Insulin human isophane (nph)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 2, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• HumuLIN N
• NovoLIN N

Available Dosage Forms:

• Suspension

Therapeutic Class: Antidiabetic

Pharmacologic Class: Insulin, Isophane (NPH)

Uses for insulin human isophane (nph)

Insulin human isophane is an intermediate-acting type insulin. Insulin is one of many hormones that help the body turn the food we eat into energy. This is done by using the glucose (sugar) in the blood as quick energy. Also, insulin helps us store energy that we can use later. When you have diabetes mellitus, your body cannot make enough insulin or does not use insulin properly. This causes you to have too much sugar in your blood. Like other types of insulin, insulin human isophane is used to keep your blood sugar level close to normal.

Insulin human isophane (nph) is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using insulin human isophane (nph)

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For insulin human isophane (nph), the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to insulin human isophane (nph) or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of Humulin® N in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Although appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of Humulin® N have not been performed in the geriatric population, geriatric-specific problems are not expected to limit the usefulness of insulin human isophane (nph) in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have hypoglycemia and age-related kidney, liver, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose in patients receiving insulin human isophane (nph).

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking insulin human isophane (nph), it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using insulin human isophane (nph) with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acebutolol
• Atenolol
• Betaxolol
• Bisoprolol
• Carteolol
• Carvedilol
• Celiprolol
• Esmolol
• Labetalol
• Levobunolol
• ...