Drug

Lantus®

Interaction with alcohol
Underdosing / forgetting

introduction

The active ingredient in Lantus® 100I.U./ml SoloStar pre-filled syringe is insulin glargine. This insulin is modified insulin that is genetically engineered using microorganisms and, compared to human insulin (human insulin), has a long-lasting and even blood sugar lowering effect.

Lantus® may only be used if prescribed by a doctor and the therapy is carried out with regular medical check-ups.

Dosage form

Lantus® is available as a solution for injection, as a cartridge and also as a pre-filled pen / pre-filled syringe. The doctor determines which strength and dosage form is most suitable for the individual patient.

field of use

Lantus® is used as a pre-filled syringe to treat diabetes mellitus in adults, adolescents and children aged 2 years and over.

Contraindications

Lantus® must not be used if a allergy (Hypersensitivity) to Insulin glargine or other components of the Lantus®Pre-filled syringe.

Special safety information

Therapy with insulin must be under medical control be carried out by a doctor, pharmacist or healthcare professional. The prescribed dosage, the recommended diet and physical activity, as well regular monitoring (Blood / urine tests) must be complied with in order to achieve optimal therapy success.

Notes on traveling / vacation planning

It is important to have precise instructions for the treatment of possible low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia). The attending physician can explain this.

Before embarking on a longer journey, the following questions should be clarified:

Availability of insulin in the country visited
Possibly. stock on insulin and injection syringes
correct Storage method of the medication during the trip (temperature caution!)
Meal times and Administration of insulin during the travel
Consideration of a possible time change (Time zone change)
Health risks in the country visited
possible activities at Feeling sick/Malaise

Special situations during treatment with insulin

At major injuries or at illness can he Blood sugar levels rise and so a higher dose of insulin becomes necessary.

If not eaten enough blood sugar levels may drop and become a Hypoglycaemia (Hypoglycemia).

In these cases must early a doctor be called.

Treatment of children

From 2 years of age, children can also be treated with Lantus®; there is no experience with younger children.

Read more on the topic: Diabetes in Children

Pregnancy / lactation

Again is urgent consultation by the treating doctor necessary as the dosage may need to be adjusted. For the development of Child is a constant blood sugar level without drastic fluctuations necessary, so that the blood and urine values must be monitored even more carefully.

At the Breastfeeding it is also possible that a Adaptation of the Insulin dose becomes necessary.

Driving and using machines

If low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) occurs, it can become Restriction or one failure from Concentration- and Responsiveness come.
It can help through here Training the Initial symptoms of hypoglycaemia to learn and be able to treat directly (glucose plug in).

Drug interactions

Some Medication affect the Blood sugar levelinteractions with insulin (Lantus®) that is supposed to lower blood sugar levels.

Among the drugs that lead to a Hypoglycemia (Hypoglycaemia) include:

Antidiabetic drugs
ACE inhibitors (used to treat high blood pressure)
Disopyramide (used to treat certain heart diseases)
Fluoxetine (used to treat depressions)
Fibrates (used to lower high levels of fat in the blood)
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (used to treat depression)
Pentoxifylline, Propoxyphene, salicylates (e.g. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASS) against pain and fever)
Sulfonamide antibiotics

Besides the blood sugar lowering drugs There are also medicines that can Increase blood sugar levels and thus a dose increase of Lantus® can make necessary.
Which includes:

Corticosteroids (i.a. cortisone, to treat inflammation and the like)
Danazol (to influence ovulation)
Diazoxide (for treatment high blood pressure)
Diuretics (used to treat high blood pressure or for drainage)
Glucagon (used to treat severe hypoglycaemia)
Isonazide (used to treat tuberculosis)
Estrogens and Progestagens (e.g. Birth control pills for contraception)
Phenothiazine drugs (for the treatment of psychiatric complaints)
Somatropin (used to treat stunted growth)
Sympathomimetics (e.g. for the treatment of asthma)
Thyroid hormones (used to treat thyroid disorders)
Clozapine, Olanzapine (atypical, antipsychotic drugs)
Protease inhibitors (used to treat HIV)

Both one over- as well as Hypoglycaemia is possible when taking the following medication:

Beta blockers (used to treat high blood pressure)
Clonidine (used to treat high blood pressure)
Lithium salts (used to treat psychiatric symptoms)

Interaction with alcohol

Under therapy with Lantus®can at Alcohol consumption Blood sugar levels both rise and fall, so this should be done whenever possible avoid.

