- Patient Information
- What Is Diabetes?
- What Is Lantus?
- Who Should Not Take Lantus?
- How Do I Draw The Insulin Into The Syringe?
- Follow These Steps:
- What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Lantus And Other Insulins?
- Symptoms Of Hypoglycemia May Include:
- Hyperglycemia (high Blood Sugar):
- Hyperglycemia Can Happen With:
- Symptoms Of Hyperglycemia Include:
- Symptoms Of Dka Also Include:
- Some Times Severe, Life-threatening Allergic Reactions Can Happen With Insulin. If You Think You Are Having A Severe Allergic Reaction, Get Medical Help Right Away. Signs Of Insulin Allergy Include:
- Injecting Insulin Can Cause The Following Reactions On The Skin At The Injection Site:
- Unopened Vial:
- Before Starting Lantus, Tell Your Healthcare Provider About All Your Medical Conditions Including If You:
- The Following General Notes Should Be Taken Into Consideration Before Injecting Lantus:
- What Can Affect How Much Insulin I Need?
- Hypoglycemia (low Blood Sugar):
- Hypoglycemia Can Be Mild To Severe. Its Onset May Be Rapid. Some Patients Have Few Or No Warning Symptoms, Including:
- Unopened Cartridge System:
- How Should I Use Lantus?
- Hypoglycemia Can Happen With:
- How Should I Store Lantus?
- These Storage Conditions Are Summarized In The Following Table:
- Performing The Safety Test Ensures That You Get An Accurate Dose By:
- Date Of Revision:
Patient Information ⮝
Enter section text here
17.1 Instructions for patients
Patients should be informed that changes to insulin regimens must be made cautiously and only under medical supervision.
Patients should be informed about the potential side effects of insulin therapy, including lipodystrophy (and the need to rotate injection sites within the same body region), weight gain, allergic reactions, and hypoglycemia. Patients should be informed that the ability to concentrate and react may be impaired as a result of hypoglycemia. This may present a risk in situations where these abilities are especially important, such as driving or operating other machinery. Patients who have frequent hypoglycemia or reduced or absent warning signs of hypoglycemia should be advised to use caution when driving or operating machinery.
Accidental mix-ups between LANTUS and other insulins, particularly short-acting insulins, have been reported. To avoid medication errors between LANTUS and other insulins, patients should be instructed to always check the insulin label before each injection.
LANTUS must only be used if the solution is clear and colorless with no particles visible.Patients must be advised that LANTUS must NOT be diluted or mixed with any other insulin or solution.
Patients should be advised not to share disposable or reusable insulin devices or needles with other patients, because doing so carries a risk for transmission of blood-borne pathogens.
Patients should be instructed on self-management procedures including glucose monitoring, proper injection technique, and management of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Patients must be instructed on handling of special situations such as intercurrent conditions (illness, stress, or emotional disturbances), an inadequate or skipped insulin dose, inadvertent administration of an increased insulin dose, inadequate food intake, and skipped meals.
Patients with diabetes should be advised to inform their health care professional if they are pregnant or are contemplating pregnancy.
Refer patients to the LANTUS "Patient Information" for additional information.
17.2 FDA approved patient labeling
- Do not change the insulin you are using without talking to your healthcare provider.Any change of insulin should be made cautiously and only under medical supervision. Changes in insulin strength, manufacturer, type (for example: Regular, NPH, analogs), species (beef, pork, beef-pork, human) or method of manufacture (recombinant DNA versus animal source insulin) may need a change in the dose. This dose change may be needed right away or later on during the first several weeks or months on the new insulin. Doses of oral anti-diabetic medicines may also need to change, if your insulin is changed.
- You must test your blood sugar levels while using an insulin, such as LANTUS.Your healthcare provider will tell you how often you should test your blood sugar level, and what to do if it is high or low.
- Do NOT dilute or mix LANTUS with any other insulin or solution.It will not work and you may lose blood sugar control, which could be serious.
