| Diabetes Mellitus
Apidra vs Levemir
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for diabetes mellitus.Deep comparison between: Apidra vs Levemir with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsLevemir has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Apidra based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Levemir but not Apidra, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Apidra
Levemir
At A Glance
SC injection
With meals
Rapid-acting insulin analog
SC injection
Once or twice daily
Long-acting basal insulin analog
Indications
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Diabetes Mellitus
Dosing
Diabetes Mellitus Inject SC within 15 minutes before a meal or within 20 minutes after starting a meal into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm; generally use with an intermediate or long-acting insulin.
Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion (Insulin Pump) Administer by CSII using an insulin pump per manufacturer instructions; change reservoir at least every 48 hours; do not dilute or mix with other insulins in the pump.
Intravenous Administration Administer only under medical supervision; dilute to 0.05-1 unit/mL in 0.9% sodium chloride injection using polyvinyl chloride infusion bags.
Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1) Approximately one-third to one-half of the total daily insulin dose SC once or twice daily in combination with rapid-acting or short-acting insulin; initial total daily dose 0.2-0.4 units/kg in insulin-naive patients.
Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2) 10 units (or 0.1-0.2 units/kg) SC once daily in the evening or divided into a twice-daily regimen in patients inadequately controlled on oral antidiabetic medications or a GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Contraindications
- During episodes of hypoglycemia
- Known hypersensitivity to insulin glulisine or any of the excipients in APIDRA
- Episodes of hypoglycemia
- Hypersensitivity to insulin detemir or any excipient in LEVEMIR, including reactions such as anaphylaxis
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=5%) Nasopharyngitis, hypoglycemia, upper respiratory tract infection, influenza, peripheral edema, arthralgia, headache
Serious Severe hypoglycemia, anaphylaxis and generalized allergic reactions, hypokalemia, lipodystrophy, worsening of diabetic retinopathy, acute painful peripheral neuropathy
Postmarketing Medication errors with long-acting insulins, localized cutaneous amyloidosis, hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia associated with injection into amyloidosis sites
Most common (>=5%) Upper respiratory tract infection, headache, pharyngitis, influenza-like illness, abdominal pain, hypoglycemia
Serious Severe hypoglycemia, anaphylaxis, generalized skin reactions, angioedema, bronchospasm, hypotension, shock, lipodystrophy, peripheral edema, hypokalemia
Postmarketing Medication errors with accidental administration of other insulins instead of LEVEMIR, localized cutaneous amyloidosis, hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia associated with injection into amyloidosis sites
Pharmacology
Rapid-acting human insulin analog; lowers blood glucose by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and fat and inhibiting hepatic glucose production, with more rapid onset and shorter duration of activity than regular human insulin when given subcutaneously.
Long-acting basal human insulin analog that regulates glucose metabolism by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and fat and inhibiting hepatic glucose production; prolonged duration of action is mediated by self-association of drug molecules at the injection site and albumin binding in the bloodstream.
Enter your patient's insuranceCheck specific coverage details for your patient.
Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Apidra
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (10/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
Levemir
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (7/12) · Step Therapy (1/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Apidra
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (1/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Levemir
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Apidra
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (3/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Levemir
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (1/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
No savings programs available for Apidra.
No savings programs available for Levemir.
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.