Compare Actos vs. Humalog
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Lowers blood sugar.
Actos (pioglitazone) can improve blood sugar control but is not a top choice since it has a lot of side effects.
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3.1/ 5 average rating with 175 reviewsforActos
Lowers blood sugar.
Humalog (insulin lispro) is a fast-acting insulin that controls blood sugar around meal times.
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3.7/ 5 average rating with 280 reviewsforHumalog
Upsides
- Improves sugar control and lowers A1c levels by around 1%.
- Easily taken by mouth as a once a day pill.
- Prevents the harmful effects of high sugar levels on your organs.
- Rarely causes low blood sugar.
- Lower the risk of heart attack or stroke.
- Humalog (insulin lispro) is the most effective medication for lowering your blood sugar.
- Works quickly to control your sugar levels after meals.
- Dose can be easily adjusted to create a regimen that's tailored to your body's needs.
- Humalog (insulin lispro) can be used even if you have liver or kidney problems, unlike other anti-diabetic medications.
Downsides
- May take several weeks to lower blood sugar.
- Can cause weight gain.
- People with heart failure or history of bladder cancer shouldn't use this medicine.
- Some people might get fluid accumulation (edema), from minor ankle swelling to fluid in lungs that makes it hard to breathe.
- Raises the risk of bone fractures, especially for people who already have a risk for fractures.
- You have to take Humalog (insulin lispro) by injection.
- Humalog (insulin lispro) is likely to cause moderate weight gain (around 4 to 6 pounds).
- There is a higher risk for episodes of low blood sugar compared to other anti-diabetic medications.
- Effects do not last long enough to control your blood sugar for a whole day.
Used for
- Type 2 diabetes
- Prediabetes
- Diabetic nephropathy
- Atherosclerosis
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Injection
Price
Lowest price
$14.62
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$144.20
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Reviews
175 reviews so far
42%
saidit'sworth it
30%
saiditworked well
21%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Actos (pioglitazone)?
Leave a review280 reviews so far
64%
saidit'sworth it
50%
saiditworked well
16%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Humalog (insulin lispro)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
11possible side effects
- Low blood sugar27%
- Swelling27%
- Colds and flu13%
- Headache9%
- Heart failure8%
- Sinus infection6%
- Back pain6%
- Pain in arms and legs6%
- Muscle pain5%
- Sore throat5%
- Chest pain5%
The Humalog (insulin lispro) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
Risks and risk factors
- Heart failure
- Heart failure
- Fluid buildup
- Liver damage
- Current liver problems
- Bladder cancer
- History of bladder cancer
- Bone fracture
- Women
- Low blood sugar
- Life-threatening low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Insulin dose too high
- Use of other blood sugar lowering medications
- Poor injection techniques
- Complications due to low potassium
- Use of medications that lower potassium
- Current electrolyte imbalance
- Severe allergic reactions
- Allergy to insulin