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LANTUS® (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) SOLOSTAR® 3 mL disposable insulin delivery device (300 units per device) 100 units per mL (U-100) (insulin glargine [recombinant DNA origin] injection)
Read this "Patient Information" that comes with LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) (LAN-tus) before you start using it and each time you get a refill because there may be new information. This leaflet does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your condition or treatment. If you have questions about LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) or about diabetes, talk with your healthcare provider.
What is the most important information I should know about LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) ?
What is Diabetes?
What is LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) ?
Who should NOT take LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) ?
Do not take LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) if you are allergic to insulin glargine or any of the inactive ingredients in LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) . Check with your healthcare provider if you are not sure.
How should I use LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) ?
See the "Instructions for SoloStar® Use" section for additional information.
Mixing with LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection)
Instructions for SoloStar® Use
It is important to read, understand, and follow the step-by-step instructions in the "SoloStar® Instruction Leaflet" before using SoloStar® disposable insulin Pen. Failure to follow the instructions may result in getting too much or too little insulin. If you have lost your leaflet or have a question, go to www.lantus (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) .com or call 1-800-633-1610.
The following general notes should be taken into consideration before injecting Lantus (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) :
If your blood glucose reading is high or low, tell your healthcare provider so the dose can be adjusted.
What can affect how much insulin I need?
Illness. Illness may change how much insulin you need. It is a good idea to think ahead and make a "sick day" plan with your healthcare provider in advance so you will be ready when this happens. Be sure to test your blood sugar more often and call your healthcare provider if you are sick.
Medicines. Many medicines can affect your insulin needs. Other medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, can change the way insulin works. You may need a different dose of insulin when you are taking certain other medicines. Know all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. You may want to keep a list of the medicines you take. You can show this list to your healthcare provider and pharmacists anytime you get a new medicine or refill. Your healthcare provider will tell you if your insulin dose needs to be changed.
Meals. The amount of food you eat can affect your insulin needs. If you eat less food, skip meals, or eat more food than usual, you may need a different dose of insulin. Talk to your healthcare provider if you change your diet so that you know how to adjust your LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) and other insulin doses.
Alcohol. Alcohol, including beer and wine, may affect the way LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) works and affect your blood sugar levels. Talk to your healthcare provider about drinking alcohol.
Exercise or Activity level. Exercise or activity level may change the way your body uses insulin. Check with your healthcare provider before you start an exercise program because your dose may need to be changed.
Travel. If you travel across time zones, talk with your healthcare provider about how to time your injections. When you travel, wear your medical alert identification. Take extra insulin and supplies with you.
Pregnancy or nursing. The effects of LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) on an unborn child or on a nursing baby are unknown. Therefore, tell your healthcare provider if you planning to have a baby, are pregnant, or nursing a baby. Good control of diabetes is especially important during pregnancy and nursing.
What are the possible side effects of LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) and other insulins?
Insulins, including LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) , can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), allergy, and skin reactions.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar):
Hypoglycemia is often called an "insulin reaction" or "low blood sugar". It may happen when you do not have enough sugar in your blood. Common causes of hypoglycemia are illness, emotional or physical stress, too much insulin, too little food or missed meals, and too much exercise or activity.
Early warning signs of hypoglycemia may be different, less noticeable or not noticeable at all in some people. That is why it is important to check your blood sugar as you have been advised by your healthcare provider.
Hypoglycemia can happen with:
Hypoglycemia can be mild to severe. Its onset may be rapid. Some patients have few or no warning symptoms, including:
Hypoglycemia may reduce your ability to drive a car or use mechanical equipment and you may risk injury to yourself or others.
Severe hypoglycemia can be dangerous and can cause temporary or permanent harm to your heart or brain. It may cause unconsciousness, seizures, or death.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia may include:
If you have hypoglycemia often or it is hard for you to know if you have the symptoms of hypoglycemia, talk to your healthcare provider.
Mild to moderate hypoglycemia is treated by eating or drinking carbohydrates such as fruit juice, raisins, sugar candies, milk or glucose tablets. Talk to your healthcare provider about the amount of carbohydrates you should eat to treat mild to moderate hypoglycemia.
Severe hypoglycemia may require the help of another person or emergency medical people. A person with hypoglycemia who is unable to take foods or liquids with sugar by mouth, or is unconscious needs medical help fast and will need treatment with a glucagon injection or glucose given intravenously (IV). Without medical help right away, serious reactions or even death could happen.
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar):
Hyperglycemia happens when you have too much sugar in your blood. Usually, it means there is not enough insulin to break down the food you eat into energy your body can use. Hyperglycemia can be caused by a fever, an infection, stress, eating more than you should, taking less insulin than prescribed, or it can mean your diabetes is getting worse.
Hyperglycemia can happen with:
Testing your blood or urine often will let you know if you have hyperglycemia. If your tests are often high, tell your healthcare provider so your dose of insulin can be changed.
Hyperglycemia can be mild or severe. It can progress to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or very high glucose levels (hyperosmolar coma) and result in unconsciousness and death.
Although diabetic ketoacidosis occurs most often in patients with type 1 diabetes,it can also happen in patients with type 2 diabetes who become very sick. Because some patients get few symptoms of hyperglycemia, it is important to check your blood sugar/urine sugar and ketones regularly.
Symptoms of hyperglycemia include:
Symptoms of DKA also include:
Severe or continuing hyperglycemia or DKA needs evaluation and treatment right away by your healthcare provider.
Do not use LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) to treat diabetic ketoacidosis.
