Novorapid Flexpen
✅ Fast glucose control
✅ Convenient pen design
✅ Adjustable dosing
✅ Reduced hypoglycemia risk
✅ Simple self-administration
Novorapid Flexpen contains insulin.
✓ Medically reviewed by Morgan Ellis — Pharmacy Researcher · 8 years experience · Last reviewed: May 2026
⚡ Quick Answer — What is NovoRapid FlexPen?
NovoRapid FlexPen is a pre-filled disposable insulin pen containing insulin aspart (100 units/mL, 3 mL pen) — a rapid-acting insulin analogue used at meal-times (bolus insulin) in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It has an onset of 10–15 minutes, peak effect at 1–3 hours, and total duration of 3–5 hours. Inject subcutaneously into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm 5–15 minutes before a meal (or immediately after for unpredictable eaters). Usual dose: 0.5–1 unit per 10 g of carbohydrate, individualised to glucose, carb intake, and insulin sensitivity. Main risk: hypoglycaemia. Pair with a basal (long-acting) insulin in type 1 diabetes, or use alongside oral agents or basal insulin in type 2. Store unopened pens at 2–8°C; once in use, keep at room temperature < 30°C for up to 28 days.
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What Is NovoRapid FlexPen?
NovoRapid FlexPen is a pre-filled disposable pen containing 3 mL (300 units) of insulin aspart, dialing 1–60 units per dose in 1-unit increments. It contains insulin aspart (100 units/mL, 3 mL pen) manufactured by Novo Nordisk, supplied in packs of 1 or 5 pre-filled pens.
insulin aspart is a rapid-acting insulin analogue — a meal-time (“bolus”) insulin used to match the post-meal glucose rise. NovoRapid (NovoLog in the US) is the originator brand worldwide.
How Does NovoRapid FlexPen Work?
Insulin is the natural hormone the pancreas releases after meals to help cells absorb glucose. In diabetes, this insulin response is either absent (type 1) or insufficient (type 2). Meal-time insulin injections replace that response.
Insulin aspart is made by substituting a proline with aspartic acid at position B28 of human insulin, which prevents the insulin molecules from clumping into hexamers — so they dissociate and absorb faster than regular human insulin. This gives a pharmacokinetic profile tailored to the meal-time glucose rise:
- Onset of action: 10–15 minutes
- Peak effect: 1–3 hours
- Total duration: 3–5 hours
This profile closely mimics physiological post-meal insulin release — much better than regular human insulin, which has a slow 30-minute onset and a long 6–8 hour tail that can cause late hypoglycaemia.
Dosage and Administration
Timing: inject 5–15 minutes before each meal. If meal timing is unpredictable (young children, unwell adults), injecting just before or even immediately after the meal is acceptable — this flexibility is a key advantage of rapid-acting analogues over regular insulin.
Dose: individualised to the patient. Common starting approaches:
- Fixed-dose regimen: 4–6 units before each main meal
- Carbohydrate counting: 0.5–1 unit per 10 g of meal carbohydrate (insulin-to-carb ratio; individualised)
- Correction dose: add 1 unit for each 2.5–3 mmol/L (45–54 mg/dL) above target glucose (sensitivity factor; individualised)
Injection technique:
- Inject subcutaneously into the abdomen, front of thigh, upper outer arm, or upper outer buttock. Absorption is fastest from the abdomen.
- Rotate injection sites within the same area to prevent lipohypertrophy (lumps under the skin that make absorption erratic).
- Use a new pen needle for every dose.
- Always prime the pen with 2 units before dialing the dose (check for a stream of insulin from the tip).
Side Effects
Most important:
- Hypoglycaemia — the main risk of any insulin. Symptoms: shakiness, sweating, hunger, palpitations, confusion. Treat with 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate (glucose tablets, juice), then a snack with complex carb.
- Weight gain — 1–3 kg on average over the first year.
