Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen
Generic name: insulin glargine [ IN-su-lin-GLAR-gine ]
Brand names: Basaglar KwikPen, Basaglar Tempo Pen, Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen, Insulin Glargine Solostar Pen, Lantus,
... show all 10 brands
Drug class: Insulin
What is Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen?
Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen is a long-acting insulin that starts to work several hours after injection and keeps working evenly for 24 hours.
Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen is used to improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes mellitus.
Toujeo is for use in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Basaglar, Lantus, and Semglee are for use in adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes and in children at least 6 years old with type 1 diabetes (not type 2).
For type 1 diabetes, Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen is used together with a short-acting insulin given before meals.
Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of insulin allergy: redness or swelling where an injection was given, itchy skin rash over the entire body, trouble breathing, fast heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out, or swelling in your tongue or throat.
Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:
-
rapid weight gain, swelling in your feet or ankles;
-
low blood 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 Prefilled Pen may include:
-
swelling, weight gain;
-
allergic reaction, itching, rash; or
-
thickening or hollowing of the skin where you injected the medicine.
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
Never share an injection pen, even if you changed the needle.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen Prefilled Pen if you are allergic to insulin, or if you are having an episode of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).
Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 years old, and some brands are for use only in adults. Do not use this medicine to treat type 2 diabetes in a child of any age.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
-
liver or kidney disease; or
-
heart failure or other heart problems.
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.
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.
How should I use Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen is injected under the skin, usually once per day at the same time of day.
When treating type 1 diabetes, use your short-acting insulin before meals as directed by your doctor.
Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen must not be given with an insulin pump, or mixed with other insulins. Do not inject Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen into a vein or a muscle.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand how to use an injection.
Prepare an injection only when you are ready to give it. Call your pharmacist if the medicine looks cloudy, has changed colors, or has particles in it.
Your healthcare provider will show you where to inject Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen. Do not inject into the same place two times in a row.
Avoid injecting into skin that is damaged, tender, bruised, pitted, thickened, scaly, or has a scar or hard lump.
Toujeo contains 300 units of Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen per milliliter (mL), which is 3 times stronger than brands that contain 100 units per mL.
Your dose needs may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. Avoid medication errors by using only the medicine your doctor prescribes.
If you use an injection pen, use only the injection pen that comes with Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen. Attach a new needle before each use. Do not transfer the insulin from the pen into a syringe.
Never share an injection pen, even if you changed the needle. Sharing these devices can pass infections from person to person.
Blood sugar can be affected by stress, illness, surgery, exercise, alcohol use, or skipping meals.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can make you feel very hungry, dizzy, irritable, or shaky. To quickly treat hypoglycemia, eat or drink hard candy, crackers, raisins, fruit juice, or non-diet soda. Your doctor may prescribe glucagon injection in case of severe hypoglycemia.
Tell your doctor if you have frequent symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) such as increased thirst or urination. Ask your doctor before changing your medication dosage.
Keep this medicine in its original container protected from heat and light. Do not freeze insulin or store it near the cooling element in a refrigerator. Throw away any insulin that has been frozen.
Storing unopened (not in use) Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen:
-
Refrigerate and use until expiration date; or
-
(Basaglar, Lantus, or Semglee) Store at room temperature (below 86 degrees Fahrenheit) and use within 28 days.
Storing opened (in use) Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen:
-
Store the vial in a refrigerator or at room temperature and use within 28 days.
-
Store the injection pen at room temperature (do not refrigerate) and use within 28 days.
-
Store Toujeo at room temperature below 86 F (do not refrigerate) and use within 56 days.
Do not store an injection pen with the needle attached. Do not reuse a needle or syringe. Place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container and dispose of it following state or local laws. Keep out of the reach of children and pets.
Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card to let others know you have diabetes.
Related/similar drugs
Ozempic, metformin, Trulicity, Lantus, Tresiba, Basaglar, Victoza, Levemir, Novolog, Toujeo
What happens if I miss a dose?
Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose. Do not use more than one dose in a 24-hour period unless your doctor tells you to.
Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Insulin overdose can cause severe hypoglycemia. Symptoms include drowsiness, confusion, blurred vision, numbness or tingling in your mouth, trouble speaking, muscle weakness, clumsy or jerky movements, seizure (convulsions), or loss of consciousness.
What should I avoid while using Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen?
Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen Prefilled Pen will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.
Avoid medication errors by always checking the medicine label before injecting your insulin.
Avoid drinking alcohol or using medicines that contain alcohol. It may interfere with your diabetes treatment.
What other drugs will affect Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen?
Many drugs can affect your blood sugar and may also affect Insulin Glargine Prefilled Pen. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use. Not all possible interactions are listed here.
Biological Products Related to insulin glargine
Find detailed information on biosimilars for this medication.
Popular FAQ
How and where should I inject insulin?
Injecting insulin is not difficult, but it does take a bit of practice. There are three main sites where insulin can be injected: the stomach area except for a 2-inch circle around your navel, and the soft part of your waist, but not anywhere near your spine; the top and outer part of your thighs, but not your inner thighs or anywhere close to your knee; the outer back of your upper arm where there is a pocket of fatty tissue. Continue reading
What is the difference between Soliqua and Xultophy?
Both Soliqua and Xultophy combine a long-acting insulin with a GLP-1 agonist: Xultopy brings together Tresiba (insulin degludec) and Victoza (liraglutide), while Soliqua combines Lantus (insulin glargine) with Adlyxin (lixisenatide). When used with diet and exercise for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, these agents can help you control blood sugar, insulin levels, and digestion and may help you lose weight. Continue reading
When is the best time to take Toujeo?
Toujeo may be given at any time of the day; however, once you have chosen a time, it is best to inject Toujeo within three hours of that time every day. If needed, you can change the time you administer Toujeo, just talk to your doctor about this. Continue reading
How long can Toujeo stay out of the refrigerator?
Toujeo can stay out of the refrigerator for up to 56 days (8 weeks) according to the prescribing information written on 03/2023. If Toujeo if left out the refrigerator for more than 20 or 30 minutes, it should not be put back into the refrigerator. Continue reading
What are the different types of insulin?
Insulins are usually grouped as fast-acting, intermediate-acting, or long-acting. Within these groups, they can be further classified as human insulin and human insulin analogs. An insulin analog is a human insulin that has one or two amino acids changed which affects how quickly it is absorbed after injection and how fast or slow it acts. Insulin analogs are usually given within 15 minutes of a meal or at the same time as food. Continue reading
Soliqua vs Lantus: What’s the difference between them?
Soliqua is a combination of insulin glargine plus lixisenatide, and Lantus only contains insulin glargine. Both are once-daily injections that are given under the skin (subcutaneously), but Soliqua can only be used in adults with type 2 diabetes whereas Lantus may be used to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in adults and children over the age of six years. Both are made by Sanofi-Aventis. Continue reading
Can Toujeo be given twice a day?
Even though Toujeo is usually given once a day, some people may experience better blood sugar control if the dose is split and given twice a day (every 12 hours). Continue reading
How many pens are in a box of Toujeo?
There are three pens in a box of Toujeo Solostar. There are two pens in a box of Toujeo Max Solostar. Continue reading
Is Toujeo a fast or long-acting insulin?
Toujeo is a long-acting insulin that is usually given once a day. Toujeo lasts for up to 36 hours. Continue reading
More about insulin glargine
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Pricing & coupons
- Reviews (289)
- Latest FDA alerts (3)
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- Support group
- Drug class: insulin
Patient resources
- Insulin Glargine drug information
- Insulin glargine, recombinant (Advanced Reading)
- Insulin glargine-aglr, recombinant (Advanced Reading)
- Insulin glargine-yfgn, recombinant (Advanced Reading)
- Insulin Glargine (U-100) Cartridge Systems and Pens
Other brands
Lantus, Basaglar, Toujeo, Lantus SoloStar, ... +3 more
Professional resources
Other brands
Lantus, Basaglar, Toujeo SoloStar, Semglee, Rezvoglar
Related treatment guides
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.
Copyright 1996-2024 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 17.01.