MedicinePOM

Monocomponent Human Insulin, Biosynthetic (R-Dna Origin)

Short-acting insulin that controls blood sugar in diabetes.

Clinical information

Common uses

improving blood sugar control in diabetes
adults and children

Common side effects

low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
injection-site reactions and skin changes (lipodystrophy)
weight gain
swelling
itching and rash

Cautions

never share needles, syringes or pens
regimen changes need close supervision and extra glucose checks
severe allergic reactions can occur
can lower potassium — dangerous in at-risk patients

Interactions

other diabetes medicines, ACE inhibitors, fibrates, fluoxetine, MAOIs (more hypoglycaemia)
corticosteroids, diuretics, oestrogens, thyroid hormones (raise glucose)
beta-blockers, clonidine, lithium, alcohol (unpredictable effect)
thiazolidinediones (fluid retention and heart failure risk)

Pregnancy: decades of use show no increased risk — control matters

Reference information, not medical advice — always follow your doctor or pharmacist. Source: DailyMed, dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, Humulin R (insulin human) label, setid b519bd83-038c-4ec5-a231-a51ec5cc291f (accessed 2026-08-16)

Approved brands & formulations4

Brand name	Dosage form	Strength	Importer	Category
Human Actrapid	Parenteral ( Injection- Soluble insulin )	40 IU/ml (10ml vial)	authorized medicine importers	POM
Human Mixtard	Parenteral ( Injection- Biphasic isophane insulin )	40 IU/ml (10ml vial)	authorized medicine importers	POM
Monocomponent Human Insulin, Biosynthetic (R-Dna Origin)	Parenteral ( Injection- Soluble insulin )	40 IU/ml (10ml vial)	—	POM
Monocomponent Human Insulin, Biosynthetic (R-Dna Origin)	Parenteral ( Injection- Biphasic isophane insulin )	40 IU/ml (10ml vial)	—	POM