Insulin lispro vs Insulin aspart half-life

Insulin lispro has an elimination half-life of about 1 h; Insulin aspart has about 1.4 h. Both are rapid-acting mealtime insulin analogues with small amino-acid changes that speed absorption. Their pharmacokinetics are very similar.

Side by side

Insulin lisproInsulin aspart
Half-life1 h1.4 h
RouteSCSC
CategoryInsulinsInsulins
EvidenceClinicalClinical
Remaining after 24 hours<0.01%<0.01%
Remaining after 7 days<0.01%<0.01%
~97% cleared (5 half-lives)5 h6.8 h
Steady state (4-5 half-lives)4 h to 5 h5.4 h to 6.8 h

Single-dose decay

Share of one dose remaining over time, assuming first-order elimination. Dashed lines mark each half-life.

Insulin lispro vs Insulin aspart single-dose decay 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 0 2 h 4 h 6 h 8 h

Insulin lispro (t½ 1 h) Insulin aspart (t½ 1.4 h)

Insulin lispro: Apparent SC half-life of about 1 hour. Insulin aspart: Label: about 81 minutes.

Model Insulin lispro doses Model Insulin aspart doses

FAQ

Which lasts longer, Insulin lispro or Insulin aspart?

Insulin aspart lasts longer. Its half-life is about 1.4 h, versus 1 h for Insulin lispro, roughly 1.4 times longer.

How long do Insulin lispro and Insulin aspart stay in your system?

With first-order elimination, about 97% of a single dose is cleared after five half-lives: roughly 5 h for Insulin lispro and 6.8 h for Insulin aspart. Individual clearance varies.

How long until Insulin lispro and Insulin aspart reach steady state?

With consistent repeated dosing, levels approach steady state after 4 to 5 half-lives: about 4 h to 5 h for Insulin lispro, and 5.4 h to 6.8 h for Insulin aspart.

How reliable are these half-lives?

Insulin lispro: Clinical evidence. Insulin aspart: Clinical evidence. Anecdotal values are community estimates and may be far off.