- LANTUScomes as U-100 insulin and contains 100 units of LANTUS per milliliter (mL). One milliliter of U-100 insulin contains 100 units of insulin. (1 mL = 1 cc).
What Is Diabetes? ⮝
- Your body needs insulin to turn sugar (glucose) into energy. If your body does not make enough insulin, you need to take more insulin so you will not have too much sugar in your blood.
- Insulin injections are important in keeping your diabetes under control. But the way you live, your diet, careful checking of your blood sugar levels, exercise, and planned physical activity, all work with your insulin to help you control your diabetes.
What Is Lantus? ⮝
- LANTUS (insulin glargine [recombinant DNA origin]) is a long-acting insulin. Because LANTUS is made by recombinant DNA technology (rDNA) and is chemically different from the insulin made by the human body, it is called an insulin analog. LANTUS is used to treat patients with diabetes for the control of high blood sugar. It is used once a day to lower blood sugar.
- LANTUS is a clear, colorless, sterile solution for injection under the skin (subcutaneously).
- The active ingredient in LANTUS is insulin glargine. The concentration of insulin glargine is 100 units per milliliter (mL), or U-100. LANTUS also contains zinc, metacresol, glycerol, polysorbate 20 and water for injection as inactive ingredients. Hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide may be added to adjust the pH.
- You need a prescription to get LANTUS. Always be sure you receive the right insulin from the pharmacy.
Who Should Not Take Lantus? ⮝
Do not take LANTUS if you are allergic to insulin glargineor any of the inactive ingredients in LANTUS. Check with your healthcare provider if you are not sure.
How Do I Draw The Insulin Into The Syringe? ⮝
- The syringe must be new and does not contain any other medicine.
- Do not mix LANTUS with any other type of insulin.
Follow These Steps: ⮝
- Decide on an injection area - either upper arm, thigh or abdomen. Injection sites within an injection area must be different from one injection to the next.
- Use alcohol or soap and water to clean the injection site. The injection site should be dry before you inject.
- Pinch the skin. Stick the needle in the way your healthcare provider showed you. Release the skin.
- Slowly push in the plunger of the syringe all the way, making sure you have injected all the insulin. Leave the needle in the skin for about 10 seconds.
- Pull the needle straight out and gently press on the spot where you injected yourself for several seconds.Do not rub the area.
- Follow your healthcare providers instructions for throwing away the used needle and syringe. Do not recap the used needle. Used needle and syringe should be placed in sharps containers (such as red biohazard containers), hard plastic containers (such as detergent bottles), or metal containers (such as an empty coffee can). Such containers should be sealed and disposed of properly.
What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Lantus And Other Insulins? ⮝
Insulins, including LANTUS, can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), allergy, and skin reactions.
Symptoms Of Hypoglycemia May Include: ⮝
- anxiety, irritability, restlessness, trouble concentrating, personality changes, mood changes, or other abnormal behavior
- tingling in your hands, feet, lips, or tongue
- dizziness, light-headedness, or drowsiness
- nightmares or trouble sleeping
- headache
- blurred vision
- slurred speech
- palpitations (fast heart beat)
- sweating
- tremor (shaking)
- unsteady gait (walking).
If you have hypoglycemia often or it is hard for you to know if you have the symptoms of hypoglycemia, talk to your healthcare provider.
Mild to moderate hypoglycemia is treated by eating or drinking carbohydrates, such as fruit juice, raisins, sugar candies, milk or glucose tablets. Talk to your healthcare provider about the amount of carbohydrates you should eat to treat mild to moderate hypoglycemia.
Severe hypoglycemia may require the help of another person or emergency medical people. A person with hypoglycemia who is unable to take foods or liquids with sugar by mouth, or is unconscious needs medical help fast and will need treatment with a glucagon injection or glucose given intravenously (IV). Without medical help right away, serious reactions or even death could happen.
Hyperglycemia (high Blood Sugar): ⮝
Hyperglycemia happens when you have too much sugar in your blood. Usually, it means there is not enough insulin to break down the food you eat into energy your body can use. Hyperglycemia can be caused by a fever, an infection, stress, eating more than you should, taking less insulin than prescribed, or it can mean your diabetes is getting worse.
