Maximum Units for a Single Lantus Insulin Pen
A single Lantus (insulin glargine) SoloStar pen can deliver a maximum of 80 units in a single injection. 1
Lantus SoloStar Pen Specifications
The Lantus SoloStar pen is a disposable prefilled insulin delivery device with the following characteristics:
- Contains a total of 300 units of insulin glargine per pen 1
- Allows dose selection from 1 to 80 units in 1-unit increments 1
- Designed for subcutaneous administration only 1
- Can be used for multiple injections until all 300 units are administered 1
Clinical Implications of Dosing Limitations
The 80-unit maximum dose per injection has important clinical implications:
- For patients requiring >80 units per dose, multiple injections are necessary
- For insulin-resistant patients with high insulin requirements, two separate injections may be required to deliver the full prescribed dose 2
- In obese patients with significant insulin resistance, splitting the total daily dose into two separate injections may be more effective 2
Alternative Insulin Formulations for High-Dose Requirements
For patients requiring large insulin doses, alternative options include:
- U-200 insulin glargine (twice the concentration of standard U-100), allowing higher doses per volume 3
- U-300 insulin glargine (three times the concentration of standard U-100) 3
- U-500 regular insulin for patients with extreme insulin resistance 3
Dosing Accuracy
The SoloStar pen device has demonstrated excellent dosing accuracy across its dosing range:
- Studies show accurate delivery of prescribed doses (5-80 units) when tested in clinical settings 4
- Mean doses delivered were 9.87,39.63, and 79.02 units when 10,40, and 80 units were selected, respectively 4
Important Considerations
- The pen plunger moves with each dose and will only reach the end of the cartridge when all 300 units have been administered 1
- Patients should be instructed not to use syringes to extract insulin from the pen 1
- For patients requiring doses exceeding 80 units, healthcare providers should consider either multiple injections or higher concentration insulin formulations 3