From the Guidelines
The generic of Lantus is insulin glargine. Insulin glargine is a long-acting basal insulin analog used to manage blood glucose levels in people with diabetes, as supported by the World Health Organization guidelines 1. It works by providing a steady release of insulin over approximately 24 hours, helping to maintain baseline blood glucose control.
Key Points
- Insulin glargine is available in different concentrations, including the standard U-100 formulation and a more concentrated U-300 version.
- When switching from Lantus to generic insulin glargine, patients should maintain the same dosing schedule and amount as prescribed for Lantus, typically administered once daily at the same time each day.
- The medication should be stored in a refrigerator before first use and can be kept at room temperature for up to 28 days after opening.
- Insulin glargine works by forming microprecipitates in the subcutaneous tissue after injection, which slowly dissolve and provide consistent insulin levels without the pronounced peaks associated with older insulin formulations.
Considerations
- According to the study 1, long-acting insulin analogues like glargine reduced the risk for severe hypoglycemia, with glargine showing fewer severe hypoglycemic events in persons treated with it.
- The World Health Organization guidelines 1 recommend considering long-acting insulin analogues to manage blood glucose in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who have frequent severe hypoglycemia with human insulin.
From the FDA Drug Label
This product is LANTUS® (insulin glargine). The generic of Lantus is insulin glargine 2.
From the Research
Generic Name of Lantus
Description of Insulin Glargine
- Insulin Glargine is a long-acting, human insulin analogue that has been specifically designed to overcome the deficiencies of traditionally available 'intermediate-acting' insulins 3.
- It is a recombinant human insulin analog that is given once daily as a basal source of insulin in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus 5.
Characteristics of Insulin Glargine
- Insulin Glargine has a slower onset of action than NPH insulin and a longer duration of action with no peak activity 5.
- It provides a relatively constant basal level of circulating insulin with no pronounced peak when injected once daily 3.
- Insulin Glargine is well tolerated and elicits less hypoglycaemia, especially nocturnal episodes, than NPH insulin, with similar levels of glycaemic control 3, 4.