Hyperglycemia Can Happen With: ⮝
- Insufficient (too little) insulin. This can happen from: - injecting too little or no insulin-incorrect storage (freezing, excessive heat)-use after the expiration date.
- Too much carbohydrate intake. This can happen if you eat larger meals, eat more often, or increase the amount of carbohydrate in your meals.
- Medicines that affect insulin.Be sure to discuss all your medicines with your healthcare provider.Do not start any new medicines until you know how they may affect your insulin dose.
- Medical conditions that affect insulin. These medical conditions include fevers, infections, heart attacks, and stress.
- Injecting insulin the wrong way or in the wrong injection area.
Testing your blood or urine often will let you know if you have hyperglycemia. If your tests are often high, tell your healthcare provider so your dose of insulin can be changed.
Hyperglycemia can be mild or severe. Hyperglycemia canprogress to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or very high glucose levels (hyperosmolar coma) and result in unconsciousness and death.
Although diabetic ketoacidosis occurs most often in patients with type 1 diabetes, it can also happen in patients with type 2 diabetes who become very sick. Because some patients get few symptoms of hyperglycemia, it is important to check your blood sugar/urine sugar and ketones regularly.
Symptoms Of Hyperglycemia Include: ⮝
- confusion or drowsiness
- increased thirst
- decreased appetite, nausea, or vomiting
- rapid heart rate
- increased urination and dehydration (too little fluid in your body).
Symptoms Of Dka Also Include: ⮝
- fruity smelling breath
- fast, deep breathing
- stomach area (abdominal) pain.
Severe or continuing hyperglycemia or DKA needs evaluation and treatment right away by your healthcare provider.
Do not use LANTUS to treat diabetic ketoacidosis.
Some Times Severe, Life-threatening Allergic Reactions Can Happen With Insulin. If You Think You Are Having A Severe Allergic Reaction, Get Medical Help Right Away. Signs Of Insulin Allergy Include: ⮝
- rash all over your body
- shortness of breath
- wheezing (trouble breathing)
- fast pulse
- sweating
- low blood pressure.
Injecting Insulin Can Cause The Following Reactions On The Skin At The Injection Site: ⮝
- little depression in the skin (lipoatrophy)
- skin thickening (lipohypertrophy)
- red, swelling, itchy skin (injection site reaction).
You can reduce the chance of getting an injection site reaction if you change (rotate) the injection site each time. An injection site reaction should clear up in a few days or a few weeks. If injection site reactions do not go away or keep happening, call your healthcare provider.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you.
These are not all the side effects of LANTUS. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.
Unopened Vial: ⮝
Store new (unopened) LANTUS vials in a refrigerator (not the freezer) between 36 F to 46 F (2 C to 8 C). Do not freeze LANTUS. Keep LANTUS out of direct heat and light. If a vial has been frozen or overheated, throw it away.
Open (In-Use) vial: Once a vial is opened, you can keep it in a refrigerator or at room temperature (below 86 F [30 C]) but away from direct heat and light. Opened vial, either kept in a refrigerator or at room temperature, should be discarded 28 days after the first use even if it still contains LANTUS. Do not leave your insulin in a car on a summer day.
Before Starting Lantus, Tell Your Healthcare Provider About All Your Medical Conditions Including If You: ⮝
- have liver or kidney problems.Your dose may need to be adjusted.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.It is not known if LANTUS may harm your unborn baby. It is very important to maintain control of your blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Your healthcare provider will decide which insulin is best for you during your pregnancy.
- are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.It is not known whether LANTUS passes into your milk. Many medicines, including insulin, pass into human milk, and could affect your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby.
- about all the medicines you take includingprescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.
The Following General Notes Should Be Taken Into Consideration Before Injecting Lantus: ⮝
- Always wash your hands before handling the cartridge system and/or the OptiClikinsulin Pen.
- Always attach a new needle before use. BD Ultra-Fine needlesare compatible with OptiClik. These are sold separately and are manufactured by BD.
