Insulin Lispro Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Mar 25, 2025.

Applies to insulin lispro: solution.

Serious side effects of insulin lispro

Along with its needed effects, insulin lispro may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking insulin lispro:

More common side effects

• anxious or nervous feeling
• behavior change similar to being drunk
• blurred vision
• chills
• cold sweats
• confusion or difficulty thinking
• depression
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• drowsiness
• excessive hunger
• fast heartbeat
• fever
• headache
• irritability or abnormal behavior
• lower back or side pain
• nightmares
• painful or difficult urination
• restless sleep
• seizures
• shakiness
• slurred speech
• tingling in the hands, feet, lips, or tongue

Less common side effects

• dry, red, hot, or irritated skin

Rare side effects

• depression of the skin at the injection site
• dryness of the mouth
• fast or weak pulse
• itching, redness, or swelling at the injection site
• muscle cramps or pain
• nausea
• skin rash or itching over the whole body
• sweating
• thickening of the skin at the injection site
• trouble breathing
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting

Incidence not known

• bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
• chest tightness
• decreased urine
• difficulty with swallowing
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• hives or itching skin
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• redistribution or accumulation of body fat
• unusual weight gain or loss

Other side effects of insulin lispro

Some side effects of insulin lispro may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common side effects

• body aches or pain
• sneezing
• sore throat
• stuffy nose or runny nose
• tender, swollen glands in the neck
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• voice changes

Incidence not known

• redness, swelling, or itching at the injection site

For healthcare professionals

Applies to insulin lispro: injectable solution, subcutaneous solution.

General adverse events

Adverse reactions observed have included hypoglycemia, allergic reactions, local injection site reactions, lipodystrophy, rash, and pruritus.^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Hypoglycemia
• Frequency not reported: Weight gain^[Ref]

Weight gain has been reported with insulin therapy and has been attributed to the anabolic effects of insulin and the decrease in glucosuria.^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Frequency not reported: Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity side effects have included both local and systemic reactions. Anaphylaxis has been reported. Local reactions have presented as erythema, local edema, and pruritus at the injection site. Most minor reactions to insulin at the injection site resolve in a few days to a few weeks.

Generalized allergy to insulin may present as a whole body rash, dyspnea, wheezing, hypotension, tachycardia, or diaphoresis. In clinical trials, pruritus (with or without rash) was seen in 17 patients receiving human insulin (n=2969) and 30 patients receiving insulin lispro (n=2944).^[Ref]

Local

• Common (1% to 10%): Infusion site reactions
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Catheter occlusions/month^[Ref]

Ocular

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Refraction disorder, worsening of diabetic retinopathy^[Ref]

Rapid improvement in glucose control has been associated with a transitory, reversible ophthalmologic refraction disorder and worsening of diabetic retinopathy. However, long-term glycemic control decreases the risk of diabetic retinopathy.^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache (up to 29.6%)
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Painful peripheral neuropathy^[Ref]

Rapid improvement in glucose control has been associated with a transitory, reversible acute painful peripheral neuropathy. However, long-term glycemic control decreases the risk.^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Very common (10% or more): Flu syndrome (up to 34.6%), infection (up to 13.6%)
• Frequency not reported: Anti-insulin antibody titers^[Ref]

The clinical significance of the development of these antibody titers is unknown.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Frequency not reported: Peripheral edema^[Ref]

Insulin may cause sodium retention and edema, especially as metabolic control is improving.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urticaria, rash
• Frequency not reported: Lipodystrophy including lipohypertrophy and lipoatrophy^[Ref]

Long-term use of insulin may cause lipodystrophy at the site of repeated injection. Lipodystrophy includes lipohypertrophy, a thickening of adipose tissue, and lipoatrophy, thinning of adipose tissue.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection, dysmenorrhea^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Myalgia^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Pain (up to 19.8%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Fever^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Pharyngitis (up to 33.3%), rhinitis (up to 24.7%), increased cough (up to 17.3%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Sinusitis, bronchitis^[Ref]

Frequently asked questions

• How and where should I inject insulin?
• Can Trulicity be used with insulin?
• What are the different types of insulin?
• When does insulin lispro peak / how long does it last?
• What type of insulin is Humalog?
• How fast does insulin lispro work?
• Is Admelog fast-acting insulin?
• Does Admelog need to be refrigerated?
• What is the difference between regular insulin and lispro (Humalog)?

Further information

Insulin lispro side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer