Does Medicare Cover Lantus Solostar And How Much Does It Cost
Medicare Part D currently does not cover Lantus Solostar but you can still save with SingleCare. Ask the pharmacist at any of the SingleCare-participating pharmacies including, CVS, Target, Walmart, and Walgreens, to compare your savings with Medicare versus SingleCare. You’ll always have the option to choose the lowest price.
What Kind Of Insulin Is Lantus
Lantus medication for diabetes mellitus injection 100 units/ml is based on long-acting insulin glargine developed as an analogue of human insulin, which has low solubility in a neutral medium. It is completely soluble due to the acidic environment of the solution for injection . After injection into the subcutaneous tissue, the acidic solution is neutralized.
The medication also includes excipients: meta cresol 2.7 mg, zinc chloride 0.0626 mg , glycerol 20 mg, sodium hydroxide up to pH 4.0, hydrochloric acid up to pH 4.0, water up to 1 ml
What Do I Need To Tell My Doctor Before I Take This Drug
If you are allergic to this drug any part of this drug or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had. If you have any of these health problems: Acidic blood problem or low blood sugar. This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.
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Lantus And Other Medications
Below are lists of medications that can interact with Lantus. These lists dont contain all the drugs that may interact with Lantus.
Before taking Lantus, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Lantus and diabetes medications
Lantus can interact in different ways with different diabetes medications.
Lantus and certain diabetes medications
Taking Lantus with other diabetes medications can increase your risk for hypoglycemia . If you take Lantus with other diabetes drugs, your doctor may need to adjust your dosage of one or all of them to reduce your risk for low blood sugar. They may also want you to monitor your blood sugar levels more often.
Examples of other diabetes medications that can increase your risk for low blood sugar if taken with Lantus include:
- mealtime insulins, such as insulin aspart and insulin lispro
- pramlintide
Lantus and diabetes drugs called thiazolidinediones
Examples of thiazolidinediones include:
- pioglitazone
Lantus and certain blood pressure medications
Examples of blood pressure medications that can increase your risk for low blood sugar if taken with Lantus include:
Costs Of Insulin Pumps
Without insurance, a new insulin pump costs about $6,000 out of pocket, plus another $3,000 to $6,000 annually for ongoing supplies, like batteries and sensors. The cost varies depending on the features, software, brand, and size of the pump.
But youll also need to pay separately for the insulin delivered via the device, so the cost for using an insulin pump without good insurance coverage can be tremendous.
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What Are The Side Effects Of Lantus Solostar
The most common side effect of Lantus Solostar is hypoglycemia . Other possible side effects include upper respiratory tract infection, accidental injury, headache, eye problems, body pains, cough, swelling of the arms and legs, diarrhea, depression, or headaches. . Check with your healthcare professional for medical advice if you experience any allergic reactions or any of these side effects for an extended period of time. You can experience other side effects if you take Lantus Solostar. Consult your doctor about other side effects not listed here.
Lantus Insulin Solostar Prefilled Pens
Please be advised that all insulin purchases are subject to review by our pharmacist before shipping. You may receive a call if there are any questions or concerns about your order. By placing an order for insulin, you are declaring that you have consulted a health care professional regarding the safe use of insulin for diabetes treatment. If you have any questions, please contact us at 1-866-418-3392.
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How Do I Use It And Its Dosage
Always use this insulin medication exactly as your doctor has told you. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again. Although Lantus contains the same active substance as Toujeo , these medicines are not interchangeable. Switching from one insulin treatment to another requires a prescription, medical supervision, and blood glucose control. For more information, consult your doctor.
Dose
Depending on your lifestyle and the results of your blood sugar checks and your previous insulin treatment, your doctor will determine the dose of Lantus you need each day and at what time, It will tell you when to check your blood sugar, and if you need to have a urine test, It will tell you when you may need to inject a higher or lower dose of Lantus.
Lantus is a long-acting insulin. Your doctor may direct you to use it in combination with short-acting insulin or with tablets to treat elevated blood sugar levels.
Many factors can influence your blood sugar level. You should be aware of these factors as you will be able to react correctly to changes in your blood sugar level and prevent it from rising or falling too low.
Use in children and adolescents
Lantus can be used in adolescents and children 6 years and older. Use this medication just as your doctor has told you.
Administration frequency
More Common Side Effects
The more common side effects* of Lantus can include:
- injection site reactions
- lipodystrophy
- itchy skin
- upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold
- hypoglycemia
Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If theyre more severe or dont go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* This is a partial list of more common side effects from Lantus. To learn about other side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or check Lantus prescribing information.
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Grudge Match: Pens Vs Syringes
Taking insulin is a cornerstone of care for millions who have diabetes, and the most common method of insulin delivery in the U.S. is injection via needle and syringe. Roughly 20% of insulin users wear an insulin pump, 15% use insulin pens, and less than 1% use jet injectors.
Insulin pumps can be expensive, with the average price hovering around $6,500, not including the disposable supplies that have to be replenished regularly, such as infusion sets, cartridges, and batteries. Although jet injectors may seem like a dream come true for patients who fear needles, they have been known to cause bruising and more pain than injections.
The big question is why insulin pens are not more popular in the U.S., whereas in Europe and Japan, they comprise from 66% to 75% of insulin prescriptions. Its not for lack of patient appreciation: In the November 2011 issue of the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, a review of 43 studies that compared patient- reported outcomes for insulin pen devices found that patients preferred pens over vial and syringe for myriad reasons, including ease of use, less pain, and greater perceived social acceptance.
Managed care has not embraced pens here, but with- out factoring cost offsets for things like improved outcomes and lower overall healthcare costs , its not clear to me how insurers come to that decision, says Asche.
Lantus Use With Other Drugs
Lantus may be used with other diabetes medications, including other injectable drugs or medications taken by mouth.
