What is the Lantus Solostar insulin pen?
It is a brand name drug of insulin glargine, which is a long-acting insulin that is used by people with diabetes mellitus. When Lantus Solostar pen is administered, it takes several hours before it starts to work in the body and keeps working for a 24-hour duration. Lantus Solostar insulin pen is used to improve glycemic control in diabetic patients. Patients with diabetes mellitus experience high levels of blood sugar because they cannot naturally produce insulin. Insulin glargine usually replaces the natural insulin that is no longer produced in the body. This insulin drug helps the body cells to absorb sugar from the bloodstream. This helps to reduce high levels of blood sugar. Compared to regular insulin, insulin glargine takes a longer time to work in the body. Insulin glargine is meant to be used as a combination therapy with a proper exercise and diet program. This medication can be used alone or together with a short acting insulin drug.
Lantus Solostar insulin pen Dosage
Lantus Solostar Pen should not be taken in smaller or larger amounts than what is recommended by a health-care provider. The initial dose of insulin glargine is 1/3 to 1/2 of the total insulin required daily for an adult with type 1 diabetes. The medication is normally injected once daily at the same time every day. Insulin glargine should be injected subcutaneously or under the skin. Your doctor will show you how to use Lantus Solostar at home. It should not be mixed with other insulin drugs or administered using an insulin pump. To ensure that Lantus Solostar Pen is safe for you, it is advisable you inform your doctor if you have conditions such as kidney disease, diabetic ketoacidosis, or hypokalemia. Make sure you carefully follow your doctor’s instructions in case you are pregnant or nursing a baby. To avoid the risk of spreading an infection to another patient, you should not share an injection pen with anyone.
Side effects
The most common side effect of Lantus Solostar insulin pen is hypoglycemia. If hypoglycemia is not treated, it can become severe and life threatening.
Severe hypoglycemia has symptoms like:
- Sweating
- Shakiness
- Blurred vision
- Fast heartbeat
Insulin glargine can also lead to side effects such as:
- Fever;
- Sore throat;
- Runny nose.
Doctor’s Recommendation
Disclaimer: Please note that the contents of this community article are strictly for informational purposes and should not be considered as medical advice. This article, and other community articles, are not written or reviewed for medical validity by Canadian Insulin or its staff. All views and opinions expressed by the contributing authors are not endorsed by Canadian Insulin. Always consult a medical professional for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.
