Insulin glargine and lixisenatide

Generic name: insulin glargine and lixisenatide [ IN-soo-lin-GLAR-jeen-and-LIX-i-SEN-a-tide ]
Brand name: Soliqua 100/33
Dosage form: subcutaneous solution (100 units-33 mcg/mL)
Drug class: Antidiabetic combinations

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on May 11, 2023. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is insulin glargine and lixisenatide?

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. Lixisenatide is a diabetes medicine that helps your pancreas produce insulin more efficiently.

Insulin glargine and lixisenatide is a combination medicine that is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. insulin glargine and lixisenatide is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

Insulin glargine and lixisenatide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Insulin glargine and lixisenatide side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives, itching, severe rash; rapid heartbeats; trouble swallowing; difficult breathing; feeling light-headed; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

This medicine may cause serious side effects. Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:

• pancreatitis--severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting;

• low blood sugar--headache, hunger, sweating, irritability, dizziness, fast heart rate, and feeling anxious or shaky;

• heart problems--swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath; or

• low potassium--leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling.

Common side effects of insulin glargine and lixisenatide may include:

• low blood sugar;

• nausea, diarrhea;

• headache; or

• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Warnings

Stop using insulin glargine and lixisenatide and call your doctor at once if you have nausea and vomiting with severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back.

Never share an injection pen or syringe with another person, even if the needle has been changed.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to insulin or lixisenatide, or if:

• you are having an episode of low blood sugar;

• you also use a short-acting mealtime insulin; or

• you also use lixisenatide (Adlyxin) or a medicine like lixisenatide (albiglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, Byetta, Bydureon, Saxenda, Tanzeum, Trulicity, Victoza).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• pancreatitis or gallstones;

• alcoholism;

• problems digesting food;

• heart failure;

• liver or kidney disease;

• low levels of potassium in your blood (hypokalemia); or

• diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Follow your doctor's instructions about using this medicine if you are pregnant or you become pregnant. Controlling diabetes is very important during pregnancy, and having high blood sugar may cause complications in both the mother and the baby.

How should I use insulin glargine and lixisenatide?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed. Do not use more than 60 units of insulin glargine and lixisenatide each day.

Insulin glargine and lixisenatide is injected under the skin, usually within 1 hour before your first meal of the day. A healthcare provider will teach you how to properly use the medication by yourself.

Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand all instructions.

Prepare an injection only when you are ready to give it. Do not use if the medicine looks cloudy, has changed colors, or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.

Do not inject this medicine into skin that is damaged, tender, bruised, pitted, thickened, scaly, or has a scar or hard lump.

You may have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and feel very hungry, dizzy, irritable, confused, anxious, or shaky. To quickly treat hypoglycemia, eat or drink a fast-acting source of sugar (fruit juice, hard candy, crackers, raisins, or non-diet soda).

Your doctor may prescribe a glucagon injection kit in case you have severe hypoglycemia. Be sure your family or close friends know how to give you this injection in an emergency.

Also watch for signs of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) such as increased thirst or urination.

Blood sugar levels can be affected by stress, illness, surgery, exercise, alcohol use, or skipping meals. Ask your doctor before changing your dose or medication schedule.

Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. Becoming dehydrated while using this medicine can lead to kidney failure. Drink plenty of water each day.

Storing the unopened (not in use) injection pen: Refrigerate and protect from light.

Do not freeze insulin glargine and lixisenatide, and throw away the medicine if it has been frozen.

Storing the opened (in use) injection pen: Store at room temperature with the pen cap attached (but not with a needle attached), and use within 28 days.

Never share an injection pen, cartridge, or syringe with another person, even if the needle has been changed. Sharing these devices can allow infections or disease to pass from one person to another.

Insulin glargine and lixisenatide dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Diabetes Type 2:

Insulin glargine 100 units/lixisenatide 33 mcg per mL (100/33); dosage is expressed in insulin glargine units

DISCONTINUE basal insulin or glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist prior to initiating this drug:

-For Patients Naive to Basal Insulin or GLP-1 Receptor Agonist; Currently on a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist; or Currently Receiving Less Than 30 units per day of Basal Insulin:
-Initial dose: 15 units subcutaneously once a day
For Patients Receiving 30 to 60 units of Basal Insulin With or Without a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist:
-Initial dose: 30 units subcutaneously once a day

TITRATE dose up or down in increments of 2 to 4 units/week based on metabolic needs, blood glucose monitoring results, and glycemic goal until desired fasting plasma glucose is achieved
-Maintenance dose: 15 to 60 units per day
-Maximum dose: Insulin glargine 60 units/lixisenatide 20 mcg once a day

Comments:
-Administer once a day within the hour prior to the first meal of the day.
-This drug should be titrated until desired fasting plasma glucose is achieved.
-Additional titration may be needed to minimize the risk of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia (e.g., with changes in physical activity, diet or timing of food intake, during acute illness; or when used with other medications.

Use: As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regular time. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose can cause life-threatening hypoglycemia or hypokalemia (low levels of potassium in your blood).

Overdose symptoms include severe nausea and vomiting.

What should I avoid while using insulin glargine and lixisenatide?

Avoid medication errors by always checking the medicine label before injecting a dose.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can cause low blood sugar and may interfere with your diabetes treatment.

What other drugs will affect insulin glargine and lixisenatide?

Tell your doctor if you also take pioglitazone or rosiglitazone (sometimes contained in combinations with glimepiride or metformin). Taking certain oral diabetes medicines while you are using insulin may increase your risk of serious heart problems.

Lixisenatide can make it harder for your body to absorb other medicines you take by mouth. If you take any of the following medicines, take them at least 1 hour before your insulin glargine and lixisenatide injection:

• an antibiotic;

• acetaminophen (Tylenol); or

• birth control pills (take 1 hour before or 11 hours after your insulin glargine and lixisenatide injection).

Many other medicines can affect your blood sugar, and some medicines can increase or decrease the effects of insulin glargine and lixisenatide. Some drugs can also cause you to have fewer symptoms of hypoglycemia, making it harder to tell when your blood sugar is low. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

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Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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