People with type 1 diabetes will need to take Lantus along with a mealtime insulin. This is because Lantus is a basal insulin, a background insulin that helps control blood sugar levels in between meals. A mealtime insulin is needed to control spikes in blood sugar that occur after eating.
Examples of mealtime insulins that may be taken along with Lantus include:
- insulin lispro
- insulin regular
People with type 2 diabetes will also likely need to take other diabetes medications besides Lantus. There are several different types of injectable or oral medications that your doctor may prescribe. These drugs lower your blood sugar further and help prevent serious complications, such as nerve damage.
The Lantus dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- the severity of the condition youre using Lantus to treat
- your weight
- your history of blood sugar control
- your blood sugar level goals
Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Then theyll adjust it over time to reach the amount thats right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to suit your needs.
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How To Store Insulin Glargine
Keep all unopened insulin glargine refrigerated. Make sure insulin glargine does not freeze. If it does, do not use the frozen insulin glargine, even if it has been thawed. Keep insulin glargine away from direct sunlight or heat, as this could potentially disrupt the products potency.
Insulin glargine vials and pens can be used within 28 days after they have been in use from being stored in the refrigerator. After 28 days, the insulin must be discarded. Opened vials must be stored at room temperature or in the fridge. Used pens must be stored at room temperature. Remove any insulin that has been exposed to extreme temperatures to the trash. Do not flush this medication down the toilet.
Keep insulin glargine away from the reach of children and pets, as the ingredients may cause severe side effects including, poisoning.
How Popular Is Lantus
Lantus is currently the most popular insulin, a class of medications that are used to lower blood sugar and treat diabetes type 1 and 2.
Lantus was developed by Sanofi in 2000, and for many years was one of Sanofis top-grossing drugs. However, in recent years, with the development of other insulins, Sanofi has seen a decline in Lantus sales. While we havent seen the effects of this decline quite yet, it could mean that Sanofi will need to reduce the price for Lantus to stay competitive. Stay tuned.
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What Are The Side Effects Of Lantus
With any medication, there are risks and benefits. Even if the medication is working, you may experience some unwanted side effects.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:
- Severe hypoglycemia â If not treated, severe hypoglycemia can lead to unconsciousness, seizures, and even death
- Severe allergic reactions
- Dangerously low levels of potassium
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your doctor know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
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Picking The Right Pen
Pens come in two basic types: disposable and reusable.
- Disposable pens are preloaded with insulin and are thrown away after the insulin cartridge is empty or the pen has been in use for 28 or 32 days .
- Reusable pens work with insulin cartridges that can be loaded into the pen and then tossed away once the insulin is used, leaving the pen ready for the next cartridge. Each pen only works with certain types of insulin, so keep that in mind as you browse pens.
Even though reusable pens are more expensive at first, replacement cartridges for reusable pens are cheaper than those for disposable, making them about the same price over the long term.
Another pen trait you may want to note when picking a pen is how it doses insulin. Some pens can dose in half-unit increments , while others dose in whole units. The maximum dosage of insulin that can be delivered at one time also varies among pens.
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When To Throw Away Your Insulin Pens
Youll use the same insulin pen over and over for a certain number of days. The number of days depends on the type of insulin pen youre using. The table below lists some common types of insulin pens and the number of days you can use each one. You can also read the instructions that come with your insulin pens.
| Insulin Type |
|---|
Whenever you start using a new insulin pen:
For example, if you start using a Lantus SoloStar insulin pen on January 1st, count ahead 28 days to January 28th. Write January 28 on a piece of paper tape and put the paper tape on the pen. Throw away the pen on January 28th, even if theres still insulin in it.
You can keep unused insulin pens in the refrigerator until the expiration date listed on the pen label. Once an insulin pen reaches the expiration date listed on the pen label, throw it away.
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People with diabetes have various costs associated with the treatment and maintenance of their health. In this article, we will explore commonly reported costs associated with monthly insulin requirements, overall diabetes maintenance costs, and how small and medium businesses can support employees with diabetes.
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What Are The Benefits Of Taking It
Lantus is used to reduce sugar levels in the body, its active ingredient is insulin glargine. Lantus is a long-acting drug, its presentation is in injectable solution and generally, it begins to exert its action in the body several hours after its administration and even after 24 hours of its application it can continue to work, generally this is applied in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus, as long as they are older than 6 years.
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Vials Are Cheaper Than Newer Dispensers
In 1985, Novo Nordisk introduced the first insulin pen, making it more convenient for patients to store and self-inject insulin but it came at a price. Today, retail prices of rapid-acting insulins can be almost 40% more expensive if you opt for pens instead of vials.
New dispensers make insulin more expensive. Were seeing that again with Afrezza, the only insulin to be delivered as an inhalable powder. One unit of Afrezzas insulin can cost as much as 20 times the price of other rapid-acting insulins. Average retail prices for Afrezza have also continued rising through the pandemic. Afrezzas manufacturer, MannKind, offers the medication at reduced costs through its direct purchase program.
Here are retail prices of rapid-acting insulins as of October 2021:
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What If I Miss A Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If its almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal schedule.
Dont take more than one dose in 24 hours unless your doctor tells you to. This could increase your risk for serious side effects, such as hypoglycemia .
Medication reminders can help make sure that you dont miss a dose.
How Do I Store And/or Throw Out This Drug
Store unopened containers in a refrigerator. Do not freeze. Do not use if it has been frozen. If an unopened container has been stored at room temperature, be sure you know how long you can leave this drug at room temperature before you need to throw it away. If you are not sure, talk with the doctor or pharmacist. Store opened cartridges and pens at room temperature. Throw away any part not used after 28 days. Protect from heat and light. Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets. Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.
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