Lantus Side Effects
Generic Name: insulin glargine (IN su lin GLAR gine) Brand Names: Basaglar KwikPen, Lantus, Lantus Solostar Pen, Toujeo SoloStar What is Lantus? Lantus (insulin glargine) is a man-made form of a hormone that is produced in the body. Insulin is a hormone that works by lowering levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin that starts to work several hours after injection and keeps working evenly for 24 hours. Lantus is used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with diabetes mellitus. Lantus is used to treat type 1 or type 2 diabetes in adults, and type 1 diabetes children who are at least 6 years old. Some brands of insulin glargine are for use only in adults. Carefully follow all instructions for the brand of insulin glargine you are using. Important information You should not use Lantus if you are having an episode of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis. Never share a Lantus injection pen or cartridge with another person. Sharing injection pens or cartridges can allow disease such as hepatitis or HIV to pass from one person to another. Lantus is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, foot care, eye care, dental care, and testing your blood sugar. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely. Changing any of these factors can affect your blood sugar levels. Before taking this medicine You should not use Lantus if you are allergic to insulin, or if you are having an episode of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Lantus is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 years old, and should not be used to treat type 2 diabetes in a child of any age. To make sure Lantus is safe for you, tell your docto Continue reading >>
Can I Use 30/70 Insulin With Humalog In Place Of Lantus?
Please see your physician as every individual needs individual care. I routinely will switch my diabetics from Lantus and Humalog to 70/30 insulin or vice versa. The effect is approximate. Studies note reasonably similar blood sugar control with more low blood sugars with 70/30. Pros of 70/30: Less shots: just two per day Cheaper by far if you have no insurance. Pros of Lantus and humalog: More control over your life. You don't have to eat at a strict schedule like on 70/30 or risk low blood sugars. You can carb count and eat what you want, if you are somewhat savvy. You can tune this regimen to you, maybe you need less Lantus and more humalog. It is pretty easy to switch most people. It involves getting your total daily dose of insulin and some simple calculations, then fine tune with your life. Just ask your doc. Continue reading >>
Insulin Glargine
Insulin glargine, marketed under the names Lantus, among others, is a long-acting basal insulin analogue, given once daily to help control the blood sugar level of those with diabetes. It consists of microcrystals that slowly release insulin, giving a long duration of action of 18 to 26 hours, with a "peakless" profile (according to the insulin glargine package insert). Pharmacokinetically, it resembles basal insulin secretion of non-diabetic pancreatic beta cells. Sometimes, in type 2 diabetes and in combination with a short acting sulfonylurea (drugs which stimulate the pancreas to make more insulin), it can offer moderate control of serum glucose levels. In the absence of endogenous insulin—type 1 diabetes, depleted type 2 (in some cases) or latent autoimmune diabetes of adults in late stage—insulin glargine needs the support of fast acting insulin taken with food to reduce the effect of prandially derived glucose. Medical uses[edit] The long-acting insulin class, which includes insulin glargine, do not appear much better than neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin but have a significantly greater cost making them, as of 2010, not cost effective.[1] It is unclear if there is a difference in hypoglycemia and not enough data to determine any differences with respect to long term outcomes.[2] Mixing with other insulins[edit] Unlike some other longer-acting insulins, glargine must not be diluted or mixed with other insulin or solution in the same syringe.[3] However, this restriction has been questioned.[4] Adverse effects[edit] Cancer[edit] As of 2012 tentative evidence shows no association between insulin glargine and cancer.[5] Previous studies had raised concerns.[6] Pharmacology[edit] Mechanism of action[edit] Insulin glargine has a substitution of glycine for Continue reading >>
Is The Lantus Insulin No Longer Covered By Health Insurance?
