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Insulin NPH (Humulin N)

Hormoneprescriptionsubcutaneous · inferred

Intermediate-acting human insulin complexed with protamine and zinc in a crystalline suspension (Neutral Protamine Hagedorn). The protamine-zinc-insulin complex dissolves slowly, prolonging absorption. Onset 1-2h, peak 4-8h, duration 12-18h. Typically dosed twice daily.

Projected serum levels — 20 units (≈ 0.69 mg), twice daily

Insulin NPH (Humulin N)
Insulin NPH (Humulin N) modeled serum levels, 20 units (≈ 0.69 mg) twice daily over 15 days Population-based pharmacokinetic estimate. Steady state reached after approximately 1 days. 0 0.25 0.50 0.75 1 Day 0 Day 4 Day 7 Day 11 Day 15 Time on a regular schedule ≈ steady state · day 1
Insulin NPH (Humulin N) modeled serum levels with a loading dose of 34.1 units, then 20 units (≈ 0.69 mg) twice daily The first dose is larger so levels approach steady state faster. 0 0.25 0.50 0.75 1 Day 0 Day 4 Day 7 Day 11 Day 15 Time on a regular schedule

Maintenance schedule: 20 units (≈ 0.69 mg) twice daily (subcutaneous).

Loading schedule: 34.1 units on day 1, then 20 units (≈ 0.69 mg) twice daily — reaching therapeutic levels sooner.

Modeled steady state after ~1 days: peak ≈ 0.62 mg, trough ≈ 0.40 mg body load. Population-based estimate over 15 days for a reference dose at a 70 kg reference body mass — the interactive app scales curves to your doses, timing, and body mass.

Key facts

Category
Hormone
Route modeled
Subcutaneous
Model confidence
inferred
Half-life
6.5 h
Common dose
20 units (≈ 0.69 mg)
Suggested maximum
80 units/day
Reference dose range
10–80 units (single dose)
Suggested cadence
twice daily

Documented interactions

  • moderate
    Insulin Aspart (NovoLog) + Insulin NPH (Humulin N) Stacked effects

    Insulin Aspart (NovoLog) and Insulin NPH (Humulin N) both push the igf1 receptor and insulin receptor in the same direction.

  • moderate
    Insulin Glargine (Lantus) + Insulin NPH (Humulin N) Stacked effects

    Insulin Glargine (Lantus) and Insulin NPH (Humulin N) both push the igf1 receptor and insulin receptor in the same direction.

  • moderate
    Insulin Lispro (Humalog) + Insulin NPH (Humulin N) Stacked effects

    Insulin Lispro (Humalog) and Insulin NPH (Humulin N) both push the igf1 receptor and insulin receptor in the same direction.

  • moderate
    Insulin Regular (Humulin R) + Insulin NPH (Humulin N) Stacked effects

    Insulin NPH (Humulin N) and Insulin Regular (Humulin R) both push the igf1 receptor and insulin receptor in the same direction.

Serum checks 4 modeled interaction pairings for insulin nph (humulin n) across your whole stack — absorption conflicts, enzyme inhibition, and nutrient depletion included.

Research behind this entry

  1. Lower Within-Subject Variability of Insulin Detemir in Comparison to NPH Insulin and Insulin Glargine in People with Type 1 Diabetes Heise T et al. · Diabetes, 2004 DOI

    Euglycemic clamp study demonstrating NPH insulin has significantly higher within-subject variability in pharmacodynamic effect (68% CV) vs insulin glargine (48%) and insulin detemir (27%), explaining NPH's less…

  2. Reduced Hypoglycemia Risk With Insulin Glargine: A Meta-Analysis Comparing Insulin Glargine with Human NPH Insulin in Type 2 Diabetes Rosenstock J et al. · Diabetes Care, 2005 DOI

    Pooled analysis of 2,304 patients showing insulin glargine reduced overall hypoglycemia by 11% and nocturnal hypoglycemia by 26% vs NPH at equivalent HbA1c, confirming the safety advantage of peakless basal analogs over…

  3. The Effect of Intensive Treatment of Diabetes on the Development and Progression of Long-Term Complications in Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (DCCT) The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group · New England Journal of Medicine, 1993 DOI

    NPH insulin served as the basal component of intensive therapy in the DCCT, which proved that intensive insulin therapy (NPH + regular) reduced microvascular complications by 50-76% vs conventional therapy, establishing…

3 published studies referenced in the app, each with a plain-language summary.