lanoxin 441
insulin glargine (IN suh lin GLAR jean)
What is the most important information I should know about Lantus?
• Know the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), whichinclude shaking; nausea; headache; drowsiness; weakness; dizziness; fast heartbeat;sweating; pale, cool skin; anxiety; and difficulty concentrating lanoxin 441. Carry a pieceof candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar lanoxin 441.
• Follow any diet and exercise plan that you have developed with your doctoror nurse lanoxin 441. Changes in what you eat or how much you exercise can change the amountof insulin that you need to control blood sugar levels lanoxin 441.
• Ask your doctor or nurse what to do if you are sick with a cold, flu,or fever lanoxin 441. These illnesses may change your insulin requirements lanoxin 441.
• Do not change the brand of insulin glargine or syringe that you are usingwithout first talking to your doctor or pharmacist lanoxin 441. Some brands of insulin glargineand syringes are interchangeable, while others are not lanoxin 441. Your doctor and/or pharmacistknow which brands can be substituted for one another lanoxin 441.
• Do not mix or dilute Lantus with any other insulin or solution lanoxin 441.
What is Lantus?
• Insulin is a hormone naturally produced by the pancreas lanoxin 441. Insulin enablesthe body to use the sugar in food as a source of energy lanoxin 441. When the body doesnot produce enough insulin, or when the insulin produced by the body is noteffective enough, the condition is called diabetes mellitus lanoxin 441. This conditionallows sugar levels in the blood to become very high lanoxin 441. Diabetics must use man-madeinsulin or insulin that comes from pigs (which is very similar to human insulin)to lower these high blood sugar levels lanoxin 441.
• Lantus is used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus lanoxin 441.
• Lantus may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide lanoxin 441.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using Lantus?
• Do not use Lantus if you are allergic to insulin or if you have intoleranceto a certain Lantus product lanoxin 441.
• Before using insulin, tell your doctor if you have any other medicalconditions or if you take other prescription or over-the-counter medications,including vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements lanoxin 441.
• Before using Lantus, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease lanoxin 441. You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment lanoxin 441.
• Lantus is in the FDA pregnancy category C lanoxin 441. This means that it is notknown whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby lanoxin 441. Do not use this medicationwithout first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment lanoxin 441.
• It is not known whether Lantus passes into breast milk lanoxin 441. Do not use thismedication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding ababy lanoxin 441.
How should I use Lantus?
• Use Lantus exactly as directed by your doctor lanoxin 441. If you do not understandthese instructions, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to explain them toyou lanoxin 441.
• If the insulin has been stored in the refrigerator, it can be warmedto room temperature before use lanoxin 441.
• Lantus is usually used once a day lanoxin 441. Follow your doctor's instructions lanoxin 441.
• Do not mix or dilute Lantus with any other insulin or solution lanoxin 441.
• Do not use any insulin that is discolored, looks thick, has particlesin it, or looks different from previous bottles, cartridges, or pens of Lantus lanoxin 441.
• Change injection sites as directed by your doctor lanoxin 441. Usually, you shouldnot inject within 1 inch of the same site within 1 month lanoxin 441.
• Never reuse a needle or syringe lanoxin 441. Dispose of all needles and syringesin an appropriate, puncture-resistant disposal container lanoxin 441.
• Do not change the insulin strength (e.g., U-100) or insulin type (e.g.,glargine, lispro, regular, etc.) unless your doctor recommends a change foryou lanoxin 441.
• Do not change the brand of insulin glargine or syringe that you are usingwithout first talking to your doctor or pharmacist lanoxin 441. Some brands of insulin andsyringes are interchangeable, while others are not lanoxin 441. Your doctor and/or pharmacistknow which brands can be substituted for one another lanoxin 441.
• Follow any diet and exercise plan that you have developed with your doctoror nurse lanoxin 441. Changes in what you eat or how much you exercise can change the amountof insulin that you need to control your blood sugar levels lanoxin 441.
• Ask your doctor or nurse what to do if you are sick with a cold, flu,or fever lanoxin 441. These illnesses may change your insulin requirements lanoxin 441.