Local:
- Injection-site reactions: redness, itching, bruising
- Lipohypertrophy from repeated injection at the same site
- Rare lipoatrophy (thinning of subcutaneous fat)
Uncommon but important:
- Hypokalaemia (low potassium) — especially with rapid correction of hyperglycaemia or in DKA treatment
- Fluid retention, peripheral oedema (typically mild)
- Hypersensitivity, rarely anaphylaxis
Drug Interactions
Raise hypoglycaemia risk: sulfonylureas, meglitinides, ACE inhibitors, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, MAOIs, pentoxifylline, propoxyphene, salicylates, sulfonamide antibiotics, somatostatin analogues, alcohol.
Reduce insulin effect: corticosteroids, oral contraceptives, thiazides, thyroid hormones, sympathomimetics, atypical antipsychotics, isoniazid, niacin, danazol, protease inhibitors.
Variable: beta-blockers (mask hypoglycaemia symptoms), lithium, octreotide.
Who Should Not Use NovoRapid FlexPen?
- Current hypoglycaemia episode
- Known hypersensitivity to insulin aspart or any excipients
- Diabetic ketoacidosis — only in supervised settings with IV insulin and fluids
In pregnancy: rapid-acting analogues are considered compatible and widely used. Discuss with your obstetric diabetes team.
Paediatric use: both NovoRapid and Apidra are approved for use in children (Apidra from 4 years, NovoRapid from 1 year) with appropriate paediatric dosing.
Storage and Handling
- Unopened pens: refrigerate at 2–8°C until the expiry date. Do not freeze.
- In-use pens (after first injection): keep at room temperature (below 30°C), away from direct heat and sunlight. Discard after 28 days — even if insulin remains.
- Do not use if the insulin is cloudy, discoloured, or contains particles.
- Never share a pen between patients, even with a new needle.
- Carry a spare pen and glucose tablets when away from home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NovoRapid the same as insulin aspart or NovoLog?
Yes. NovoRapid (used in most of the world) and NovoLog (used in the US and Canada) are the same drug — insulin aspart 100 units/mL — made by Novo Nordisk. The different trade names are regional marketing, not different formulations.
When should I inject NovoRapid FlexPen — before or after the meal?
5–15 minutes before the meal is standard and gives the best glucose control. Injecting just before or immediately after is acceptable when meal timing is unpredictable — for young children, people with gastroparesis, or when you do not yet know how much you will eat. Injecting much later than that reduces control of the post-meal spike.
What if I accidentally inject too much?
Eat a fast-acting carbohydrate immediately (15 g of glucose), then a slower-acting snack (bread, biscuits, sandwich) to cover the ongoing insulin action over the next 3–5 hours. Check glucose every 15–30 minutes. Severe or unresponsive hypoglycaemia needs glucagon or medical help.
Do I need basal (long-acting) insulin too?
In type 1 diabetes — yes, always. Rapid-acting insulin alone cannot provide 24-hour basal coverage, and stopping long-acting insulin in type 1 diabetes causes diabetic ketoacidosis within hours. In type 2 diabetes, NovoRapid FlexPen is often used alongside basal insulin (glargine, degludec) and oral agents.
Can I mix NovoRapid FlexPen with long-acting insulin in the same syringe?
No — rapid-acting analogues should not be mixed with long-acting analogues (glargine, degludec, detemir) in the same syringe. Use separate injections. You can give them at the same time with different pens.
Can NovoRapid FlexPen be used in insulin pumps?
Yes — rapid-acting analogues including aspart and glulisine are the standard insulins for continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) pumps. Ask your diabetes team for pump-specific guidance.
Does NovoRapid FlexPen expire once the pen is in use?
Yes — once you take the first injection, the pen lasts 28 days at room temperature (below 30°C). Discard on day 29 even if insulin remains. Note the start date on the pen.
Where can I buy NovoRapid FlexPen online?
You can order NovoRapid FlexPen (100 units/mL, 3 mL pen) from MedsBase in packs of 1 or 5 pre-filled pens. Insulin ships with temperature-protected packaging; worldwide shipping. Discreet packaging and genuine Novo Nordisk manufacturer stock.
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| Strength | 3 ml |
|---|---|
| Quantity | 1 Pen/s, 2 Pen/s, 3 Pen/s, 10 Pen/s |
Novorapid Flexpen
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