Sometimes it helps to know what some drugs are all about, let alone which ones are better for us, so here we’re looking to provide some accurate information on what NovoLog FlexPen is, what they do, how to use them, and how to get them!
Throughout this, of course, we must stress that your doctor should be consulted regarding any change or intentions you have regarding your current medication or your health in general.
What Is NovoLog FlexPen?
NovoLog FlexPen is a rapid-acting insulin (Insulin Aspart) that improves blood sugar levels in adults and children with diabetes mellitus. It starts to work at 5-10 minutes after injection, peaks at about one hour after injection, and lasts up to 2 to 4 hours. This insulin is taken 5-10 minutes before a meal.
It works faster after injection, but may sometimes need to be used together with a long-acting or intermediate-acting insulin. Also, we should mention that this insulin can be used for other purposes that are not listed in the medication guide.
However, using this insulin for other purposes will have to be directed by your doctor or pharmacist. Now that we have given some background on NovoLog, let’s get into some information that many of you may be looking for regarding this insulin.
How Long Does NovoLog FlexPen Last?
NovoLog FlexPen works for about 2 to 4 hours after injection. The exact duration may vary based on your metabolism, insulin sensitivity, activity level, and overall health condition. Some patients may experience shorter or longer effects depending on these factors.
Because of its rapid action and short duration, NovoLog FlexPen is often used alongside a long-acting or intermediate-acting insulin to support full-day blood sugar control.
An unopened NovoLog FlexPen has two storage timelines:
- At room temperature (below 86°F / 30°C), it can be used for up to 28 days
- When refrigerated at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C), it can be used until the expiration date on the package
How Many Units Are in A NovoLog FlexPen?
A NovoLog FlexPen has 100 units per mL and usually comes in 300 units of prefilled insulin NovoLog. The NovoLog FlexPen can deliver from 1 to 60 units of insulin, which are adjustable in one injection.
How Much Is a NovoLog FlexPen Without Insurance?
Without insurance, the NovoLog FlexPen price is around $72 per vial and $140 per FlexPen following Novo Nordisk’s 2026 price cut.
How Much Does NovoLog FlexPen Cost?
NovoLog FlexPen costs around $72 per vial and $140 per FlexPen. Of course, obtaining your prescriptions through Prescription Hope can provide huge savings, so click here to enroll now.
Cost Comparison Table
| Option | Price | Requirements |
| List price (no insurance) | $139.71 per FlexPen carton | None |
| GoodRx / SingleCare | $74–$84 per pen | None; ZIP code lookup |
| NovoLog savings card | $35 per 30-day supply | Commercial insurance |
| Medicare Part D | $35 per month | Part D enrollment |
| Patient Assistance Program | $0 | Uninsured, income-qualifying |
Savings Options at a Glance
| Program | Best For |
| NovoLog savings card | Commercially insured, high copay |
| GoodRx / SingleCare | Uninsured or high-deductible |
| Medicare Part D cap | Medicare enrollees |
| Patient Assistance Program | Uninsured, low-income |
| Insulin aspart (generic) | Cash-paying patients who want the lowest price |
*Prices last verified: July 2026
Is There a Substitute for NovoLog FlexPen?
Although there are no exact substitutes for NovoLog, the drug Humalog has a similar onset action, like that of NovoLog. Both of these drugs are used to control blood sugar in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. They are rapid-acting insulin that starts to work within about 15 minutes.
Both these drugs come in the form of a solution for injection, and their length of treatment is long-term. However, these two drugs are not always interchangeable for specific reasons. Humalog is insulin Lispro, whereas NovoLog is insulin Aspart.
Humalog is also primarily prescribed for adults and older children with type 1 diabetes (it’s prescribed for adults with type two diabetes but not children), whereas NovoLog is prescribed to patients 2 years or older with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Rapid-acting insulin NovoLog works about 5–10 minutes after injecting, whereas Humalog takes a full 15 minutes to start working. Most importantly, a person’s ability to alter the dose of this insulin is limited. This is because NovoLog can be diluted to produce a low dose, but it is not possible to dilute Humalog.
Insulin Aspart: The Generic Alternative to NovoLog
Novo Nordisk sells an authorized generic version of NovoLog called insulin Aspart. It contains the identical formulation as the branded product and works the same way in your body. Your pharmacist can typically fill insulin Aspart in place of NovoLog without a new prescription.
It costs less depending on pharmacy pricing. Your savings options include:
- Insulin Aspart FlexPen coupons through GoodRx or SingleCare
- Pharmacy discount programs
- Insurance substitution when permitted
If you pay cash or carry a high-deductible plan, insulin Aspart often ends up as your lower-cost option at the counter. Ask your pharmacist directly whether the generic is in stock.
