Drug name
Lantus
Drug Uses
Lantus is an easy-to-use insulin pen. It comes pre-filled with Lantus, the #1 prescribed insulin. You can set doses from 1 to 80 units one unit at a time.
The Lantus pen is available by prescription only. Ask your doctor if the Lantus pen is right for you.
How Taken
With the Lantus pen, injecting your insulin once a day at the same time each day is more convenient. The Lantus pen is a pre-filled insulin pen with easy push-button injection.
Each Lantus pen contains 300 units of insulin and is good for 28 days once it is in use. That means 28 days after you use your pen for the first time, you will need to throw the pen away - even if there is still medicine inside. You should never use your Lantus pen past its expiration date.
Always attach a new sterile needle before each use. Using the same needle may cause contamination, air bubbles, and other complications such as needle blocks.
Drug Class and Mechanism
Lantus is the only 24-hour insulin approved exclusively for use once a day. Lantus is injected just once a day, at the same time each day. You don't have to balance a peak by eating or snacking at a specific time. By using an NPH insulin (Humulin N or Novolin N) or Premix insulin (Humulin 70/30, Humulin 50/50, Humalog Mix 75/25, Novolog Mix 70/30 or Novolin 70/30), you may be taking more shots than a patient using Lantus for their basal (long-acting) insulin needs. NPH and Premix insulins last 10 - 18 hours, which could mean two shots per day.
No pronounced peak. Lantus, NPH and Premix all provide similar blood sugar control. NPH and Premix insulins will peak several hours after injection. To balance that peak and help avoid a drop in blood sugar level, you may have to eat at a specific time whether you're hungry or not. Once-daily 24-hour Lantus is released at a relatively constant rate with no pronounced peak for 24 hours, so you don't have to balance a peak by eating or snacking at a specific time.
Lower A1C numbers. Lantus has been shown to significantly lower A1C numbers as part of an overall diabetes treatment, which includes diet, exercise, oral diabetes medications, and/or mealtime insulin.
Missed Dose
If you miss an injecting of Lantus, inject it as soon as possible.
Storage
Do NOT refrigerate your pen once it is in use. Once you use your pen for the first time, it will last up to 28 days when kept at room temperature (below 86 F).
It's important to protect your pen from dust and dirt, so you can clean the outside of your SoloSTAR pen by wiping it with a damp cloth. Do not run it under water or use any soap or solvents.
Warnings Precautions
Prescription Lantus is for adults with type 2 diabetes or adults and children (6 years and older) with type 1 diabetes who require long-acting insulin for the control of high blood sugar.
Lantus is a disposable prefilled insulin pen. Needles and the Lantus pen must not be shared.
DO NOT DILUTE OR MIX LANTUS WITH ANY OTHER INSULIN OR SOLUTION. It will not work as intended, and you may lose blood sugar control, which could be serious. Do not change your insulin without talking with your doctor. The syringe must not contain any other medication or residue. You should not use Lantus if you are allergic to insulin. Lantus is a long-acting insulin you inject just once a day, at the same time each day. You must test your blood sugar levels while using an insulin such as Lantus.
Possible Side Effects
The most common side effect of insulin, including Lantus, is hypoglycemia, which may be serious. Other possible side effects may include injection site reactions, including changes in fat tissue at the injection site, and allergic reactions, including itching and rash. In rare cases, some allergic reactions may be life threatening. Tell your doctor about other medicines and supplements you are taking because they can change the way insulin works.
More Information
The Lantus pen prevents you from dialing past the number of units left in the pen. If there isn't enough insulin for your full dose, you can complete your dose by calculating how much more you will need from a new pen. For example: If you normally use 41 units and there are only 12 units left in your pen, you will need 29 units from the new pen. Inject the remaining insulin from the first pen, and then inject the appropriate amount with the new pen to complete your dose. Or, you can just use a new pen for your full dose.