Type and duration of application

Lantus® is in the form of the Pre-filled syringe under the skin injected. What is important is that no vein gets caught as it turns into a Hypoglycaemia can come. The attending physician can guide the precise injection technique. Within the selected skin area (e.g. abdomen) the puncture site should be changed with each injection.

The injection of Lantus® got to every day to same time respectively. How long and with how much insulin the treatment with Lantus®is carried out, the attending physician decides.

Overdose

Should too much Lantus®It may be a strong one Drop in blood sugar levels (Hypoglycemia) come, which is why the blood sugar level should be strictly controlled. In order to avoid hypoglycaemia you must then more to be eaten.

Underdosing / forgetting

If too little Lantus® was injected or a dose was missed, the Blood sugar levels rise sharply and it comes to one Hyperglycemia. In this case too, a close control the blood sugar value.
Injecting the double the amount of insulin absolutely counter-projected, a gift should have been forgotten! Rather, it must Readjustment blood sugar levels below strict control be performed.

Discontinuation of therapy with Lantus®

Will the Treatment abruptly abortedso it can be too strong increased blood sugar (Hyperglycemia) come and an associated Ketoacidosis (Acidification of the organism).

This is because the body is suffering from severe insulin deficiency energy instead of the sugar then out the Gain fat must and it through the Degradation products here to one Acidification of the blood comes.

For these reasons, therapy with Lantus® Insulin syringes cannot be canceled quickly and without consulting a doctor.

Side effects

A possible side effect therapy with Lantus®is a Hypoglycaemia (Hypoglycaemia) due to incorrect dosage.
This allows it to unconsciousness up to life threatening brain damage come.

Usually the early ones Signs for one Hypoglycaemia from the patient learnable and so then to treat it early on.
See a doctor immediately if you have the following symptoms:

extensive skin reaction (skin rash and itching)
severe skin / mucous membrane swelling (Angioedema)
Shortness of breath
Drop in blood pressure with an accelerated pulse and sweat

These signs can be a rare one allergic reaction on the insulin and become life threatening.

It will insulin too often in the same skin area injected, so it can Adipose tissue at this point shrink (Lipoatrophy) or increase (Lipohypertrophy). For this reason, the puncture site should be changed regularly.

It occurs in around 3-4% of treated patients allergic reactions at the Puncture sitethat can spread and usually go back within a few days or weeks.

Possible other side effects are Visual disturbances, Water retention (and associated swellings in the lower legs and ankles), Taste sensation disorders, Muscle aches and Formation of antibodies against the insulin.

Warning signs of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)

The body can Signals for one too low blood sugar levels express in that one sweats, cool and damp skin, Feeling anxious, rapid pulse, high blood pressure, Palpitations or irregular heartbeat Has.

In the brain itself, the symptoms are expressed as follows:

a headache
Cravings
nausea
Vomit
fatigue
sleepiness
sleep disorders
Restlessness
aggressiveness
Difficulty concentrating
limited responsiveness
Dejection
confusion
Speech disorders
Visual disturbances
Tremble
Paralysis
Sensory disturbances
deafness
Tingling in the mouth
dizziness
Loss of self-control
helplessness
cramps and
unconsciousness

The symptoms of hypoglycaemia depend on yours Degree of expression depends on various factors, so that you cannot rely on it alone, but additionally regular blood sugar tests should perform.