- Always perform the safety test before use.
- Check the insulin solution in the cartridge system to make sure it is clear, colorless, and free of particles. If it is not, throw it away.
- Do NOT mix or dilute LANTUS with any other insulin or solution. LANTUS will not work if it is mixed or diluted and you may lose blood sugar control, which could be serious.
- Decide on an injection area - either upper arm, thigh, or abdomen. Do not use the same injection site as your last injection.
- After injecting LANTUS, leave the needle in the skin for an additional 10 seconds. Then pull the needle straight out. Gently press on the spot where you injected yourself for a few seconds.Do not rub the area.
- Do not drop the OptiClikinsulin Pen.
If your blood glucose reading is high or low, tell your healthcare provider so the dose can be adjusted.
What Can Affect How Much Insulin I Need? ⮝
Illness.Illness may change how much insulin you need. It is a good idea to think ahead and make a "sick day" plan with your healthcare provider in advance so you will be ready when this happens. Be sure to test your blood sugar more often and call your healthcare provider if you are sick.
Medicines. Many medicines can affect your insulin needs.Other medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, can change the way insulin works. You may need a different dose of insulin when you are taking certain other medicines.Know all the medicines you take,including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. You may want to keep a list of the medicines you take. You can show this list to your healthcare provider and pharmacists anytime you get a new medicine or refill. Your healthcare provider will tell you if your insulin dose needs to be changed.
Meals.The amount of food you eat can affect your insulin needs. If you eat less food, skip meals, or eat more food than usual, you may need a different dose of insulin. Talk to your healthcare provider if you change your diet so that you know how to adjust your LANTUS and other insulin doses.
Alcohol.Alcohol, including beer and wine, may affect the way LANTUS works and affect your blood sugar levels. Talk to your healthcare provider about drinking alcohol.
Exercise or Activity level.Exercise or activity level may change the way your body uses insulin. Check with your healthcare provider before you start an exercise program because your dose may need to be changed.
Travel.If you travel across time zones, talk with your healthcare provider about how to time your injections. When you travel, wear your medical alert identification. Take extra insulin and supplies with you.
Pregnancy or nursing.The effects of LANTUS on an unborn child or on a nursing baby are unknown. Therefore, tell your healthcare provider if you are planning to have a baby, are pregnant, or nursing a baby. Good control of diabetes is especially important during pregnancy and nursing.
Hypoglycemia (low Blood Sugar): ⮝
Hypoglycemia is often called an "insulin reaction" or "low blood sugar". It may happen when you do not have enough sugar in your blood. Common causes of hypoglycemia are illness, emotional or physical stress, too much insulin, too little food or missed meals, and too much exercise or activity.
Early warning signs of hypoglycemia may be different, less noticeable or not noticeable at all in some people. That is why it is important to check your blood sugar as you have been advised by your healthcare provider.
Hypoglycemia can happen with:
- Taking too much insulin. This can happen when too much insulin is injected.
- Not enough carbohydrate (sugar or starch) intake.This can happen if a meal or snack is missed or delayed.
- Vomiting or diarrheathat decreases the amount of sugar absorbed by your body.
- Intake of alcohol.
- Medicines that affect insulin. Be sure to discuss all your medicines with your healthcare provider.Do not start any new medicines until you know how they may affect your insulin dose.
- Medical conditions that can affect your blood sugar levels or insulin. These conditions include diseases of the adrenal glands, the pituitary, the thyroid gland, the liver, and the kidney.
- Too much glucose use by the body.This can happen if you exercise too much or have a fever.
- Injecting insulin the wrong way or in the wrong injection area.
Hypoglycemia Can Be Mild To Severe. Its Onset May Be Rapid. Some Patients Have Few Or No Warning Symptoms, Including: ⮝
- patients with diabetes for a long time
- patients with diabetic neuropathy (nerve problems)
- or patients using certain medicines for high blood pressure or heart problems.
Hypoglycemia may reduce your ability to drive a car or use mechanical equipment and you may risk injury to yourself or others.