My understanding is soon Lantus will no longer be produced and everyone needs to be switched to the biosimilar insulin Basalar. Insurances are not covering Lantus because they want you switched before Lantus goes out of production. It is a 1:1 conversion. You will use the same dose of Basalar as you use with Lantus. My suspicion for this change is because the patent for Lantus has expired. Insulin falls into a different category of medication. Generics are not AB rated, they are instead called a biosimilar. As pharmacists in the United States we cannot legally substitute one biosimilar for another, we need a new prescription for the different medication. A current example is with the EpiPen. There is a generic version available but because it is a biosimilar we cannot automatically substitute it. We need to get permission (basically, get a new Rx) from your prescriber. There is a lawsuit currently making its way through the US courts which would change the law and allow us to substitute one biosimilar for another. If it gets ok’d we could automatically substitute biosimilar generics equivalents when they exist. But that won't work if everyone is on a new insulin that does “not” have a generic equivalent, something called, oh, I don't know, let's call it Basalar. Now to switch to the generic biosimilar of Lantus, your pharmacist once again has to get a new prescription for the new-to-market generic insulin- exactly the same way we need to currently get a new Rx for Basalar. Many pharmacists won't make the phone call unless you ask because, frankly, it takes extra time and there is already a processed insurance claim. (For proof of this statement, I reference the Epipen. Pharmacists often don't make the time to call for a new Rx with the biosimilar generic on that m Continue reading >>
Description
lantus (insulin glargine) injection, solution [Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC ] LANTUS® must NOT be diluted or mixed with any other insulin or solution. LANTUS® (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection) is a sterile solution of insulin glargine for use as an injection. Insulin glargine is a recombinant human insulin analog that is a long-acting (up to 24-hour duration of action), parenteral blood-glucose-lowering agent. (See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY). LANTUS is produced by recombinant DNA technology utilizing a non-pathogenic laboratory strain of Escherichia coli (K12) as the production organism. Insulin glargine differs from human insulin in that the amino acid asparagine at position A21 is replaced by glycine and two arginines are added to the C-terminus of the B-chain. Chemically, it is 21A-Gly-30Ba-L-Arg-30Bb-L-Arg-human insulin and has the empirical formula C267H404N72O78S6 and a molecular weight of 6063. It has the following structural formula: LANTUS consists of insulin glargine dissolved in a clear aqueous fluid. Each milliliter of LANTUS (insulin glargine injection) contains 100 IU (3.6378 mg) insulin glargine. Inactive ingredients for the 10 mL vial are 30 mcg zinc, 2.7 mg m-cresol, 20 mg glycerol 85%, 20 mcg polysorbate 20, and water for injection. Inactive ingredients for the 3 mL cartridge are 30 mcg zinc, 2.7 mg m-cresol, 20 mg glycerol 85%, and water for injection. The pH is adjusted by addition of aqueous solutions of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. LANTUS has a pH of approximately 4. Mechanism of Action The primary activity of insulin, including insulin glargine, is regulation of glucose metabolism. Insulin and its analogs lower blood glucose levels by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake, especially by skeletal muscle and fat, and by inhibiting hepat Continue reading >>
Insulin Types
What Are the Different Insulin Types? Insulin Types are hormones normally made in the pancreas that stimulates the flow of sugar – glucose – from the blood into the cells of the body. Glucose provides the cells with the energy they need to function. There are two main groups of insulins used in the treatment of diabetes: human insulins and analog insulins, made by recombinant DNA technology. The concentration of most insulins available in the United States is 100 units per milliliter. A milliliter is equal to a cubic centimeter. All insulin syringes are graduated to match this insulin concentration. There are four categories of insulins depending on how quickly they start to work in the body after injection: Very rapid acting insulin, Regular, or Rapid acting insulins, Intermediate acting insulins, Long acting insulin. In addition, some insulins are marketed mixed together in different proportions to provide both rapid and long acting effects. Certain insulins can also be mixed together in the same syringe immediately prior to injection. Rapid Acting Insulins A very rapid acting form of insulin called Lispro insulin is marketed under the trade name of Humalog. A second form of very rapid acting insulin is called Aspart and is marketed under the trade name Novolog. Humalog and Novolog are clear liquids that begin to work 10 minutes after injection and peak at 1 hour after injection, lasting for 3-4 hours in the body. However, most patients also need a longer-acting insulin to maintain good control of their blood sugar. Humalog and Novolog can be mixed with NPH insulin and are used as “bolus” insulins to be given 15 minutes before a meal. Note: Check blood sugar level before giving Humalog or Novalog. Your doctor or diabetes educator will instruct you in determini Continue reading >>