• Your healthcare provider may recommend regular monitoring of blood sugarlevels with blood or urine tests lanoxin 441.
• Wear some type of medical identification bracelet, necklace, or otheralert tag to inform others that you have diabetes and that you require insulinin the case of an emergency lanoxin 441.
• Proper foot care, eye care, dental care, and overall proper health careare important for people with diabetes lanoxin 441. Visit your doctor, dentist, eye doctor,and other heath care practitioners as recommended by your doctor lanoxin 441.
• Store unopened vials Lantus in the refrigerator between 36 and 46 degreesFahrenheit (2 and 8 degrees Celsius), in the original carton lanoxin 441. Do not store Lantusin the freezer and do not allow it to freeze lanoxin 441. Do not use Lantus if it has beenfrozen lanoxin 441. Throw away any expired Lantus lanoxin 441.
• Vials of Lantus insulin can be kept unrefrigerated for up to 28 days,but should not be exposed to excessive heat or sunlight lanoxin 441.
• Once punctured, the insulin vial in use, whether stored in the refrigeratoror at room temperature, must be used within 28 days lanoxin 441. Throw away any unused insulin28 days after the vial is first punctured lanoxin 441.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Follow your doctor's directions if you miss a dose of insulin lanoxin 441. To preventmissed doses, be sure to always have enough insulin on hand, especially if youare going on vacation lanoxin 441.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected lanoxin 441.
• Symptoms of an insulin overdose reflect very low blood sugar levels andinclude headache, irregular heartbeat, increased heart rate or pulse, sweating,tremor, nausea, increased hunger, and anxiety lanoxin 441.
What should I avoid while using Lantus?
• Do not use alcohol without first talking to your doctor lanoxin 441. It lowers bloodsugar, and you may experience dangerously low blood sugar levels lanoxin 441.
• Follow any diet and exercise plan that you have developed with your doctoror nurse lanoxin 441. Changes in what you eat or how much you exercise can change the amountof insulin that you need to control your blood sugar levels lanoxin 441.
What are the possible side effects of Lantus?
• Rarely, people have allergic reactions to insulin lanoxin 441. Seek emergency medicalattention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closingof the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives) lanoxin 441.
• The side effects of insulin therapy result mostly from blood sugar levelsthat are either too high or too low lanoxin 441. You should be familiar with the symptomsof both high and low blood sugar levels and know how to treat both conditions lanoxin 441. Also, be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency lanoxin 441.
• Low blood sugar may occur when too much insulin is used; when meals aremissed or delayed; if you exercise more than usual; during illness, especiallywith vomiting or diarrhea; if you take other medications; after drinking alcohol;and in other situations lanoxin 441.
• Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, has the following symptoms: shaking;nausea; headache; drowsiness; weakness; dizziness; fast heartbeat; sweating;pale, cool skin; anxiety; and difficulty concentrating lanoxin 441.
• Keep sugary candy, fruit juice, or glucose tablets on hand to treat episodesof low blood sugar lanoxin 441.
• Increased blood sugar may occur if not enough insulin is used, if youeat significantly more food than usual, if you exercise less than usual, ifyou take other medications, if you have a fever or other illness, and in othersituations lanoxin 441.
• Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, has the following symptoms: increasedthirst, increased hunger, and increased urination lanoxin 441.
• Monitor your blood sugar levels and ask your doctor how to adjust yourinsulin doses if your blood sugar levels are too high lanoxin 441.
• Side effects may also occur at the site of injection lanoxin 441. If the area becomesthickened, hard, or pitted, talk to your doctor before injecting at that siteagain lanoxin 441.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur lanoxin 441. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome lanoxin 441.
What other drugs will affect Lantus?
• Many drugs can interact with insulin or affect your blood sugar levels lanoxin 441. Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, includingvitamins, minerals, and herbal products, without first talking to your doctoror pharmacist during treatment with insulin lanoxin 441.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Lantus written for healthprofessionals that you may read lanoxin 441.
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