Severe hypoglycemia can be dangerous and can cause temporary or permanent harm to your heart or brain.It may cause unconsciousness, seizures, or death.
Unopened Cartridge System: ⮝
Store new unopened LANTUS cartridge systems in a refrigerator (not the freezer) between 36 F to 46 F (2 C to 8 C). Do not freeze LANTUS. Keep LANTUS out of direct heat and light. If a cartridge system has been frozen or overheated, throw it away.
Open (In-Use) cartridge system: Once a cartridge system is opened, you can keep it at room temperature (below 86 F [30 C]) but away from direct heat and light for 28 days. Cartridge system in OptiClikinsulin Pen must be discarded 28 days after the first use even if it still contains LANTUS. The opened cartridge system in OptiClikinsulin Pen should be kept at room temperature (below 86 F [30 C]) and away from direct heat and light for up to 28 days. For example, do not leave it in a car on a summer day. Do not store OptiClik, with or without cartridge system, in a refrigerator at any time.
How Should I Use Lantus? ⮝
Illness.Illness may change how much insulin you need. It is a good idea to think ahead and make a "sick day" plan with your healthcare provider in advance so you will be ready when this happens. Be sure to test your blood sugar more often and call your healthcare provider if you are sick.
Medicines. Many medicines can affect your insulin needs.Other medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, can change the way insulin works. You may need a different dose of insulin when you are taking certain other medicines.Know all the medicines you take,including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. You may want to keep a list of the medicines you take. You can show this list to your healthcare provider and pharmacists anytime you get a new medicine or refill. Your healthcare provider will tell you if your insulin dose needs to be changed.
Meals.The amount of food you eat can affect your insulin needs. If you eat less food, skip meals, or eat more food than usual, you may need a different dose of insulin. Talk to your healthcare provider if you change your diet so that you know how to adjust your LANTUS and other insulin doses.
Alcohol.Alcohol, including beer and wine, may affect the way LANTUS works and affect your blood sugar levels. Talk to your healthcare provider about drinking alcohol.
Exercise or Activity level.Exercise or activity level may change the way your body uses insulin. Check with your healthcare provider before you start an exercise program because your dose may need to be changed.
Travel.If you travel across time zones, talk with your healthcare provider about how to time your injections. When you travel, wear your medical alert identification. Take extra insulin and supplies with you.
Pregnancy or nursing.The effects of LANTUS on an unborn child or on a nursing baby are unknown. Therefore, tell your healthcare provider if you planning to have a baby, are pregnant, or nursing a baby. Good control of diabetes is especially important during pregnancy and nursing.
Hypoglycemia Can Happen With: ⮝
- Taking too much insulin.This can happen when too much insulin is injected.
- Not enough carbohydrate (sugar or starch) intake.This can happen if a meal or snack is missed or delayed.
- Vomiting or diarrheathat decreases the amount of sugar absorbed by your body.
- Intake of alcohol.
- Medicines that affect insulin.Be sure to discuss all your medicines with your healthcare provider.Do not start any new medicines until you know how they may affect your insulin dose.
- Medical conditions that can affect your blood sugar levels or insulin.These conditions include diseases of the adrenal glands, the pituitary, the thyroid gland, the liver, and the kidney.
- Too much glucose use by the body.This can happen if you exercise too much or have a fever.
- Injecting insulin the wrong way or in the wrong injection area.
How Should I Store Lantus? ⮝
- Unopened SoloStar:
Store new unopened SoloStardisposable insulin pen in a refrigerator (not the freezer) between 36 F to 46 F (2 C to 8 C). Do not freeze LANTUS. Keep LANTUS out of direct heat and light. If a diposable insulin pen has been frozen or overheated, throw it away.
- Open (In-Use) SoloStar:
Once SoloStaris opened (in-use), SoloStarshouldNOTbe refrigerated but should be kept at room temperature (below 86 F [30 C]) away from direct heat and light. The opened (in-use) SoloStarkept at room temperature must be discarded after 28 days.