Insulin (and Other Injected Drugs)
Diabetes is a disease affecting the body's production of insulin (type 1) or both the body's use and its production of insulin (type 2). Injectable insulin is a lifesaver for people who can no longer produce it on their own Continue reading >>
Lantus Dosing
Well, I never thought I’d say this, but it’s a great week to be a person with Type 1 diabetes. With all of the bad news surrounding the Type 2 drug Avandia (rosiglitazone), it’s a relief to know I don’t have to worry about it. I recommended you read my colleague Tara’s blog entry (“Type 2 Drug Avandia Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Attacks”) for the full story. That’s one of the first times in my life I’ve referred to someone as a colleague. What can I say? It’s just not a word in my describe-a-friend/coworker vocabulary. While all of the controversy surrounds Avandia, I’m way over in Type 1 land contemplating whether or not to lower my daily dose of Lantus (insulin glargine). I’ve just started a brand new bottle of Lantus and I’ve been taking my normal 15 units in the morning and then eating a rather normal breakfast and lunch, but I’m still going low in the midmorning and early afternoon. This happened Monday after eating Brussels sprouts and whole-wheat pasta for lunch and only taking one unit of rapid-acting NovoLog (insulin aspart) to help out the Lantus. I’ve known for a while that my body is sensitive to insulin, but lately it’s been a little more sensitive than usual. I took 13 units of Lantus yesterday and my blood glucose was 86 mg/dl before lunch. I often wonder how much of an adjustment two units of Lantus is. While I’m very much locked in on an insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio with my NovoLog, it’s a bit tricky to judge how much the longer-lasting insulins affect your blood glucose. Is there a chart for your Lantus dose? I seem to remember something from when I was diagnosed. I wonder what Google will tell me to do. I realize that Lantus doesn’t have a true peak the way some of the other insulins do, but sometimes it su Continue reading >>
Lantus Patient Information Including Side Effects
Brand Names: Lantus, Lantus OptiClik Cartridge, Lantus Solostar Pen Generic Name: insulin glargine (Pronunciation: IN su lin AS part, IN su lin AS part PRO ta meen) What is the most important information I should know about insulin glargine (Lantus, Lantus OptiClik Cartridge, Lantus Solostar Pen)? What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using insulin glargine (Lantus, Lantus OptiClik Cartridge, Lantus Solostar Pen)? What is insulin glargine (Lantus, Lantus OptiClik Cartridge, Lantus Solostar Pen)? Insulin glargine is a man-made form of a hormone that is produced in the body. It works by lowering levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Insulin glargine is a long-acting form of insulin that is slightly different from other forms of insulin that are not man-made. Insulin glargine is used to treat type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Insulin glargine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. What are the possible side effects of insulin glargine (Lantus, Lantus OptiClik Cartridge, Lantus Solostar Pen)? Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of insulin allergy: itching skin rash over the entire body, wheezing, trouble breathing, fast heart rate, sweating, or feeling like you might pass out. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is the most common side effect of insulin glargine. Symptoms include headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, tremors, irritability, trouble concentrating, rapid breathing, fast heartbeat, fainting, or seizure (severe hypoglycemia can be fatal). Carry hard candy or glucose tablets with you in case you have low blood sugar. Tell your doctor if you have itching, swelling, redness, or thickening of the skin where you inject insulin glargine. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call Continue reading >>
Lantus Prescription Assistance