Other possible side effects of LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) include:
Serious allergic reactions
Some times severe, life-threatening allergic reactions can happen with insulin. If you think you are having a severe allergic reaction, get medical help right away. Signs of insulin allergy include:
Reactions at the injection site:
Injecting insulin can cause the following reactions on the skin at the injection site:
You can reduce the chance of getting an injection site reaction if you change (rotate) the injection site each time. An injection site reaction should clear up in a few days or a few weeks. If injection site reactions do not go away or keep happening call your healthcare provider.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you.
These are not all the side effects of LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) . Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.
How should I store LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) ?
These storage conditions are summarized in the following table:
| Not in-use (unopened) Refrigerated |
Not in-use (unopened) Room Temperature |
In-use (opened) Room Temperature (Do not refrigerate) |
|
| 3 mL SoloStar® disposable insulin device | Until expiration date | 28 days | 28 days |
General Information about LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DIABETES FORECAST is a national magazine designed especially for patients with diabetes and their families and is available by subscription from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), P.O. Box 363, Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0363, 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). You may also visit the ADA website at www.diabetes.org.
Another publication, COUNTDOWN, is available from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF), 120 Wall Street, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10005, 1- 800-JDF-CURE (1-800-533-2873). You may also visit the JDRF website at www.jdf.org.
To get more information about diabetes, check with your healthcare professional or diabetes educator or visit www.DiabetesWatch.com.
Additional information about LANTUS (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) can be obtained by calling 1-800-633-1610 or by visiting www.lantus (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) .com.
LANTUS® SOLOSTAR®
(insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection)
Instruction Leaflet
Your healthcare professional has decided that SoloStar® is right for you. Talk with your healthcare professional about proper injection technique before using SoloStar®.
Read these instructions carefully before using your SoloStar®. If you are not able to follow all the instructions completely on your own, use SoloStar® only if you have help from a person who is able to follow the instructions.
Follow these instructions completely each time you use SoloStar® to ensure that you get an accurate dose. If you do not follow these instructions you may get too much or too little insulin, which may affect your blood glucose.
SoloStar® is a disposable pen for the injection of insulin. Each SoloStar® contains in total 300 units of insulin. You can set doses from 1 to 80 units in steps of 1 unit.
Keep this leaflet for future reference.
If you have any questions about Solostar® or about diabetes, ask your healthcare professional, go to www.lantus (insulin glargine [rdna origin] injection) .com or call sanofi aventis at 1-800-633-1610.
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Important information for use of SoloStar®:
Storage Instructions
Please check the leaflet for the insulin for complete instructions on how to store SoloStar®.
If your SoloStar® is in cool storage, take it out 1 to 2 hours before you inject to allow it to warm up. Cold insulin is more painful to inject.
Keep SoloStar® out of the reach and sight of children.
Keep your SoloStar® in cool storage (36°F - 46°F [2°C - 8°C]) until first use. Do not allow it to freeze. Do not put it next to the freezer compartment of your refrigerator, or next to a freezer pack.
Once you take your SoloStar® out of cool storage, for use or as a spare, you can use it for up to 28 days. During this time it can be safely kept at room temperature up to 86°F (30°C). Do not use it after this time. SoloStar® in use must not be stored in a refrigerator.
Do not use SoloStar® after the expiration date printed on the label of the pen or on the carton.
Protect SoloStar® from light.
Discard your used SoloStar® as required by your local authorities.
Maintenance
Protect your SoloStar® from dust and dirt.
You can clean the outside of your SoloStar® by wiping it with a damp cloth.
Do not soak, wash or lubricate the pen as this may damage it.
Your SoloStar® is designed to work accurately and safely. It should be handled with care. Avoid situations where SoloStar® might be damaged. If you are concerned that your SoloStar® may be damaged, use a new one.
Step 1. Check the insulin
Step 2. Attach the needle
Always use a new sterile needle for each injection. This helps prevent contamination, and potential needle blocks.
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Step 3. Perform a Safety test
Always perform the safety test before each injection.
Performing the safety test ensures that you get an accurate dose by:
A. Select a dose of 2 units by turning the dosage selector.
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B. Take off the outer needle cap and keep it to remove the used needle after injection. Take off the inner needle cap and discard it.
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C. Hold the pen with the needle pointing upwards.
D. Tap the insulin reservoir so that any air bubbles rise up towards the needle.
E. Press the injection button all the way in. Check if insulin comes out of the needle tip.
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You may have to perform the safety test several times before insulin is seen.
Step 4. Select the dose
You can set the dose in steps of 1 unit, from a minimum of 1 unit to a maximum of 80 units. If you need a dose greater than 80 units, you should give it as two or more injections.
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Step 5. Inject the dose
A. Use the injection method as instructed by your healthcare professional.
B. Insert the needle into the skin.
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C. Deliver the dose by pressing the injection button in all the way. The number in the dose window will return to "0" as you inject.
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D. Keep the injection button pressed all the way in.
Slowly count to 10 before you withdraw the needle from the skin. This ensures that the full dose will be delivered.
Step 6. Remove and discard the needle
Always remove the needle after each injection and store SoloStar without a needle attached. This helps prevent:
A. Put the outer needle cap back on the needle, and use it to unscrew the needle from the pen. To reduce the risk of accidental needle injury, never replace the inner needle cap.
B. Dispose of the needle safely. Used needles should be placed
in sharps containers (such as red biohazard containers), hard plastic containers
(such as detergent bottles), or metal containers (such as an empty coffee can).
Such containers should be sealed and disposed of properly.
If you are giving an injection to a third person, you should remove the needle
in an approved manner to avoid needle-stick injuries.
C.Always put the pen cap back on the pen, then store the pen until your next injection.
Last reviewed on RxList: 1/14/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.
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