These Storage Conditions Are Summarized In The Following Table: ⮝
Not in-use
(unopened)Not in-use
(unopened)In-use
(opened)Refrigerated Room Temperature Room Temperature
(Do not refrigerate)3 mL SoloStardispoable insulin device Until expiration date 28 days 28 days
- Do not use SoloStarwith LANTUS after the expiration date stamped on the label.
- Do not use LANTUS if it is cloudy, colored, or if you see particles.
General Information about LANTUS
- Use LANTUS only to treat your diabetes.Do notgive or share LANTUS with another person, even if they have diabetes also. It may harm them.
- This leaflet summarizes the most important information about LANTUS. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about LANTUS that is written for healthcare professionals. For more information about LANTUS call 1-800-633-1610 or go to website www.lantus.com.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DIABETES FORECASTis a national magazine designed especially for patients with diabetes and their families and is available by subscription from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), P.O. Box 363, Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0363, 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). You may also visit the ADA website at www.diabetes.org.
Another publication,COUNTDOWN, is available from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF), 120 Wall Street, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10005, 1-800-JDF-CURE (1-800-533-2873). You may also visit the JDRF website at www.jdf.org.
To get more information about diabetes, check with your healthcare professional or diabetes educator or visit www.DiabetesWatch.com.
Additional information about LANTUS can be obtained by calling 1-800-633-1610 or by visiting www.lantus.com.
Rev. March 2007
sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC
Bridgewater, NJ 088072007 sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC
Lantusand SoloStarare a registered trademark of sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC
The brands listed are the trademarks of their respective owners and are not trademarks of sanofi-aventis U.S. LLCLANTUSSOLOSTAR
(insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection)Instruction Leaflet
Your healthcare professional has decided that SoloStaris right for you. Talk with your healthcare professional about proper injection technique before using SoloStar.
Read these instructions carefully before using your SoloStar. If you are not able to follow all the instructions completely on your own, use SoloStaronly if you have help from a person who is able to follow the instructions.
Follow these instructions completely each time you use SoloStarto ensure that you get an accurate dose. If you do not follow these instructions you may get too much or too little insulin, which may affect your blood glucose.
SoloStaris a disposable pen for the injection of insulin. Each SoloStarcontains in total 300 units of insulin. You can set doses from 1 to 80 units in steps of 1 unit.
Keep this leaflet for future reference.
If you have any questions about Solostaror about diabetes, ask your healthcare professional, go to www.lantus.com or call sanofi aventis at 1-800-633-1610.
Important information for use of SoloStar:
- Always attach a new needle before each use.
BD Ultra-Fine needles are compatible with SoloStar. These are sold separately and manufactured by BD. Contact your healthcare professional for further information.
- Always perform the safety test before each injection.
- This pen is only for your use. Do not share it with anyone else.
- If your injection is given by another person, special caution must be taken by this person to avoid accidental needle injury and transmission of infection.
- Never use SoloStarif it is damaged or if you are not sure that it is working properly.
- Always have a spare SoloStarin case your SoloStaris lost or damaged.
Storage Instructions
Please check the leaflet for the insulin for complete instructions on how to store SoloStar.
If your SoloStaris in cool storage, take it out 1 to 2 hours before you inject to allow it to warm up. Cold insulin is more painful to inject.
Keep SoloStarout of the reach and sight of children.
Keep your SoloStarin cool storage (36 F 46 F [2 C 8 C]) until first use. Do not allow it to freeze. Do not put it next to the freezer compartment of your refrigerator, or next to a freezer pack.
Once you take your SoloStarout of cool storage, for use or as a spare, you can use it for up to 28 days. During this time it can be safely kept at room temperature up to 86 F (30 C). Do not use it after this time. SoloStarin use must not be stored in a refrigerator.
Do not use SoloStarafter the expiration date printed on the label of the pen or on the carton.
Protect SoloStarfrom light.
Discard your used SoloStaras required by your local authorities.
Maintenance
Protect your SoloStarfrom dust and dirt.
You can clean the outside of your SoloStarby wiping it with a damp cloth.