When you have diabetes, every decision you make is colored by your condition. How much insulin should you bring on your next overnight trip? Will there be time to get a snack or take insulin between your appointments? At Simplefill, we understand the hard choices you make every day when you’re managing your diabetes. If you or someone you love is living with diabetes, it’s critical for you to have the right diabetes medication, like Lantus, by your side when you need it. Unfortunately, it’s becoming harder and harder for millions of Americans to afford the medications they desperately need. Whether it’s the Medicare donut hole or the increasing costs of insurance, it can be a real challenge to cover the costs of medications like Lantus insulin treatment when you have to pay out-of-pocket. If you or a loved one has diabetes and needs diabetes prescription assistance, including Lantus prescription treatment, continue reading to learn more about how Simplefill can help. How insulin works in your body Insulin is a master hormone that helps turn glucose (sugar) into energy. Created in the pancreas, insulin helps shuttle glucose to your cells as well as your muscles and liver. When you eat, your blood sugar typically rises. It’s this rise in blood sugar (glucose) that triggers the pancreas to produce and release insulin into your bloodstream. When you have inadequate levels of insulin, sugar can’t get to where it needs to go. It stays in your bloodstream too long, which raises your blood sugar levels. Furthermore, depending on what type of diabetes you have, you can either produce too much or too little insulin. Insulin comes in several forms, depending on your body’s need In the treatment of diabetes, choosing the right kind of insulin is important because ever Continue reading >>
What You Should Know About Byetta
BYETTA + insulin glargine (Lantus®): Important Considerations BYETTA and insulin glargine work in different ways to help you control your blood sugar. When you have type 2 diabetes, your blood sugar is especially high right after a meal—but it may also remain too high throughout the day. BYETTA helps lower your blood sugar, especially after meals. Insulin glargine provides a slow, steady release of insulin and helps manage your blood sugar between meals and overnight. If your doctor has prescribed BYETTA along with insulin glargine, please keep the following in mind: BYETTA is not insulin and should not be taken instead of insulin. Take BYETTA twice a day, within 60 minutes of your 2 main meals approximately 6 hours or more apart. Take your once-daily insulin as prescribed by your doctor. Do not mix BYETTA and insulin in the same syringe or vial even if you take them at the same time. Consult with your doctor before you stop taking any medications. Your doctor will most likely add BYETTA to your treatment plan for type 2 diabetes while keeping you on any oral medications you are currently taking for diabetes, in addition to insulin glargine. Keeping track of your progress Periodic blood sugar monitoring is part of your diabetes plan while on BYETTA. Self-monitoring of blood sugar is important and will help you and your doctor determine how well your type 2 diabetes is controlled. Talk to your doctor for specific instructions on blood sugar testing. Based on your response to BYETTA, your doctor may increase the dose after a month. Typically, your doctor will use a test called an A1C to determine how well your treatment is working. The A1C is a lab test that shows your average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months. Because the A1C measures blood sugar over time, i Continue reading >>
Lantus (insulin Glargine)
What is it used for? How does it work? Lantus vials, Lantus SoloStar pre-filled pens and Lantus penfill cartridges (for use with ClikSTAR or Autopen 24 pens) contain the active ingredient insulin glargine. They are used to treat diabetes. People with diabetes have a deficiency or absence of a hormone manufactured by the pancreas called insulin. Insulin is the main hormone responsible for the control of sugar (glucose) in the blood. People with type one diabetes need to have injections of insulin to control the amount of glucose in their bloodstream. Insulin injections act as a replacement for natural insulin and allow people with diabetes to achieve normal blood glucose levels. Insulin injections work in the same way as natural insulin, by binding to insulin receptors on cells in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle and fat tissue to increase their uptake of glucose from the bloodstream. It also decreases the production of glucose by the liver, and has various other effects that lower the amount of glucose in the blood. Lantus contains a type of insulin called insulin glargine. This is known as a long-acting insulin. When injected under the skin it starts working within two to three hours and produces a steady effect for 25 hours. It is used to help provide background control of blood glucose throughout the day. Insulin glargine is normally used in combination with a short-acting insulin, which is given before meals to control the increasing blood glucose levels after eating. It is important to monitor your blood glucose regularly and adjust your insulin dose as required. Your doctor or diabetic team will explain how to do this. Keeping your blood glucose level as close to normal as possible, and not too high or too low, significantly reduces the risk of Continue reading >>
Should We Take Insulin At Low Blood Sugar Level That Is At 70mg/dl?
