Insulin Dosage conversion for Lantus Solostar to Toujeo
November 13, 2015 5:19 PM Subscribe
My husband went to his doctor today and brought home some samples of the insulin Toujeo. He is currently taking Lantus Solostar 75 units am and 75 units pm (total of 150 units a day). Apparantly the doctor did not clearly explain what dose he needs to take of the Toujeo, here is the dosage instructions from their website.
Toujeo is more concentrated than Lantus, can someone help me with what dose he should take to compare to his Lantus dose? I know you are not our doctor, just looking for some guidance.
Toujeo is more concentrated than Lantus, can someone help me with what dose he should take to compare to his Lantus dose? I know you are not our doctor, just looking for some guidance.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Hey there, this question got away from us earlier in the night but it looks like this is something where really you need the answer from your doctor, period, so I'm going to delete so it won't show up in google searches. -- LobsterMitten
Another option that many health insurance companies have now is also a free nurse consult service. If you have this it might be on the website or the back of your insurance card. I've found them to be extremely helpful in the past.
posted by rainbowbrite at 5:38 PM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by rainbowbrite at 5:38 PM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
I would call the night line and ask the doctor to clarify his/her instructions. If you don't get an answer tonight, I'd take the usual Lantus tonight (or in the morning) and through the weekend until you get a clarification from the doctor. Also, check to see if the doctor put a prescription in with the samples. If so, the dosage is on there. It might be in the bottom of the bag.
You can ask the pharmacist, but you absolutely should not do the dosing yourself. Call the endocrinologist, call the pharmacist for guidance while you wait, and if you don't get an answer, stick with the Lantus as usual for the weekend. If you are out of Lantus, the pharmacist will give you enough to get through the weekend, one pen, probably. And if he does use the Toujeo, take extra meter readings before and after meals and exertion, so you can note changes.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 5:39 PM on November 13, 2015 [7 favorites]
You can ask the pharmacist, but you absolutely should not do the dosing yourself. Call the endocrinologist, call the pharmacist for guidance while you wait, and if you don't get an answer, stick with the Lantus as usual for the weekend. If you are out of Lantus, the pharmacist will give you enough to get through the weekend, one pen, probably. And if he does use the Toujeo, take extra meter readings before and after meals and exertion, so you can note changes.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 5:39 PM on November 13, 2015 [7 favorites]
If you have any of the old drug left, wait and call the doctor before starting the new drug.
Pharmacists can often give you a little bit of a drug you've had a longtime prescription for if you are out, but they don't exactly publicize this.
posted by yohko at 5:49 PM on November 13, 2015
Pharmacists can often give you a little bit of a drug you've had a longtime prescription for if you are out, but they don't exactly publicize this.
posted by yohko at 5:49 PM on November 13, 2015
Oh my god stop. More concentrated and you don't know how to dose?
My husband has had to rub sugar into my mouth to wake me from over night low blood sugar. That is frightening and a real "hey, one day your spouse will die!" moment. Don't risk that. Call your insurance nurse line. Use the solo star until you can get guidance. But whatever you do, don't take this new stuff. High blood sugar will mess you up a whole lot less than low.
posted by munchingzombie at 6:17 PM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
My husband has had to rub sugar into my mouth to wake me from over night low blood sugar. That is frightening and a real "hey, one day your spouse will die!" moment. Don't risk that. Call your insurance nurse line. Use the solo star until you can get guidance. But whatever you do, don't take this new stuff. High blood sugar will mess you up a whole lot less than low.
posted by munchingzombie at 6:17 PM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm sorry, but insulin is exactly the wrong medicine to get dosing information for on Metafilter. It's far too easy to die (or at least cause serious, permanent damage) with a relatively small error, and there are too many variables to account for that we don't have and which may only be in his chart at the doctor's office.
By the way, your husband should bring a notebook and/or a friend for these appointments. They're supposed to give you these kinds of instructions in writing anyway.
posted by SMPA at 6:23 PM on November 13, 2015
By the way, your husband should bring a notebook and/or a friend for these appointments. They're supposed to give you these kinds of instructions in writing anyway.
posted by SMPA at 6:23 PM on November 13, 2015
Response by poster: I called our insurance health nurse line and it was a total waste of time. They could not tell me anything but that I would need to talk to our doctor. We will continue to use the Lantus until we get the right dosage instructions. I have the number to Sanofi (make both Lantus and Toujeo) and will give them a call either tomorrow or Monday.
posted by just asking at 6:24 PM on November 13, 2015
posted by just asking at 6:24 PM on November 13, 2015
"High blood sugar will mess you up a whole lot less than low."
This is absolutely not true and is a wonderful example of why Ask is not the place to be seeking guidance on your insulin dosing. Low blood sugar can cause brain damage and death and can therefore be just as dangerous as high blood sugar.
I think your plan is excellent. When you call, I might ask if there's a diabetes nurse educator on staff you could contact for questions like these. Larger offices/practices sometimes have them on staff and in my experience they're wonderful resources.
posted by pecanpies at 6:30 PM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
This is absolutely not true and is a wonderful example of why Ask is not the place to be seeking guidance on your insulin dosing. Low blood sugar can cause brain damage and death and can therefore be just as dangerous as high blood sugar.
I think your plan is excellent. When you call, I might ask if there's a diabetes nurse educator on staff you could contact for questions like these. Larger offices/practices sometimes have them on staff and in my experience they're wonderful resources.
posted by pecanpies at 6:30 PM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
I was coming in to say "ack, no, don't start messing with this on a Friday night" so I'm glad to hear that you're not changing insulins till you have accurate dosing information. I'm kind of not thrilled with the doctor not providing VERY CLEAR IN WRITING instructions.
posted by shiny blue object at 6:37 PM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by shiny blue object at 6:37 PM on November 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
pecanpies, I think you misread the statement you quoted -- it's in agreement with your argument.
justasking, it's likely that Sanofi will not give dosage information either; I recommend calling in to the doctor. If you need to switch before Monday, the office should have an after hours coverage provider and instructions on how to reach them on their phone message.
posted by telegraph at 6:57 PM on November 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
justasking, it's likely that Sanofi will not give dosage information either; I recommend calling in to the doctor. If you need to switch before Monday, the office should have an after hours coverage provider and instructions on how to reach them on their phone message.
posted by telegraph at 6:57 PM on November 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
Yep, totally did. Thanks, and I'm sorry, munchingzombie.
posted by pecanpies at 7:02 PM on November 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by pecanpies at 7:02 PM on November 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
No problem, pecanpies. Your point still stands, no one should be getting dosing info on this or any other site.
posted by munchingzombie at 7:26 PM on November 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by munchingzombie at 7:26 PM on November 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
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posted by michaelh at 5:32 PM on November 13, 2015