From the Guidelines
Yes, insulin lispro and Humalog are exactly the same medication, with Humalog being the brand name for insulin lispro, a rapid-acting insulin analog. The mechanism of action is identical because they are the same product. Insulin lispro works by altering the amino acid sequence of regular human insulin, specifically switching the positions of lysine and proline amino acids at positions B28 and B29. This structural change allows it to be absorbed more quickly after injection, leading to a faster onset of action (within 15 minutes), peak effect at 30-90 minutes, and shorter duration (3-5 hours) compared to regular insulin. Some key points to consider when using these medications include:
- They are ideal for mealtime insulin coverage, as they more closely mimic the body's natural insulin response to food intake 1.
- When prescribing or using these medications, they can be considered interchangeable, though insurance coverage may differ between the brand name Humalog and generic insulin lispro formulations.
- Rapid-acting insulin analogs, such as lispro, are appropriate insulins for insulin infusion pumps, with confirmed stability in pumps 2, 3.
- The use of mixtures of insulins in pumps has not been evaluated and is therefore not recommended 2, 3. In clinical practice, the choice between Humalog and insulin lispro should be based on patient-specific factors, such as insurance coverage and personal preference, rather than any difference in mechanism of action.
From the FDA Drug Label
Insulin lispro-aabc has the following primary structure: LYUMJEV (insulin lispro-aabc) injection is a sterile, aqueous, clear, and colorless solution for subcutaneous or intravenous administration The primary activity of LYUMJEV is the regulation of glucose metabolism. Insulins, including insulin lispro-aabc, exert their specific action through binding to insulin receptors.
- 1 Mechanism of Action The primary activity of LYUMJEV is the regulation of glucose metabolism. Insulins, including insulin lispro-aabc, exert their specific action through binding to insulin receptors. Receptor-bound insulin lowers glucose by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake by skeletal muscle and fat, and by inhibiting hepatic glucose production.
The FDA drug label does not answer the question about Humalog. However, insulin lispro is the same as Humalog in terms of the active ingredient.
- Insulin lispro and Humalog have the same mechanism of action, which is the regulation of glucose metabolism through binding to insulin receptors.
- They both lower glucose by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake and inhibiting hepatic glucose production. However, the provided text does not directly compare the mechanism of action of insulin lispro and Humalog. Therefore, based on the information provided, it can be inferred that insulin lispro and Humalog are likely to have the same mechanism of action, but this is not directly stated in the text 4.
From the Research
Mechanism of Insulin Lispro and Humalog
- Insulin lispro, also known as Humalog, is a recombinant human insulin analogue with a faster onset of action and shorter duration of activity compared to regular human insulin 5, 6.
- The mechanism of insulin lispro is based on its ability to self-associate poorly, resulting in more rapid absorption into the circulation and a faster onset of action 6.
- Insulin lispro has a similar time-action profile to the physiological response of endogenous human insulin to food intake, allowing for better postprandial blood glucose control 5.
- The use of insulin lispro, or Humalog, enables patients to achieve tight glycaemic control and minimize long-term complications of diabetes, with a convenient and flexible injection schedule 5, 7.
Comparison of Insulin Lispro and Humalog
- Insulin lispro and Humalog are essentially the same in terms of mechanism, as Humalog is a brand name for insulin lispro 5, 6.
- Studies have compared the pharmacokinetics and glucodynamics of ultra-rapid lispro (URLi) and Humalog, showing that URLi has a faster onset of action and improved postprandial glucose lowering 8.
- However, the difference between insulin lispro and Humalog is not significant in terms of their mechanism of action, as they are the same substance with the same properties 5, 6, 7.