Note: I am a patient, not a doctor. When in doubt, follow your doctor’s advice. I assume you have a reason to be taking insulin in the first place. If not, then you should not take insulin, no matter what your blood sugar level is. Assuming you do need to take insulin on a regular basis, the first question to ask is What kind of insulin is it? If it is a long-acting insulin analog, such as Levemir or Lantus, then you probably can take it without worrying about a sudden drop in your blood sugar level. This kind of insulin is engineered to enter the blood stream so slowly that it shouldn’t cause a problem. Other kinds of insulin, however, will drop your blood sugar much sooner, so you must think about what your situation is. If you are about to eat a meal and you need to take your mealtime insulin dose, then you have two choices. The safe choice is to eat a couple of glucose tablets, wait fiffteen minutes, and then test your blood sugar again. If you’re in a more comfortable “normal range,” then you can safely proceed as usual. Some people - and I am not one of them - prefer to adjust their mealtime bolus with a “negative correction,” which would mean that you would inject a lesser amount of insulin than normal, and immediately eat your meal. You can calculate the amount of your negative correction by following the instructions on this website: Adjusting Mealtime Insulin Doses While “negative corrections” work fine for some people, i consider the practice to be too risky. I would rather just eat some glucose tablets and wait 15 minutes to eat. But other diabetics have other preferences. Continue reading >>
Effect Of Insulin Glargine On Glycemic Control In Adolescents With Type 1-diabetes
Abstract Adolescence is a transitional phase characterized by multiple physiological and psychosocial factors that make glycemic control more difficult, and often results in hyperglycemia and/or hypoglycemia-related emergencies, and increases the risk of chronic complications. Insulin analogs were introduced with the aim of overcoming such difficulties. To study the role of long acting insulin analog (insulin glargine) in glycemic control of adolescents with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes who suffer from frequent hypoglycemic attacks and marked glucose variability, and to compare its effectiveness and cost versus intermediate acting insulin (NPH) in a country with limited resources like Egypt. A non-randomized open label treat to target trial that included twenty-nine adolescents (10–18 years), with T1DM. They were on MDI regimen. All had unsatisfactory glycemic control with frequent hypoglycemia and/or recurrent glucose excursions. All were shifted from twice daily NPH to single bedtime injection of insulin glargine (Lantus), and followed up for a minimum period of 6 months. Switching to insulin glargine was associated with a statistically significant reduction in attacks of hypoglycemia and DKA (p < 0.001), but with insignificant reduction in HbA1c (p = 0.9). BMI showed a significant increase (p = 0.004), as well as the cost of basal insulin as glargine compared to NPH. The present study encourages the use of insulin glargine in the presence of significant hypoglycemia and glucose variability, with close monitoring of diet and weight. Cost effectiveness and effect on HbA1c and quality of life need further longitudinal studies with larger numbers. Continue reading >>
Different Insulins Are Designed For Different Needs.
Prescription Apidra® is for adults with type 2 diabetes or adults and children (4 years and older) with type 1 diabetes to improve blood sugar control. Apidra® given by subcutaneous injection is usually used with a longer-acting insulin. When used as a mealtime insulin, Apidra® should be given within 15 minutes before or within 20 minutes after starting a meal. Apidra® may be infused subcutaneously by external insulin infusion pumps. Do not use Apidra® during a low blood sugar reaction (hypoglycemia) or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in Apidra®. Do not share needles, insulin pens or syringes with others. Do NOT reuse needles. You must test your blood sugar levels while using insulin, such as Apidra®. Do not make any changes to your dose or type of insulin without talking to your healthcare provider. Any change of insulin should be made cautiously and only under medical supervision. Apidra® must only be used if the solution is clear and colorless with no particles visible. Apidra®, when given by injection under the skin, should not be mixed with insulins other than NPH. Do not mix Apidra® with any insulin when used in the pump or for intravenous administration. The most common side effect of insulin, including Apidra®, is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which may be serious. Some people may experience symptoms such as shaking, sweating, fast heartbeat, and blurred vision. Severe hypoglycemia may be serious and life threatening. It may cause harm to your heart or brain. Other possible side effects may include low blood potassium, injection site reactions, such as changes in fat tissue at the injection site, and allergic reactions, such as itching and rash. Less common, but potentially more serious or life-threatening, is generalized allergy to in Continue reading >>