Does Medicare Pay for NovoLog FlexPen?
Yes, most Medicare Part D plans cover NovoLog FlexPen. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, your out-of-pocket cost for covered insulin products is capped at $35 per month, regardless of your deductible stage.
If you’re billed above that amount, contact your plan’s member services directly. The manufacturer savings card does not apply to you on Medicare, but the Patient Assistance Program (PAP) remains an option if you also meet income requirements.
Is there a PAP for NovoLog FlexPen?
The manufacturer of NovoLog FlexPen, Novo Nordisk, offers a patient assistance program for those who qualify. The basic eligibility requirements include.
- Should be at or below 400% of FPL
- The enrollee must be a US citizen or legal resident
- Patients who are Medicaid eligible should have applied for it and been denied by Medicaid to be eligible for this program
In addition to the PAP, Novo Nordisk also offers a NovoLog FlexPen savings card. It would help to pay as little as $25 per 30-day supply for up to 2 years and a maximum savings of up to $100 per 30-day supply when you start NovoLog.
NovoLog Mix 70/30: Pricing and Savings
NovoLog Mix 70/30 is a premixed insulin, combining 70% insulin Aspart protamine with 30% insulin Aspart. You use it to manage blood sugar with one injection that covers both background and mealtime insulin needs, instead of two separate products.
Following Novo Nordisk’s 2026 price cut, NovoLog Mix 70/30 lists at $72 per vial and $140 per FlexPen, the same pricing as standard NovoLog. If you want to save on prescription NovoLog mix, you can get it through commercial insurance, GoodRx, SingleCare, or PAP.
NovoLog FlexPen Coupon and Savings Card
If you carry commercial insurance, the NovoLog FlexPen savings card is your clearest path to savings. It brings your cost down to $35 per 30-day supply, with maximum savings of $65 per fill.
If your insurance does not cover NovoLog, or your copay runs above $100, you pay no more than $99 per 30-day supply through the same offer. The card also includes one free pack of needles and works for up to 24 months.
However, this offer applies only to commercial insurance. If you have Medicare or Medicaid, this coupon will not apply to you. You can use the Medicare insulin cap or the Patient Assistance Program instead.
Prescription Discount Cards for NovoLog FlexPen
If you have no commercial insurance, a NovoLog FlexPen discount card still gets you savings. These cards work differently from what the manufacturer offers. You can apply them directly at the pharmacy counter; they carry no income or insurance requirements, and they work off your cash price rather than your copay.
GoodRx brings insulin Aspart down to roughly $74 to $84 per pen, against an average retail price of $140. SingleCare posts similar pricing, with pens as low as $26 at select pharmacies. Check either platform by your ZIP code before you fill, since prices shift by pharmacy and location.
How to Use NovoLog FlexPen
NovoLog is usually taken in the form of an injection 5-10 minutes before the start of a meal. Or after injecting, you should eat a meal within 5-10 minutes. Your healthcare provider will provide you with clear guidelines on how to inject, based on your body type. It’s usually injected under the skin or as an infusion into a vein.
You can also inject in the stomach, except for the two inches around the belly button, and except in the bony area closer to the knees, back of the upper arms (you might have to get help from someone for this place, though), top and outside of the buttocks are places that are usually recommended to inject, depending on your body.
The injection is applied to the fatty tissues under the skin and not into the muscle. The injection is never recommended to be injected into the same spot, and NovoLog shouldn’t be injected into moles or scars.
The NovoLog FlexPen will come prefilled with 300 units of NovoLog, which is ready to use. You might only have to determine the right amount of insulin with the dial, and it is easily delivered with a press of a button. The NovoLog FlexPen can deliver anywhere between 1 and 60 units of insulin, which are adjustable in one-unit increments.
A prefilled NovoLog FlexPen can be used for up to 28 days without the need to refrigerate. The FlexPen can also be used with Novo Fine needles. Novo is especially known for its ultrafine needles (as small as 5mm) that give little to no pain when injecting.
When using, if the insulin solution looks cloudy or if you realize it has changed color, do not use it. Instead, get a new medication. Also, you may have to avoid driving, operating machines, or any other related self-chores until you know how exactly this insulin will work. You may also need to avoid drinking alcohol as it can interfere with insulin therapy.
NovoLog Use for Children
NovoLog is also approved for use in pumps for children aged 2 years or older with type 1 diabetes and even adults with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
NovoLog FlexPen is the first rapid-acting insulin that is approved for pump use in children. The pump will release a steady dose of NovoLog (Aspart) insulin throughout the day and during mealtimes. You can program the pump according to the doctor’s or manufacturer’s instructions.
When NovoLog is used in pumps, it should not be mixed with other insulins. Also, the infusion set insertion site should be changed at least every 3 days.
