Pharmacological properties : תכונות פרמקולוגיות

Pharmacodynamic Properties

5.1     Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Insulins and analogues for injection, fast-acting and intermediate acting.
Humulin Soluble                  ATC code A10A B01
Humulin R is a rapidly acting insulin preparation.

Humulin Isophane               ATC code A10A C01
Humulin N is an intermediate acting insulin preparation.

Humulin Mixtures               ATC code A10A D01
Humulin 70/30 is a premixed suspension of rapid and intermediate acting insulin.


The prime activity of insulin is the regulation of glucose metabolism.
In addition insulin has several anabolic and anti-catabolic actions on a variety of different tissues. Within muscle tissue this includes increasing glycogen, fatty acid, glycerol and protein synthesis and amino acid uptake, while decreasing glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, ketogenesis, lipolysis, protein catabolism and amino acid output.

The typical activity profile (glucose utilization curve) following subcutaneous injection is illustrated below by the heavy line. Variations that a patient may experience in timing and/or intensity of insulin activity are illustrated by the shaded area. Individual variability will depend on factors such as size of dose, site of injection temperature and physical activity of the patient.


Humulin Soluble


Time (hours)

Humulin Isophane



Time (hours)
Humulin 70/30



Time (hours)

Pharmacokinetic Properties

5.2      Pharmacokinetic properties
The pharmacokinetics of insulin do not reflect the metabolic action of that hormone.
Therefore, it is more appropriate to examine glucose utilization curves (as discussed above) when considering the activity of insulin.