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