Comprehensive medication guide to Apidra including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$35/month with Sanofi's Co-pay Savings Program for commercially insured patients; typically Tier 3–4 on most commercial formularies without the savings card. Not covered by most Medicare Part D plans — verify plan formulary.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$321 retail per 10 mL vial (100 units/mL); as low as $85–$91 with a GoodRx or SingleCare coupon. Sanofi's Valyou Savings Program caps cost at $35 per 30-day supply for uninsured patients.
Medfinder Findability Score
60/100
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Apidra is the brand name for insulin glulisine, a rapid-acting recombinant human insulin analog manufactured by Sanofi. It was first approved by the FDA on April 16, 2004, and is indicated to improve glycemic control in adults and children aged 4 years and older with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Apidra is a mealtime (prandial) insulin taken before or shortly after meals to prevent blood sugar from rising too high. It is available as a 10 mL vial (100 units/mL) and the Apidra SoloStar prefilled disposable pen. It is not a controlled substance and requires a prescription.
As of 2026, there is no FDA-approved generic or biosimilar version of insulin glulisine. Apidra remains a brand-name-only product, though Sanofi offers savings programs that significantly reduce the out-of-pocket cost for eligible patients.
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Apidra (insulin glulisine) is a rapid-acting insulin analog engineered to dissociate from its hexameric form into active monomers very quickly after subcutaneous injection. This is achieved through two amino acid substitutions: asparagine at position B3 is replaced by lysine, and lysine at position B29 is replaced by glutamic acid. These changes weaken intermolecular bonds and allow the insulin to enter the bloodstream faster than regular human insulin.
Once in the bloodstream, insulin glulisine binds to insulin receptors on muscle, fat, and liver cells. This triggers glucose transporter proteins (GLUT4) to migrate to the cell membrane, allowing glucose to flow from the blood into cells. Simultaneously, it signals the liver to stop releasing stored glucose, reducing blood sugar from two directions at once.
Apidra starts working approximately 15 minutes after subcutaneous injection, reaches peak activity between 30 and 90 minutes, and lasts 2 to 4 hours — closely mimicking the natural mealtime insulin spike of a healthy pancreas.
100 units/mL — 10 mL vial (injectable solution)
Standard vial for subcutaneous injection or IV use (hospital)
100 units/mL — 3 mL SoloStar prefilled pen
Disposable prefilled pen for subcutaneous injection
Apidra is not on the FDA or ASHP national drug shortage list as of 2026. However, it is less commonly stocked at retail pharmacies than competing rapid-acting insulins like Humalog (insulin lispro) and NovoLog (insulin aspart). Because Apidra holds a smaller share of the rapid-acting insulin market, pharmacies often order it in smaller quantities and less frequently — leading to intermittent stock-outs at the individual pharmacy level.
Spillover demand from Humalog and NovoLog shortages since 2024 has further strained Apidra availability at pharmacies that weren't stocking large quantities to begin with. The SoloStar prefilled pen form is often harder to find than the 10 mL vial. Mail-order pharmacies and independent pharmacies tend to have better stock reliability than large retail chains.
If you're having trouble finding Apidra at your local pharmacy, medfinder can help. medfinder contacts pharmacies near you to check which ones have Apidra in stock and texts you the results, saving you the time and frustration of calling pharmacies yourself.
Because Apidra (insulin glulisine) is not a controlled substance, it can be prescribed by any licensed healthcare provider with prescribing authority in the United States — with no special DEA registration or schedule II restrictions required. A standard DEA registration is sufficient.
Endocrinologists and diabetes specialists
Primary care physicians (family medicine, internal medicine)
Pediatricians and pediatric endocrinologists (for patients 4 years and older with T1D)
Nurse practitioners (NPs) — full prescribing authority in most states
Physician assistants (PAs) — typically with physician oversight per state regulations
Apidra can be prescribed via telehealth platforms without an in-person visit requirement, making it accessible for patients in rural areas or those who prefer virtual care. Platforms such as Teladoc, MDLive, and others routinely manage diabetes prescriptions including Apidra for established patients.
No. Apidra (insulin glulisine) is not a controlled substance under the DEA Controlled Substances Act. It is not assigned a DEA schedule (I, II, III, IV, or V). This means Apidra can be prescribed without the restrictions that apply to scheduled drugs — including no limitations on the number of refills per prescription, no requirement for physical prescriptions in most states, and the ability to be prescribed via telehealth without in-person visit requirements.
