Canine Diabetes Wiki
Actraphane 20/80
R/Neutral/NPH/Isophane Mix by Novo Nordisk
intermediate-acting
r-DNA/GE/GM
U100 isophane
Action in dogs:
  • onset 0.5-3h,
  • peak 2-10h,
  • duration 4-24h
Line: Novo
Also known as: Mixtard 20, Penmix 20
Similar to: Huminsulin Profil II, Humulin 20/80,
Humulina 20/80, Humuline 20/80, Humulin M2,
Profil II, Humulin M, Umuline Profil 20, Profil 20
Humulin 80/20

Names of Lilly r-DNA/GE/GM insulins worldwide
Use and Handling:
Shelf Life: 30 months Type: cloudy
When Opened: 6 weeks room temp.
In Pen: 6 weeks room temp.
Notes: Protect from light and heat
Do Not Freeze, Resuspend
Do not use if product does not re-suspend
Do not use intravenously [1]
20 80

Time activity profile for 20/80 (80/20) insulin.


Novo Nordisk's brand name for its 20% R/neutral and 80% NPH/isophane crystal [2] insulin which is intermediate-acting.

Another comparable insulin, also Novo-made was Mixtard 20 [2][3][4]. Eli Lilly produced a comparable insulin called Humulin M2 [5]; it was discontinued in the EU & UK in July, 2004. [6] Humulin 20/80, made by Lilly for the North American market, is also discontinued. Lilly's names for this insulin sold elsewhere are Huminsulin Profil II, Umuline Profil 20, Humuline 20/80, Humulina 20/80, and in some places, Humulin M.

Mixed insulins cover a wide range as they can be animal origin, r-DNA/GE/GM origin or analog insulins. The non-analog mixed insulins are made up of intermediate-acting NPH/isophane insulin and short-acting R/neutral. normal insulin. The analog mixes are made from intermediate-acting protamine-suspended analog insulin (suspended similar to NPH/isophane insulin) and fast-acting analog insulin. They can also vary in the fraction (amount or percent) of the two types (R/neutral and NPH/isophane) of insulin used to make a non-analog mix, and in the percentage of fast/rapid-acting analog insulin and slower-acting protamine suspended analog insulin.

For some reason, those in the US choose to list the slower, NPH/isophane based insulin fraction first, such as Humulin or Novolin 70/30. The rest of the world gives the faster insulin top billing and the result is 30/70. Regardless of how this is written, it means that the insulin is made up of 70% NPH/isophane insulin and 30% R/neutral insulin.

The most common mixes are 70/30 (30/70) (non analog) or 75/25 (25/75) (analog). There are no currently-marketed mixes which combine insulins of different origins. Eli Lilly's form of beef/pork Iletin and Novo Nordisk's Lentard were discontinued some time ago. Here are the most common ones that could cause confusion:

References[]

  1. Maddison, Jill E.,Page, Stephen W.,Church, David B. (2008). Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology. Saunders Ltd..
  2. 2.0 2.1 Scientific Discussion Actraphane. EMEA. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "EMEA" defined multiple times with different content
  3. Scientific Discussion-Mixtard. EMEA.
  4. Prescribing Novo Insulins.
  5. Lilly EU/UK Product Names & Time Activity Profiles. Eli Lilly.
  6. Withdrawal of Humulin M2. Pharma Journal (July 2004).
Related pages
20 80
Penfill Mixtard 20 1
20 80
Humulin M2
Penmix 20
Mixtard 20
Humulin 20/80
Humulin M2