Well, now that I'm almost completely out of Apidra (and can't any in the area), I need to go to the doc and get another prescription. I really like Apidra because for me, its done in 3 hours. Onset, could take an hour, meaning, it could take an hour to see a correction dose have any effect. Anyways, which do you use/prefer - Novalog or Humalog? Forgive the ignorance if one is clearly better, its been 2 years since I have looked at rapids.
Thanks, Jason
Dumb question, Jason: Why can't you get Apidra?
Umm, because there's a shortage - http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugShortages/ucm050792.htm
I guess I thought this was a "known issue". Thanks for calling me dumb by the way.
Hi Jason,
I really like Apidra too. It seems to work better for me because of its speed. It seems as if I am not as apt to go low with Apidra over Novolog. Novolog worked well for me if I stayed rather active while taking it, where Apidra allows me to sit at the desk a little longer. I have never tried Humalog, although I have a great friend who take Humalog and she claims that her lows aren't as severe as when taking Novolog.
Having said all of that, if you need a prescription for insulin, Apidra can be had. There was some issue with getting Apidra in pens, but it is very available in a vial. Syringes work equally as well as a pen when administering dose, so there should be little problem with continuing to use Apidra.
If it works, stick with it.
Brian Wittman
Hi Jason: I thought the same thing with Zoe's reply but then looked at the punctuation she used. Still, it sure looks bad at a glance...
Even though my response here is totally useless, I'd be interested in hearing what you decide and your experience if you decide to go with the Humalog. I have always been on Novolog (2.5 years) and stuck with it because that's what the endo gave me on first diagnosis. However, now that United NoCare flipped Humalog from Tier 1 (highest co-pay) to Tier 3 (lowest co-pay), doing the opposite with Novolog, I had to make an economic choice. But because I still have lots of Novolog it may be a couple months before I switch.
If it's any help, I've read where folks on this forum have written that Humalog doesn't have the tendency to burn like Novolog...
Yeh, when I look back at the punctuation, I still don't get it. Anyways, Humalog being Tier 3 is interesting. That would save me like $50 or so a month. Thanks for the info.
Jason
I didn't call you dumb, Jason; I said my question was dumb. I haven't had an problems in receiving Apidra. I thought it was just the pens the problem was with, so you could still get it in a vial.
That's the problem with the internet sometimes, it's easy to misunderstand. I realize now how it sounds like I was calling Jason's question dumb, instead of "here comes my dumb question". I'd forgotten about the pen shortage and couldn't understand why Jason wasn't able to get Apidra. Sorry for the misunderstanding; I'd never call someone's question
dumb.
I like Apidra too due to it's short duration and tail.
Sorry, I get it now. Thats the problem with forums sometimes. I apologize.
I've never used vials before, and I imagine them as being a lot less flexible to use. I'm out and about alot, so I really wanted to stick with the pens.
No problem, Jason. I'm glad we figured it out! Yeah, before I got my pump I used pens too and they're a lot more convenient. Now I get the vials to fill my pump with. I guess you could always try one of the others and see how you like it. I don't know which of the two are quicker, but I believe it isn't a major difference.
I've been on Humalog since diagnosed, almost 10 years ago. I like it, and for me it peaks around the two hour mark and then it's pretty much done after that.
I've never tried Novolog, but I know many people love it.
From what I've read, they are pretty similar. If you're switching for a little bit, you might look at price, since they are so similar.
I didn't read it in the negative way, if it's any consolation. I knew what you were saying! LOL.
I'll often drop another 20-30 after the two hour mark. Grr.
OMG, this exchange cracked me up for some reason. Thank you both for giving me a chuckle this morning.
I have never tried Apidra, but have used both Humalog and Novalog. For me, I did not notice any appreciable difference betwen Huma and Nova. They worked the same as far as I could tell.
The only rapid I've ever used is Humalog but, for me, it works exactly as you've described the Apidra working for you.
I didn't read it as negative either. Perhaps it is because I feel as if I know you and realize you'd never call a question dumb.
I'll take this chance to thank you for being such an active/helpful member of this "community". I relate to what you post, have learned much from you and can't tell you how OFTEN your comments have served as reality checks for me. I hope that someday in some way I'll be able to do the same for somebody.
Thank you everyone for the replys. Its nice to know, that it doesn't feel as though there are big differences. I suppose I always thought that Apidra was supposed to be done a littel quicker, but I guess not. I'm going to give the Humalog a shot ;).
Thanks, Jason
Everything I've seen suggests that Novolog and Humalog are comparable. I have heard that Humalog is less resistant to heat. But everyone reacts differently and actually it is reasonable to try both. Most endo's will have samples and you could just try a pen of each and see how you react.
Hi Jason --
I've been on Novo for a couple of years now (5 maybe?...), but my Endo handed me a bunch of vials of Huma when I saw him recently and said, "You can try these out...", so I've been using that now. In a sense then, they are entirely interchangeable. I don't see any discernible difference between the two fast-acters. Make of that what you will, and remember with all things diabetes, YMMV.
There's no such thing as a dumb question... :)
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