While Apidra does require a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider, it can be prescribed by any provider with prescribing authority — including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Patients can fill Apidra prescriptions at any licensed pharmacy and transfer prescriptions between pharmacies as needed.
The most common side effect of Apidra is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Other frequently reported side effects include:
Hypoglycemia — shakiness, sweating, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, hunger, confusion
Nasopharyngitis (cold-like symptoms) — reported in ~10.6% of patients
Injection site reactions — redness, swelling, itching, or pain
Weight gain
Lipodystrophy (skin changes at injection sites)
Severe hypoglycemia — loss of consciousness, seizures (call 911)
Hypokalemia (low potassium) — muscle cramps, weakness, irregular heartbeat
Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) — difficulty breathing, full-body rash, fast heartbeat (call 911)
Diabetic ketoacidosis — nausea, vomiting, fruity breath, rapid breathing
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Humalog (insulin lispro)
Most widely prescribed rapid-acting insulin; 1:1 dose conversion from Apidra; approved for children ≥3 years; widely covered on formularies
NovoLog (insulin aspart)
Rapid-acting insulin; approved for children ≥2 years; 1:1 dose conversion; cannot be mixed with NPH (unlike Apidra)
Admelog (insulin lispro biosimilar)
Biosimilar to Humalog; often most affordable option; uses the same SoloStar pen as Apidra; interchangeable at pharmacy level in most states
Fiasp (faster insulin aspart)
Ultra-rapid formulation; onset ~5 min faster than NovoLog; useful for patients who need faster action; has had its own supply challenges
Lyumjev (insulin lispro-aabc)
Ultra-rapid version of Humalog; same core molecule with faster-acting excipients; flexible post-meal timing similar to Apidra
Prefer Apidra? We can find it.
Pramlintide (Symlin)
majorMust be administered as completely separate injections — never mix in the same syringe. Contraindicated to mix.
Alcohol
majorCan increase or decrease blood glucose. Acutely lowers blood glucose by inhibiting liver glucose production, increasing hypoglycemia risk. Can also mask hypoglycemia symptoms.
Beta-blockers (metoprolol, atenolol, propranolol)
moderateMask adrenaline-mediated hypoglycemia symptoms (shaking, rapid heartbeat). Sweating is usually preserved. Use CGM or check blood glucose more frequently.
Corticosteroids (prednisone, dexamethasone)
moderateCause significant insulin resistance and raise blood glucose, often requiring substantially higher Apidra doses during steroid therapy.
ACE inhibitors (lisinopril, enalapril)
moderateMay enhance insulin's blood glucose-lowering effect. Monitor blood glucose when starting or stopping ACE inhibitors.
Atypical antipsychotics (olanzapine, quetiapine, aripiprazole)
moderateAssociated with hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. Monitor blood glucose closely when initiating or changing antipsychotic therapy.
High-dose salicylates (aspirin ≥3 g/day)
moderateMay significantly increase hypoglycemia risk when combined with insulin. Low-dose aspirin (81-325 mg) is less likely to cause this interaction.
Thiazolidinediones (pioglitazone, rosiglitazone)
moderateFluid retention and heart failure risk when combined with insulin. Monitor for signs of fluid retention, weight gain, and edema.
MAO inhibitors (phenelzine, tranylcypromine)
moderateMay significantly enhance insulin sensitivity and increase hypoglycemia risk. Close glucose monitoring and insulin dose adjustments required.
SGLT2 inhibitors (empagliflozin, dapagliflozin)
minorCombination with insulin can increase hypoglycemia risk. Consider reducing insulin dose when initiating SGLT2 inhibitor therapy.
Apidra (insulin glulisine) is a reliable and effective rapid-acting insulin for adults and children aged 4 and older with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Its flexible meal timing window — inject up to 20 minutes after starting a meal — makes it particularly well-suited for patients with unpredictable eating schedules. It is also compatible with most insulin pumps and can be mixed with NPH insulin for patients on mixed-injection regimens.
The main challenges with Apidra are availability and cost. While not in an official shortage, it is stocked less reliably at retail pharmacies than Humalog or NovoLog. At retail cash prices over $321 per vial, it can be expensive — though Sanofi's savings programs dramatically reduce costs to $35/month for eligible patients. No generic or biosimilar is available as of 2026.
If you're having difficulty finding Apidra at your pharmacy, medfinder can help locate it near you. medfinder contacts pharmacies on your behalf and texts you which ones have Apidra in stock — saving you hours of calling around. Work closely with your diabetes care team to ensure your insulin regimen is optimized, and take advantage of available savings programs to keep costs manageable.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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