This article describes possible side effects of Lantus. You can explore this overview article to learn more about Lantus, including the drug’s uses, ways to save on cost, and more.
Lantus is a brand-name medication that comes as an injection that you give under your skin. It’s available in biosimilar versions called Rezvoglar and Semglee. This article describes possible side effects of Lantus.
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More common side effects of Lantus
Lantus may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of Lantus include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Lantus in detail” section below.
Mild side effects of Lantus
Lantus may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and are easily manageable. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of Lantus that occurred in studies include:
Lantus may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Lantus in detail” section below.
Serious side effects of Lantus
Lantus may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from Lantus, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Lantus.
Serious side effects of Lantus that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Lantus in detail” section below.
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Side effects of Lantus in children
For children, doctors prescribe Lantus to lower blood sugar due to diabetes. The drug has been studied for this purpose in children ages 6–15 years with type 1 diabetes.
In studies, children had similar side effects overall to those of adults using Lantus. But children with type 1 diabetes who used Lantus were more likely to have severely low blood sugar* compared to adults using Lantus for type 1 diabetes.
If you’d like to know more about side effects of Lantus in children, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Lantus in detail” section below.
Common questions about side effects of Lantus
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of Lantus. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can Lantus cause cancer?
No, Lantus doesn’t seem to increase the risk of cancer.
A study that looked at treatment outcomes in adults ages 50 and older using Lantus compared with matched participants using other diabetes treatments found no difference in cancer or death from cancer between the two groups. Also, there are no warnings about risk of cancer in the prescribing information for Lantus.
If you have more questions about cancer and Lantus, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Is hair loss or joint pain possible with Lantus?
Studies of Lantus did not indicate that hair loss was a side effect of Lantus, but there were reports that joint pain was a possible side effect. However, only adults using Lantus for type 2 diabetes reported joint pain. It was not reported in studies of children or people using Lantus for type 1 diabetes.
There are many possible causes of hair loss. For example, having diabetes can sometimes lead to hair loss. And Lantus is used to lower blood sugar in people with diabetes. See this article for more details about how diabetes can affect hair and how to manage possible hair loss due to diabetes.
There are also many possible causes of joint pain. These include injury, overuse, arthritis, or gout. But there are some simple steps you can take to help manage joint pain, including hot or cold compresses, rest, and relaxation techniques such as meditation. Depending on your symptoms and health history, you may also be able to take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever.
If you have hair loss or joint pain that bothers you or lasts for a while, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help determine if the symptom is a side effect of Lantus or if it might be due to another cause. They can also advise you on managing any possible side effects of Lantus.
Does Lantus cause long-term side effects?
Long-term side effects aren’t commonly expected with Lantus. In studies, specific side effects weren’t seen in people who had taken the drug for a long time. Long lasting side effects after treatment ended also weren’t commonly reported.
That said, some side effects of Lantus could last for a while after you’ve stopped taking it. For example, weight gain was a common side effect in studies of people using Lantus. This side effect could last for some time, even after you stop taking the drug. However, weight gain is a common side effect of many types of insulin. Weight gain may happen because of how insulin works to help your body use sugar in the blood.
Talk with your doctor if you have more questions about possible long-term side effects with Lantus.
Side effects of Lantus in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of Lantus.
Low blood sugar
Low blood sugar was the most common side effect in studies of people using Lantus or other types of insulin for diabetes. This side effect can be mild to severe.
Usually, low blood sugar is considered to be a level below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Symptoms may include:
Low blood sugar can happen suddenly. It can differ in each person, and you may have different symptoms over time. Severely low blood sugar can cause seizures or death.
Certain factors can increase the risk of hypoglycemia with Lantus. These may include:
- changes to your dose
- how you’re eating or exercising
- other drugs you’re taking
- how or where you inject Lantus
Ways to manage
Before you start Lantus injections, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about low blood sugar and how to manage it.
Due to this risk, your doctor will likely tell you to check your blood sugar more often when you use Lantus. You may also need to check your blood sugar more often if:
Low blood sugar can also happen if you use the wrong dose of insulin or use it by accident. Always check the label of your insulin and your dose closely before you inject.
If you have concerns about low blood sugar, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Also, see this article for more details about how to treat low blood sugar.
Injection site reactions
In studies, injection site reactions were common in people using Lantus. This side effect is usually mild.
Symptoms of reactions at the spot where you inject insulin under your skin may include:
- redness
- pain
- itching
- skin swelling
You also may develop thickened areas of skin, skin lumps, or pits in the skin where you inject insulin frequently. This is sometimes called lipohypertrophy.
Certain factors can increase the risk of injection site reactions with Lantus. These include injecting each Lantus dose in the same area.
Ways to manage
Your doctor or pharmacist will give you advice about how to inject Lantus and reduce your risk of injection site reactions. They may recommend:
- using a different spot for each injection
- avoiding injecting Lantus in areas where your skin is thick or has lumps or pits
- not injecting in areas where your skin is bruised, sore, or irritated
- waiting for the pre-injection alcohol wipe to fully evaporate before injecting
If you experience injection site reactions often or they bother you, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
In rare cases, symptoms such as itching, rash, or swelling may be signs of an allergic reaction. See the “Allergic reaction” section below for details about how to manage a possible allergic reaction.
Edema
Edema was a common side effect in studies of people using Lantus. This side effect is usually mild but can sometimes be serious.
Edema is swelling due to fluid buildup under your skin. It usually occurs in your feet, ankles, or legs. The area may look puffy, or the skin can look stretched and shiny.
Certain factors can increase the risk of edema with Lantus, including if you had poor glucose management before starting Lantus injections.
Also tell your doctor if you take the medication pioglitazone. Taking this or a similar drug with Lantus may increase your risk of edema. And sudden swelling of your ankles or feet could lead to or be a symptom of heart failure.
Ways to manage
Tell your doctor if you experience symptoms of edema. They’ll likely recommend simple ways to help manage edema, such as limiting foods high in salt, being active, and avoiding tobacco or alcohol.
You may also have edema if you have heart failure. Call your doctor right away if you have heart failure and you have new, painful, or worsening edema or if you have any trouble breathing or chest pain.
For some people, Lantus can cause an allergic reaction.
Symptoms can be mild or serious and may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep using Lantus injections.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Lantus, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for Lantus
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before starting Lantus treatments.
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to take Lantus if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether Lantus is a safe treatment option for you.
Before starting Lantus injections, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Lantus in detail” section above.
Lantus and pregnancy
It is unknown whether you should use Lantus during pregnancy. So far, studies have not shown a clear link between Lantus and problems with fetal development (commonly known as birth defects), miscarriage, or other adverse outcomes when Lantus is used during pregnancy. But these studies can’t rule out a possible risk.
If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before using this medication.
Lantus and breastfeeding
It is unknown whether you should use Lantus while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before using this medication.
Lantus may interact with alcohol. Consuming alcohol may increase or decrease how well Lantus lowers your blood sugar. The prescribing information recommends you avoid consuming alcohol while using Lantus.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with Lantus. Also see this article for more details about how alcohol may interact with diabetes medications and your blood sugar.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of Lantus. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- What are the most common side effects of Lantus?
- What steps can I take to reduce my risk of side effects with Lantus?
- How do the side effects of Lantus compare with those of other long-acting insulins?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks 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.
