Insulin Glargine Packaging Availability
No, insulin glargine does not come in 30 mL packaging. Insulin glargine is available only in 10 mL vials and 3 mL prefilled pens. 1
Available Packaging Options
Insulin glargine is supplied in two standard formats:
- 10 mL multiple-dose vials containing 1,000 units (U-100 formulation = 100 units/mL) 1
- 3 mL single-patient use prefilled pens (Insulin Glargine Solostar) containing 300 units 1
The 3 mL prefilled pens are the most commonly prescribed format and are available for both U-100 and U-300 formulations. 2
Concentrated Formulations
For patients requiring higher doses, U-300 insulin glargine (300 units/mL) is available exclusively in 3 mL prefilled pens, providing 900 units per pen rather than the 300 units found in U-100 pens. 2, 3 This concentrated formulation has a longer duration of action than U-100 glargine but modestly lower efficacy per unit administered. 2
Important Safety Considerations
All concentrated insulins, including U-300 glargine, are available only in prefilled pens to minimize the risk of dosing errors. 2 This is a critical safety measure, as mixing up concentrations could lead to severe hypoglycemia or inadequate glycemic control.
Standard insulin pens contain 300 units per cartridge (3 mL of U-100 insulin), and most pens deliver doses in 1-unit increments with a maximum single-dose capacity of 60-80 units. 4, 5
Clinical Context
The absence of 30 mL packaging is consistent across all insulin glargine products, including biosimilar follow-on products. 2 If a patient requires large volumes of insulin glargine, they would need multiple 10 mL vials or multiple 3 mL pens rather than a single larger container.
Human regular insulin and NPH insulin are available in more economical packaging at select pharmacies (approximately $25/vial), but these are also limited to 10 mL vials, not 30 mL. 2