Toujeo is an injectable insulin medication for the treatment of diabetes (type 1 or type 2) in people who are 6 years old and older. It is a long-acting form of insulin, which allows it to last for a long time in the body to help control blood sugars. It is classified as a concentrated insulin, which means that it has more units of insulin per milliliter (mL) than standard insulin.
How Does Toujeo Work for Diabetes?
The active ingredient in Toujeo is insulin glargine. It works by regulating blood sugar breakdown in two ways. First, it causes an increase in blood sugar uptake into the skeletal muscles and fat cells. Second, it helps to stop sugar production in the liver. Insulin can be thought of as the key that unlocks your cells to allow the sugar to move from the blood into the cells.
How Do I Take Toujeo?
The dose of Toujeo that you are prescribed will be specifically for you and your diabetes. It can be injected under the skin of the thigh, stomach, or outer area of the upper arm. It is given once a day at the same time each day.
Toujeo comes as a pre-filled insulin pen. Your health care provider will show you how to inject the drug before you use it the first time. Your prescription should come with “Instructions for Use,” which explains how to prepare and give a dose. There is also a video available at the drug company’s website: What Is Toujeo Max Solostar Pen? | Toujeo (insulin glargine) injection 300 Units/mL. Ask your pharmacist or other health care provider if you are unsure how to use Toujeo.
How Was It Studied for Diabetes?
Overall, there were five early studies that all lasted 26 weeks (about 6 months). These studies included one in adults with type 1 diabetes, one in children with type 1 diabetes, and three in adults with type 2 diabetes. In all the studies, the patients knew what drug they were taking. They were either taking Toujeo or the standard treatment at the time called Lantus. Both of these products are the same active ingredient – insulin glargine – but their strength is different. Toujeo is 300 units/mL and Lantus is 100 units/mL.
Most of the people in all of the studies were White and male. The average age of the people in the type 1 diabetes trial for adults was 47 years old. The average age of the people in the type 1 diabetes trial for children was 13 years old. The average age of the people in the type 2 diabetes trials for adults was 58-60 years old.
At the end of all the studies, Toujeo lowered A1c and fasting blood sugar as well as the standard Lantus product.
Your results may differ from what was seen in clinical studies.
How Long Does It Take for Toujeo to Start Working?
Toujeo starts working right away, but it might take some time for your health care provider to find the dose that will work best for you. It is important to monitor your blood sugar as directed by your health care provider to help them find the best dose. You should keep track of your blood sugar numbers and bring them to all your appointments.
How Can I Prevent and Manage Side Effects?
The most common side effects of Toujeo include low blood sugar, injection site reactions, and weight gain.
Low blood sugar. The most commonly reported side effect is low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. Signs of low blood sugar include sweating, shakiness, hunger, and a fast heartbeat. Low blood sugar can happen suddenly, and signs can be different in each person. Severe low blood sugar can lead to seizures or cause death. So it is important to talk to your health care provider about symptoms of low blood sugar. You should create a plan to treat low blood sugar if it were to happen. You can help prevent low blood sugar by eating meals at regular intervals, double-checking your insulin dose before injecting it, and testing your blood sugar as directed. You can consider wearing a medical alert bracelet that shows you have diabetes.
Injection site reactions. Injection site reactions are usually mild and can include symptoms such as pain, itching, swelling, or discoloration of the skin where you got the shot. If you notice any of these symptoms, ensure your injection technique is good by reading the directions for use again. The best way to decrease these reactions is to inject the drug into a different part of the body each time, which is called rotating the injection site. For example, Toujeo can be injected into different parts of the thigh, stomach, or outer area of the upper arms. Don’t inject the drug into skin that is already tender, damaged, bruised, or scarred. If injection site reactions continue, contact your health care provider for further instructions.
Weight gain. Weight gain is common with insulin because it causes the sugar to go from your blood to your cells. If you do not use the sugar, then it is stored in the body as fat. High blood sugars can also make you urinate more. As your blood sugars become more controlled, you will urinate less. This may cause you to retain more water, which can increase weight. To help prevent weight gain, monitor your diet and exercise. You may want to consider working with a nutritionist to help you create a diet plan that is right for you.
These are not all of the possible side effects of Toujeo. Talk with your health care provider if you are having symptoms that bother you. You can also report side effects to the FDA at 800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088).
What Kinds of Drug Interactions May Happen?
Several medicines can interact with Toujeo.
Drugs that may lower blood sugars. Combining Toujeo with other medications that lower blood sugar can increase the chance of low blood sugar events. If the medications are used together, lower doses of Toujeo or more frequent blood sugar tests may be needed. A common example of this interaction is one that comes with other diabetes medications.
Drugs that may increase blood sugar. Combining Toujeo with other medications that increase blood sugars may cause high blood sugar levels. If the medications are used together, higher doses of Toujeo or more frequent blood sugar tests may be needed. Common examples are reactions with corticosteroids like prednisone or certain antipsychotics like olanzapine.
This is not a complete list of medicines that may interact with Toujeo. Tell your health care provider about all the prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, or other supplements you take or have recently taken. This will help them find out if there are any interactions. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your health care provider.
Is There a Cost Savings Program?
Toujeo offers financial services to help you with medication costs. There is a copay card available from the drugmaker that may allow you to pay $35 per month for your prescription. Whether you are eligible depends on whether you have prescription insurance, and what type of insurance you have. You can find out about all the financial services at https://www.toujeopro.com/savings-and-coverage.
For questions about cost, insurance coverage, or any other questions related to Toujeo, you can also contact the drugmaker at 888-847-4877.
