What is Lantus Solostar (insulin glargine)?

From the Guidelines

Lantus Solostar is a brand name for insulin glargine, a long-acting synthetic insulin analog used to treat diabetes mellitus, providing a steady, basal insulin coverage for approximately 24 hours with minimal peaks in action. It helps control blood sugar levels by mimicking the body's natural basal insulin, helping glucose enter cells and preventing the liver from producing excess glucose. According to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine 1, long-acting insulin analogues like glargine reduce the risk of severe hypoglycemic events.

Key Characteristics of Lantus Solostar

• Comes in a pre-filled disposable pen containing 300 units of insulin (100 units/mL)
• Typically injected once daily at the same time each day, usually in the evening or before bedtime
• Dosage varies based on individual needs and should be determined by a healthcare provider
• Common injection sites include the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, with rotation of injection sites important to prevent lipodystrophy

Benefits and Side Effects

• Helps control blood sugar levels with minimal peaks in action
• Reduces the risk of severe hypoglycemic events compared to human insulin 1
• Side effects may include hypoglycemia, injection site reactions, and allergic responses
• Patients should store unopened pens in the refrigerator, while in-use pens can be kept at room temperature for up to 28 days

Clinical Recommendations

• Consider long-acting insulin analogues like glargine for adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who have frequent severe hypoglycemia with human insulin 1
• Use human insulin to manage blood glucose in adults with type 1 diabetes and in adults with type 2 diabetes for whom insulin is indicated 1

From the FDA Drug Label

This product is LANTUS® (insulin glargine) Insulin Glargine is a long-acting man-made insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes mellitus.

Lantus Solostar is insulin glargine, a long-acting man-made insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes mellitus 2.

From the Research

What is Lantus Solostar

• Lantus Solostar is a disposable, prefilled insulin pen that contains insulin glargine, a long-acting human insulin analogue 3, 4.
• Insulin glargine is designed to provide a relatively constant basal level of circulating insulin with no pronounced peak, allowing for once-daily injection as basal insulin therapy 5, 6.
• Lantus Solostar is used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and is often used in combination with short-acting insulin analogues or oral antidiabetic agents 5, 6, 7.

Key Characteristics of Lantus Solostar

• Provides a constant basal level of insulin with no pronounced peak 5, 6.
• Allows for once-daily injection, at any time of day 6, 7.
• Has a lower frequency of hypoglycemic reactions compared to NPH insulin 5, 6, 7.
• Is well tolerated and has similar levels of glycaemic control to NPH insulin 5, 6.

Dosing Accuracy and Injection Force Dynamics

• The SoloStar pen, which contains Lantus Solostar, has been shown to have high dosing accuracy and ease of use 3, 4.
• The pen allows patients to achieve accurate dosing, with all doses delivered within the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) limits 3.
• The injection force dynamics of the SoloStar pen have been tested and compared to other commonly used pens, establishing it as a state of the art pen suitable for most patients with diabetes 4.