makes low blood sugar more likely.

minor albuterol

Drugs that May Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of HUMULIN 70/30 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 cause the liver to release more sugar into the blood, which reduces the effectiveness of your insulin.

minor clonidine

Drugs that May Increase or Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of HUMULIN 70/30 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 HUMULIN 70/30 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 change how well insulin works and hide the normal warning signs of low blood sugar, such as a fast heartbeat.

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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 the medicine look like?
Humulin 70/30 should look white and cloudy. Do not use it if it has clumps or looks clear.
Can I mix Humulin 70/30 with other insulins?
No, do not mix Humulin 70/30 with any other insulins or liquids.
How often should I check my blood sugar?
Check your blood sugar as often as your doctor tells you to, especially when you change your insulin dose.
What happens if I inject into the same spot every time?
Repeated injections into the same spot can cause skin problems. Rotate injection sites.
What should I do if my blood sugar is too low?
If your blood sugar is low, eat or drink something with sugar in it right away.
Can other medicines affect Humulin 70/30?
Yes, many medicines can affect your blood sugar levels. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take.
How long can I use a Humulin 70/30 vial once it is opened?
You can use a Humulin 70/30 vial for 31 days at room temperature.
How long can I use a Humulin 70/30 KwikPen once it is opened?
You can use a Humulin 70/30 KwikPen for 10 days at room temperature.
What are the signs of low blood sugar?
Signs of low blood sugar include shakiness, sweating, dizziness, and confusion.
What are the signs of high blood sugar?
Signs of high blood sugar include increased thirst, frequent urination, and blurred vision.
What are the common side effects of insulin human/insulin isophane?
The registry lists Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), Allergic reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site, Skin changes at the injection site, Weight gain among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for insulin human/insulin isophane. The compiled record contains 25,642 FDA adverse-event reports. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does insulin human/insulin isophane interact with other medications?
The registry has 11 documented interaction rows for insulin human/insulin isophane. Notable source-record pairings include fluoxetine, pramlintide, octreotide. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is insulin human/insulin isophane?
insulin human/insulin isophane belongs to the Intermediate-Acting Insulin Combination drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). Humulin 70/30 is used to improve blood sugar control in adults with diabetes.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for insulin human/insulin isophane?
The FDA label for insulin human/insulin isophane contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

Related Medications in Intermediate-Acting Insulin Combination

Other drugs grouped near insulin human/insulin isophane - same-class peers and common alternatives.

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canagliflozin

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What the FDA Data Shows for insulin human/insulin isophane

The FDA label for insulin human/insulin isophane (sold under brand names such as Humulin 70/30) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Intermediate-Acting Insulin Combination class. Humulin 70/30 is used to improve blood sugar control in adults with diabetes. Official labeling lists 4 commonly reported side effects, including Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), Allergic reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site, Skin changes at the injection site.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 25,642 voluntary reports. The database also lists 11 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.

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).

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: December 10, 2024

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