About Lantus^®

(insulin glargine 100U/mL)

This site has been designed to support patients who have been prescribed Lantus. You should always listen to the advice from your doctor or nurse, and read the patient information leaflet for more information.

What is Lantus?

Lantus is the brand name for a type of insulin called insulin glargine 100 units/mL, which is used to control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. It may take a few days for your body to adjust to using Lantus, so your doctor or nurse will help you find the right dose for you.

How does Lantus work and how can it help me?

Lantus is a treatment for people with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. It is a long-acting basal (background) insulin, which means it aims to keep blood sugars at consistent levels between meals when you are not eating. In other words, it works in the background.

When should you take Lantus?

Lantus is a clear solution which should be injected once a day. Once you have chosen the best time of day for you to inject, stick to the same time each day.

Other medications and Lantus

Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Some medicines can change your blood sugar level. This may mean your insulin dose has to change. So, before taking a medicine ask your doctor if it will affect your blood sugar and what action, if any, you need to take. You also need to be careful when you stop taking a medicine.

You may also need to inject a short-acting insulin at mealtimes. If so, it is very important that you do not mix your insulin solutions together. As Lantus and short-acting insulins are both clear in colour and may look a bit similar, it is essential to make sure that you’re using the correct insulin at each injection.

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor, pharmacist or nurse has told you.

Safety information

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) is a very common side effect of Lantus (may affect more than 1 in 10 people), which may be life-threatening if it is prolonged or severe. You should tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse straight away if you notice this side effect. A common side effect (may affect 1 in 10 people) is skin thickening (lipohypertrophy) at the injection site. Another common side effect is skin and allergic reactions where the injection is given. The signs may include reddening, unusually intense pain when injecting, itching, hives, swelling or inflammation which can spread around the injection site. Most minor reactions to insulins usually disappear within a few days to a few weeks. For a full list of side effects, please read the patient information leaflet included in your pack and consult your doctor or nurse.

Adverse events should be reported.

Reporting of side effects: If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.