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Insulin glargine

Lantus, Toujeo (previously Optisulin) · ATC code A10AE04

Also known as: Insulin glargin · Brand names: Lantus, Toujeo, Basaglar Kwikpen, Basalog One, Glarin, Glaritus

Key facts
Active substance
Insulin glargine
Drug class
Lente insulin
ATC code
A10AE04
Authorisation
centrally authorised across the EU (EMA)
Dosage forms
Lantus 100 units/ml solution for injection in a vial / Lantus 100 units/ml solution for injection in a cartridge / Lantus SoloStar 100 units/ml solution for injection in a pre-filled pen · Toujeo 300 units/ml SoloStar, solution for injection in a pre-filled pen / Toujeo 300 units/ml DoubleStar, solution for injection in a pre-filled pen
Marketing authorisation holder
sanofi-aventis Deutschland GmbH, Sanofi-aventis Deutschland GmbH
Information as of
2026-10-27

Key facts

Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin analogue (basal insulin) used to treat diabetes mellitus. It is available as Lantus (100 units/ml) and Toujeo (300 units/ml).

What it is used for

  • Lantus: diabetes mellitus in adults, adolescents and children aged 2 years and above
  • Toujeo: diabetes mellitus in adults, adolescents and children from the age of 6 years

Dosing

  • Lantus: once daily at any time but at the same time each day; dose and timing individually adjusted
  • Toujeo: once daily, preferably at the same time; can be given up to 3 hours before or after the usual time; type 2 diabetes starting dose 0.2 units/kg
  • Type 1 diabetes: combine with short-/rapid-acting mealtime insulin
  • Switching from twice-daily NPH insulin to Lantus: reduce basal insulin dose by 20-30% in the first weeks
  • Lantus and Toujeo are not bioequivalent: from Toujeo to Lantus reduce dose by approximately 20%; from Lantus to Toujeo approximately 10-18% more may be needed
  • Insulin requirements may decrease with renal or hepatic impairment and in the elderly

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to the active substance or any excipient

Important warnings

  • Not the insulin of choice for diabetic ketoacidosis
  • Hypoglycaemia if the dose is too high; severe hypoglycaemia may be life-threatening
  • Changing insulin type, strength or manufacturer only under strict medical supervision
  • Rotate injection sites to reduce lipodystrophy and cutaneous amyloidosis
  • Combination with pioglitazone: observe for signs of heart failure

Side effects

  • Very common: hypoglycaemia
  • Common: lipohypertrophy and injection site reactions
  • Others: allergic reactions, visual impairment, retinopathy, lipoatrophy, cutaneous amyloidosis, oedema

Interactions

  • Glucose-lowering effect enhanced by e.g. oral antidiabetics, ACE inhibitors, fibrates, fluoxetine, MAO inhibitors, salicylates, sulfonamide antibiotics
  • Glucose-lowering effect reduced by e.g. corticosteroids, diuretics, oestrogens/progestogens, thyroid hormones, sympathomimetics, atypical antipsychotics, protease inhibitors

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

  • A large amount of data indicates no specific adverse effects on pregnancy; use may be considered if clinically needed
  • Breast-feeding women may require adjustments in insulin dose and diet

Summary of the official product information, written with AI (Claude, Anthropic) on 2026-10-28. Every number was checked automatically against the original text. Not reviewed by a physician – the full official text is authoritative.

Full official text →

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For patients

Package leaflet, verbatim

Package leaflet for patients →

Authorisation and brand names by country

Medicines with exactly this active-substance composition, as listed in the national registers – alphabetical and without ranking. Whether a product is currently available is not shown here.

EU – centrally authorised (all member states)

Source: European Medicines Agency (EMA), product information

Turkey

  • Basaglar KwikpenLİLLY İLAÇ TİC. LTD. ŞTİ. · 4 register entries
  • Basalog OneABDİ İBRAHİM İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 1 register entry
  • GlarinKOÇAK FARMA İLAÇ VE KİMYA SAN. A.Ş. · 2 register entries
  • GlaritusONKO İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 4 register entries
  • LantusSANOFİ SAĞLIK ÜRÜNLERİ LTD. ŞTİ. · 2 register entries
  • ToujeoSANOFİ SAĞLIK ÜRÜNLERİ LTD. ŞTİ. · 2 register entries

Source: TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, as of 2026-10-16

Brand names in 3 more European countries
Iceland
Abasaglar, Lantus, Ondibta, Semglee, Toujeo Doublestar, Toujeo Solostar
Liechtenstein
Abasaglar, Lantus, Ondibta, Semglee, Toujeo Doublestar, Toujeo Solostar
Norway
Lantus, Ondibta, Semglee, Toujeo Doublestar, Toujeo Solostar

EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28

Medelix receives no money from pharmaceutical companies. Brand names are listed alphabetically and without ranking.

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Sources

  1. European Medicines Agency. Lantus – EPAR, Product Information (OF THE TEXT Detailed information on this medicinal product i). 2026-10-27. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/lantus-epar-product-information_en.pdf
  2. European Medicines Agency. Toujeo (previously Optisulin) – EPAR, Product Information (OF THE TEXT Detailed information on this medicinal product i). 2026-10-27. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/toujeo-epar-product-information_en.pdf
  3. TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, 2026-10-16. https://www.titck.gov.tr/dinamikmodul/85
  4. Wikidata (CC0): ATC A10AE.

Editorial: Medelix editorial team · last updated 2026-10-27 · How these pages are made · Report an error

Source: European Medicines Agency (EMA), product information. Not advertising, not a treatment recommendation. For questions about your own treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.