Control Diabetes with Lantus Pen (insulin glargine)

What is Lantus (insulin glargine)? How to use the injection pen? Let's analyze the article with SignsSymptomsList below to thoroughly understand how to use as well as notes about Lantus injection pen (insulin glargine)!

Active ingredient: insulin glargine.

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• 1. What is Lantus (insulin glargine)?
• 2. Indications to use Lantus (insulin glargine)
• 3. Instructions for taking Lantus 
• 4. Side effects of the drug Lantus (insulin glargine)
• 5. Drug interactions with Lantus 
• 6. Note when taking Lantus (insulin glargine)
• 7. For pregnant and lactating women 
• 8. Treatment of an overdose of Lantus 
• 9. What to do when you miss a dose of Lantus 
• 10. How to store medicine

1. What is Lantus (insulin glargine)?

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce enough insulin to control blood sugar levels.

Lantus is a therapeutic drug containing insulin glargine with the following properties:

• Is a modified insulin, very similar to human insulin
• Has a long-lasting and stable antihypertensive effect.

2. Indications to use Lantus (insulin glargine)

Lantus is used to reduce high blood sugar in adults, adolescents, and children ≥ 6 years of age with diabetes who require insulin therapy. 

3. Instructions for taking Lantus 

3.1. Time to use 

Each day the patient needs an injection of Lantus at a certain time. In children, research suggests that injections should be given in the evening.

3.2. How to use 

Lantus is injected under the skin, do not inject Lantus into a vein because the effect of the drug will be changed and may cause hypoglycemia.

3.3. Use an injection pen

Lantus can be titrated from 1 to 80 units. How to use the specific injection pen step by step as follows

Step 1 | Check insulin
+ First check the label to see if it's the right medicine you're taking.
+ Remove the pen cap and check the sensory appearance of the insulin. Lantus is a clear solution.

Step 2 | Attach the needle
+ Remove the protective seal of the new needle.
+ Align the needle with the pen body and keep it straight when attached (twist or push in depending on the type of needle).

Step 3 | Safety Check
+ Make sure the injection pen and needle are working properly.
+ Remove air bubbles. Select a dose of 2 units by turning the dose selector ring.
Hold the injection pen with the needle tip facing up. Tap the chamber gently to push air bubbles onto the needle tip. 
+ Press the tip of the pen to see if insulin flows out of the needle tip.

Step 4 | Dose selection
+ Check the dose window showing zero after step 3 has been performed.
+ Select the dose to be taken by turning the dose adjustment knob.

Step 5 | Inject the drug
+ Find the areas on the skin that can be injected (abdomen around the navel
+ Inject the drug into the skin. Press the injection button to the full depth. The number on the dose window will return to 0 when injecting. 
+ Keep pressing the button. hold the injection button. Count slowly to 10 before withdrawing the needle from the skin.

Step 6 | Discarding and Disposing of Needles
+ After injecting, always remove the needle and store the pen without the needle attached.
+ Needles are only used once and then disposed of according to the instructions of a medical professional.

3.4. Dosage

The doctor will assess the patient's blood sugar status to be able to prescribe the dose of insulin to use.

Therefore, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions of the doctor to achieve effective treatment as well as to stabilize health.

4. Side effects of the drug Lantus (insulin glargine)

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): can be very serious, causing loss of consciousness. More serious can cause brain damage and can be life-threatening. 
• Occurrence of widespread skin reactions (rash and generalized itching), severe swelling of the skin and mucous membranes (angioedema), dyspnea, hypotension with tachycardia and sweating (symptoms of allergic reactions). heavy insulin)
• Lipodystrophy means that when drugs are regularly injected at the same place on the skin, the subcutaneous fat in this area can atrophy or thicken (also known as lipodystrophy). 
• Skin and allergic reactions including redness, soreness at the injection site, itching, rash, swelling or inflammation). The reaction may also spread around the injection site. Most resolve on their own within a few days to a few weeks.
• Eye problems such as can temporarily disrupt vision. If the patient has proliferative retinopathy, episodes of severe hypoglycemia can cause temporary vision loss.

5. Drug interactions with Lantus 

• Lowering blood sugar:  other antidiabetic drugs, ACEIs, disopyramide, fluoxetine, fibrates, MAOIs, pentoxifyllin, propoxyphene, salicylates, sulfonamides. 
• Increases blood sugar: diazoxid, diuretics, corticosteroids, danazol, phenothiazine derivatives, somatropin, glucagon, isoniazid, estrogen and progestogen, epinephrine, salbutamol, terbutaline, thyroid hormone, olanzapine, clozapine, protease inhibitors. 
• May increase or decrease blood sugar: beta-  blockers, clonidine, lithium salts, pentamidine, alcohol.

Note that beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine may obscure or completely suppress the symptoms of hypoglycaemia.

6. Note when taking Lantus (insulin glargine)

• The instructions for dosage, diet, and physical activity should be followed closely, injection technique, and frequent testing to check blood glucose levels.
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• Prepare enough drugs, information and measures to handle drug use when going abroad.
• During severe illness or injury, blood sugar can become high (hyperglycemia).
• Conversely, if you don't eat enough, your blood sugar can drop too low.
• During the use of the drug, episodes of hypoglycaemia causing dizziness may occur, so care should be taken in subjects driving and operating machinery.

For patients with type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent diabetes), do not stop taking insulin and eat enough carbohydrates.

7. For pregnant and lactating women 

• You must tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or are pregnant.
• You may need to change your insulin levels during pregnancy and after giving birth.
• For women who are breast-feeding, consult your doctor as it may be necessary to adjust the insulin dose and diet so as not to affect the baby.

8. Treatment of an overdose of Lantus 

Injecting too much Lantus can cause hypoglycemia. To prevent hypoglycemia, you need to eat enough food and monitor your blood sugar regularly. 

9. What to do when you miss a dose of Lantus 

• If you miss a dose or take a dose but it's not enough, your blood sugar can become too high, which means your blood sugar will increase.
• Check your blood sugar regularly so you can easily monitor your health.
• Remember not to take a double dose to make up for a missed dose as this increases the risk of low blood sugar and can even cause serious side effects.

10. How to store medicine

Unused injection pen

• Store in the refrigerator (2oC-8oC). Do not freeze.
• Do not keep medicine near the freezer or ice packs in the refrigerator.
• Keep the vial/pencil in the box to protect from light.

Injection pen in use

• Opened, used vials or prefilled pens in use or carried for storage can be stored for up to 4 weeks at ≤30°C, protected from direct light.
• Should not be stored in the refrigerator.
• Do not use the injection pen after the above time period.

The Lantus Pen contains insulin glargine used for blood sugar control. However, because this is insulin, the biggest side effect that patients are most likely to experience is low blood sugar. Mild conditions can be treated, but more severe conditions can be life-threatening. Therefore, always check your blood sugar regularly and if there is anything abnormal, call your doctor immediately for timely support!

Pharmacist Nguyen Ngoc Cam Tien