Do not soak, wash or lubricate the pen as this may damage it.
Your SoloStaris designed to work accurately and safely. It should be handled with care. Avoid situations where SoloStarmight be damaged. If you are concerned that your SoloStarmay be damaged, use a new one.
Step 1. Check the insulin
A.Check the label on your SoloStarto make sure you have the correct insulin. The LantusSoloStaris grey with a purple injection button.B.Take off the pen cap.C.Check the appearance of your insulin. Lantusis a clear insulin. Do not use this SoloStarif the insulin is cloudy, colored or has particles.Step 2. Attach the needle
Always use a new sterile needle for each injection. This helps prevent contamination, and potential needle blocks.
A.Wipe the Rubber Seal with alcohol.B.Remove the protective seal from a new needle.C.Line up the needle with the pen, and keep it straight as you attach it (screw or push on, depending on the needle type).
- If the needle is not kept straight while you attach it, it can damage the rubber seal and cause leakage, or break the needle.
Step 3. Perform a Safety test
Alwaysperform the Safety test before each injection.
Performing The Safety Test Ensures That You Get An Accurate Dose By: ⮝
A.Select a dose of 2 units by turning the dosage selector.
- ensuring that pen and needle work properly
- removing air bubbles
B.Take off the outer needle cap and keep it to remove the used needle after injection. Take off the inner needle cap and discard it.
C.Hold the pen with the needle pointing upwards.D.Tap the insulin reservoir so that any air bubbles rise up towards the needle. E.Press the injection button all the way in. Check if insulin comes out of the needle tip.
You may have to perform the safety test several times before insulin is seen.
- If no insulin comes out, check for air bubbles and repeat the safety test two more times to remove them.
- If still no insulin comes out, the needle may be blocked. Change the needle and try again.
- If no insulin comes out after changing the needle, your SoloStarmay be damaged. Do not use this SoloStar.
Step 4. Select the dose
You can set the dose in steps of 1 unit, from a minimum of 1 unit to a maximum of 80 units. If you need a dose greater than 80 units, you should give it as two or more injections.
A.Check that the dose window shows "0" following the safety test. B.Select your required dose (in theexamplebelow, the selected dose is 30 units). If you turn past your dose, you can turn back down.
- Do not push the injection button while turning, as insulin will come out.
- You cannot turn the dosage selector past the number of units left in the pen. Do not force the dosage selector to turn. In this case, either you can inject what is remaining in the pen and complete your dose with a new SoloStaror use a new SoloStarfor your full dose.
Step 5. Inject the dose
A.Use the injection method as instructed by your healthcare professional.B.Insert the needle into the skin.C.Deliver the dose by pressing the injection button in all the way. The number in the dose window will return to "0" as you inject.
D.Keep the injection button pressed all the way in.Slowly count to 10 before you withdraw the needle from the skin.This ensures that the full dose will be delivered.
Step 6. Remove and discard the needle
Always remove the needle after each injection and store SoloStarwithout a needle attached. This helps prevent:
A.Put the outer needle cap back on the needle, and use it to unscrew the needle from the pen. To reduce the risk of accidental needle injury, never replace the inner needle cap.
- Contamination and/or infection
- Entry of air into the insulin reservoir and leakage of insulin, which can cause inaccurate dosing.
B.Dispose of the needle safely. Used needles should be placed in sharps containers (such as red biohazard containers), hard plastic containers (such as detergent bottles), or metal containers (such as an empty coffee can). Such containers should be sealed and disposed of properly.
- If your injection is given by another person, special caution must be taken by this person when removing and disposing the needle. Follow recommended safety measures for removal and disposal of needles (e.g. a one handed capping technique) in order to reduce the risk of accidental needle injury and transmission of infectious diseases.
If you are giving an injection to a third person, you should remove the needle in an approved manner to avoid needle-stick injuries.C.Always put the pen cap back on the pen, then store the pen until your next injection.sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC
Bridgewater, NJ 08807Country of Origin: Germany
Date Of Revision: ⮝
March 20072007 sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC