Toujeo

Generic name: Insulin Glargine
Drug class: Insulin

Usage of Toujeo

Toujeo is a man-made form of a hormone that is produced in the body. Insulin is a hormone that works by lowering levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin that starts to work several hours after injection and keeps working evenly for 24 hours.

Toujeo is used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children who are 6 years of age and older with diabetes mellitus.

Toujeo is not for use to treat diabetic ketoacidosis.

Toujeo is available in two different single-patient-use prefilled pen presentations:

Toujeo SoloStar - 1.5mL syringe (300 units/mL) contains 450 units of insulin glargine. It delivers doses in 1 unit increments and can deliver up to 80 units in a single injection

Toujeo Max SoloStar- 3 mL syringe (300 units/mL) contains 900 units of insulin glargine. It delivers doses in 2 unit increments and can deliver up to 160 units in a single injection. Toujeo Max SoloStar is recommended for patients requiring at least 20 units per day.

Toujeo side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction to Toujeo: redness or swelling where an injection was given, itchy skin rash over the entire body, trouble breathing, fast heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out, or swelling in your tongue or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

rapid weight gain, swelling in your feet or ankles;

shortness of breath; or

low blood potassium - leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling.

Common Toujeo side effects may include:

low blood sugar;

swelling, weight gain;

allergic reaction, itching, rash; or

thickening or hollowing of the skin where you injected the medicine.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Toujeo

You should not use Toujeo if you are allergic to insulin, or if you are having an episode of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).

Toujeo is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 years old, and some brands are for use only in adults. Do not use this medicine to treat type 2 diabetes in a child of any age.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

liver or kidney disease; or

heart failure or other heart problems.

Tell your doctor if you also take pioglitazone or rosiglitazone (sometimes contained in combinations with glimepiride or metformin). Taking certain oral diabetes medicines while you are using insulin may increase your risk of serious heart problems.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Follow your doctor's instructions about using this medicine if you are pregnant or you become pregnant. Controlling diabetes is very important during pregnancy.

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How to use Toujeo

Use Toujeo exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Toujeo SoloStar is injected under the skin, usually once per day at the same time of day.

When treating type 1 diabetes, use your short-acting insulin before meals as directed by your doctor.

Toujeo SoloStar must not be given with an insulin pump, or mixed with other insulins. Do not inject this medicine into a vein or a muscle.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand how to use an injection.

Prepare an injection only when you are ready to give it. Call your pharmacist if the medicine looks cloudy, has changed colors, or has particles in it.

Your healthcare provider will show you where to inject Toujeo SoloStar. Do not inject into the same place two times in a row.

Avoid injecting into skin that is damaged, tender, bruised, pitted, thickened, scaly, or has a scar or hard lump.

Toujeo contains 300 units of insulin glargine per milliliter (mL), which is 3 times stronger than brands that contain 100 units per mL.

Your dose needs may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. Avoid medication errors by using only the medicine your doctor prescribes.

If you use an injection pen, use only the injection pen that comes with Toujeo SoloStar. Attach a new needle before each use. Do not transfer the insulin from the pen into a syringe.

Never share an injection pen, even if you changed the needle. Sharing these devices can pass infections from person to person.

Blood sugar can be affected by stress, illness, surgery, exercise, alcohol use, or skipping meals.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can make you feel very hungry, dizzy, irritable, or shaky. To quickly treat hypoglycemia, eat or drink hard candy, crackers, raisins, fruit juice, or non-diet soda. Your doctor may prescribe glucagon injection in case of severe hypoglycemia.

Tell your doctor if you have frequent symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) such as increased thirst or urination. Ask your doctor before changing your medication dosage.

Keep this medicine in its original container protected from heat and light. Do not freeze insulin or store it near the cooling element in a refrigerator. Throw away any insulin that has been frozen.

Storing unopened (not in use) Toujeo SoloStar:

Refrigerate and use until expiration date; or

Storing opened (in use) Toujeo SoloStar:

Store Toujeo at room temperature below 86 degrees Fahrenheit (do not refrigerate) and use within 56 days.

Do not store an injection pen with the needle attached. Do not reuse a needle or syringe. Place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container and dispose of it following state or local laws. Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card to let others know you have diabetes.

Warnings

Toujeo contains 3 times as much insulin per milliliter (mL) as regular insulin.

You should not use Toujeo if you are having an episode of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).

Never share an injection pen with another person, even if the needle has been changed.

Sharing injection pens can allow disease such as hepatitis or HIV to pass from one person to another.

Toujeo is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, foot care, eye care, dental care, and testing your blood sugar. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely. Changing any of these factors can affect your blood sugar levels.

What other drugs will affect Toujeo

Many drugs can affect your blood sugar and may also interact with insulin glargine. Some medicines can increase or decrease the effects of insulin. Some drugs can also cause you to have fewer symptoms of hypoglycemia, making it harder to tell when your blood sugar is low. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

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