Using NovoLog FlexPen While Taking Other Medication
You can certainly take other medications while using NovoLog, but then it may affect the way NovoLog works. Taking NovoLog while taking other medications may also negate its effects.
This can also interrupt the symptoms of hypoglycemia, which will make it hard to figure out low blood sugar. Such medication includes prescription and over-the-counter medication, vitamins, and herbal products.
So, because of using additional medication besides NovoLog, your doctor may prescribe different doses, and you may also have to closely watch your blood sugar levels. Before using NovoLog FlexPen with other medications, make sure you specify them to your healthcare provider beforehand.
NovoLog can also be mixed with NPH insulin, which is a form of human insulin, and even some other types of insulin. But this may not always work for every patient.
So before mixing NovoLog with any other insulin, you might have to consult your doctor and get related advice. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate doses when two insulins are mixed, and if it’s recommended for your body type and other diseases you might have.
General Dose Instructions
Firstly, it’s important to mention that you should strictly follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
This is because, as mentioned, the dose will depend on the body type and other health conditions. NovoLog (Insulin Aspart) is a rapid-acting insulin, and because of this, its glucose-lowering activity will be completed within a short time. So, some patients may need more basal or total insulin than they use for regular insulin, which will help patients prevent hyperglycemia when using NovoLog.
Along with your dosage, you must monitor your blood and urine. If you encounter any illness, stress, or if you start using any other medication, and if you make changes in your diet or exercise patterns, make sure you talk to your healthcare provider.
Patients with hepatic and renal impairment are more likely to require frequent dosage adjustment and even more frequent blood glucose monitoring. This is because such patients are at increased risk of hypoglycemia.
Dosage Administration
Dosage Administration for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
This may require an administration of 0.2-0.6 units/kg/day in divided doses. Whereas conservative doses of 0.2-0.4 units/kg/day are recommended to be administered to reduce the risks of hypoglycemia.
Total maintenance daily insulin requirement may vary, but it’s usually between 0.5 and 1 unit/kg/day. Whereas non-obese individuals may require 0.4-0.6 units/kg/day and obese individuals may require 0.6-1.2 units/kg/day.
Dosage Administration for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
This may require an administration of 10 units/day SC (or 0.1-0.2 units/kg/day) in the evening. Or this may need an administration of divided 12-hour doses of an intermediate (e.g., NPH) or long-acting insulin at bedtime.
What Happens If You Miss A Dose?
As you might know by now, NovoLog is prescribed before meals, and it’s not always taken on a timed schedule, so it is unlikely that you will miss the dose time. If you miss taking the insulin before meals, you will have to skip the dose and take it before the next meal. Never use extra or double the dose to make up for any missed doses.
What Happens If You Overdose?
If you ever overdose or believe that you may have overdosed, then call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 or seek immediate medical attention.
Insulin overdose can cause life-threatening hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Symptoms of low blood sugar include muscle weakness, drowsiness, confusion, numbness or tingling in your mouth, trouble speaking, blurred vision, seizure or loss of consciousness, and clumsy or jerky movements.
In case you overdose or realize you have low blood sugar, always keep some fast-acting source of sugar handy, like fruit, candy, raisins, or even some fruit juice. Your doctor may sometimes prescribe you an emergency glucagon injection kit that will help you treat hypoglycemia. It is also a good idea to make sure your friends and family are aware of how to give you this injection in case of an emergency.
Storage Instructions
Keep the drug in its original container and away from light or heat. Never freeze the insulin or store it near any cooling element if it’s in use. Insulin that has been stored in a freezer should never be used. The storage methods for opened and unopened insulin are different.
Usually, unopened insulin can be refrigerated until the expiration date, and it can even be stored at room temperature and used within 28 days. For opened (in-use) insulin, store the vial in the refrigerator or at room temperature and use within 28 days. In-use cartridges or injection pens will have to be stored at room temperature and should be used within 28 days.
Avoid storing injection NovoLog FlexPens with the needles attached. If you’re using NovoLog through pumps, it should not be kept in the pump for more than 6 days of use and should not be stored in temperatures higher than 98.6°F (37°C).
And Finally…
If you have any questions about how Prescription Hope can help you save money on NovoLog, Gabapentin, or any other drugs that we offer, then visit our How it Works page. If you’re having trouble affording any of the medications you’ve been prescribed, contact us.
The mission of Prescription Hope is to help patients access affordable, life-saving medications. This means we don’t stop working for you, even if you don’t qualify for your intended program. We’ll still help you source out things like discount cards, coupons, savings programs, and more. Enroll, and we’ll get to work for you today.
Visit the enrollment page to create an account and fill out an application to start saving.
