Dosage of Lantus: What to Know

Lantus is a brand-name prescription medication that contains the active drug insulin glargine. It belongs to a class of drugs called long-acting insulins. Lantus is available in a biosimilar form called Rezvoglar.

This medication has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to manage blood sugar levels. Doctors can prescribe it for adults and children with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Lantus is available as follows.

• Form: liquid solution for subcutaneous injection, available as:
  • multiple-dose vial
  • prefilled SoloStar pen
• Strength:
  • 100 units (U) per milliliter (ml), which is also written as 100 U/ml

In this article, you’ll find additional information about Lantus’s dosage and details on how to take the drug. For a comprehensive overview of Lantus, view this article.

For details about the drug’s dosage, see the “Lantus: Dosage” section below. Your doctor will prescribe the dosage of Lantus that’s right for your condition.

If you’re interested in taking Lantus, search here to find a doctor who might prescribe it.

Commonly recommended dosages for Lantus are shown below.

You should take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll recommend the dosage that’s best for your condition.

Lantus comes as a liquid solution to be given as a subcutaneous injection. It comes in these forms:

• multiple-dose vial
• prefilled SoloStar pen

Both forms are available in one strength, which is 100 units (U) per milliliter (ml). This is also written as 100 U/ml.

Usually, doctors will prescribe a low dosage of Lantus at the start of treatment. Then, they’ll adjust the dosage over time if needed. Ultimately, your doctor will prescribe the smallest Lantus SoloStar dosage or Lantus insulin vial dosage that gives the desired effect.

Doctors determine your Lantus dosage based on a few factors. These include your blood sugar level goals and current blood sugar levels. The drug has a recommended starting dosage but not a recommended maximum dosage.

The table below shows the common dosages of Lantus for people who are new to using insulin. However, remember to always use the Lantus dosage your doctor prescribes for you.

* Typically, people with type 1 diabetes require about 0.5 to 1 unit of insulin per kg of body weight daily. Your doctor can tell you more about your daily insulin requirement. They can also tell you how it’s used to calculate your Lantus dosage.

These are typical starting dosages for people not already using another insulin and beginning treatment with Lantus.

However, dosages may differ for people switching from another insulin to treatment with Lantus. Examples of these other insulins include neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin (Humulin N, Novolin N). In this case, your doctor will determine your Lantus dosage using your current insulin dosage.

The children’s dosage of Lantus is the same as the adult dosages described in the table above.

Doctors typically prescribe Lantus as a long-term treatment. You’ll likely take it long term if you and your doctor feel it’s safe and effective for your condition.

Below are some common questions related to Lantus’s dosage.

Yes, a dosing calculator is available for healthcare professionals. Your doctor will calculate your starting dose for you.

Certain drugs, such as Lantus, are dosed based on body weight. Healthcare professionals may use a dosing calculator for these drugs to determine the right dosage for you.

If your doctor instructs you to do so, you may inject a dose of Lantus at bedtime. However, the drug may be injected at any time of day.

Try to take your Lantus dose at the same time each day. Doing so helps keep a steady amount of the drug in your body. This can help it work more effectively.

No, there’s not really a normal or average dose of Lantus. Lantus’s dose will vary from person to person.

Blood sugar levels can vary from one person to another. Because the drug is used to manage blood sugar levels, the dose will also vary by person. For example, an average Lantus dose for type 1 diabetes isn’t possible to determine.

To learn more about recommended starting doses of Lantus, see the “Lantus: Dosage” section above. You can also talk with your pharmacist or doctor.

It is not recommended to use Lantus twice per day. The drug is approved for use once daily to manage blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

Certain other insulins, such as neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin, may be given twice per day. However, this isn’t an approved dosing frequency for Lantus.

To learn more about Lantus’s dosages, review the “Lantus: Dosage” section above. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Your doctor will consider several factors when prescribing the dosage for Lantus. These factors include:

• your age
• the condition you’re taking Lantus to treat
• the severity of your condition

Your prescribed dosage may also vary based on other medical conditions you have or other medications you take.

Your doctor may increase or decrease your Lantus dosage based on certain factors. These could include:

• other medications you take
• any side effects you experience while taking Lantus
• how effective the drug is at managing your blood sugar levels

Your doctor can provide more information on Lantus and dosage adjustments.

Lantus comes as a liquid solution. You’ll take it by subcutaneous injection. Your doctor or another healthcare professional will instruct you how to give yourself Lantus doses at home.

A dose of Lantus may be injected under the skin in any of the following areas:

• your abdomen, at least 2 inches from your belly button
• the top, outer areas of your thigh (in the fatty area)
• the back of your upper arm (tricep area)

It is important to change the site of injection for each dose. Rotating them will help to avoid certain side effects at each injection site. For detailed instructions on injecting doses of Lantus, check out this site from the drug’s manufacturer.

Lantus may be injected at any time of day. Your doctor may recommend that you take Lantus around the same time daily. Doing so will help maintain a consistent amount of the drug in your body. This can help Lantus work effectively.

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS

If you find it challenging to read the label on your prescription, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Certain pharmacies provide medication labels with large print or braille. They may also offer labels containing a scannable code that your smartphone can convert from text to speech. If your pharmacy doesn’t provide these choices, your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If it’s difficult for you to open medication bottles, ask your pharmacist if they can dispense Lantus in an easy-open container. They also may recommend ways to help make it easier to open the bottles.

If you miss a dose of Lantus, try to take it as soon as you remember. However, if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Never give yourself more than one dose of Lantus at a time.

View these medication reminder options to help avoid missing doses. You could also set an alarm or download a reminder app on your phone.

If you take more than the recommended dosage of Lantus, serious effects can occur. Do not use more Lantus than your doctor prescribes. 

Symptoms that an overdose of Lantus could cause include:

• low blood sugar level, which may be mild or severe
• severely low blood sugar level, which may lead to seizures or coma
• low blood potassium level, which may be mild or severe

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much of this drug. Also, you can call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or a local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for additional information about Lantus’s dosage. Keep in mind that the dosages presented in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Lantus that’s right for you and your condition. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.

As with any medications you’re taking, do not change your Lantus dosage without a recommendation from your doctor.

In addition to discussing Lantus with your doctor, you may find the following articles helpful in learning more:

• Overview of Lantus. For comprehensive details on Lantus, see this article.
• Drug comparisons. To learn how Lantus compares with Levemir, read this article.
• Information on side effects. If you’d like to know about the possible side effects of Lantus, view this article.
• Details about diabetes. To learn more about diabetes, which Lantus is used to treat, see this article.

Disclaimer: Healthgrades has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.