Levemir vs. Basaglar

Levemir (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) and Basaglar (insulin glargine injection) are long-acting human insulin analogs used to treat diabetes in adults and children.

Side effects of Levemir and Basaglar that are similar include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), injection site reactions (e.g., pain, redness, irritation), weight gain, headache, and cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

Side effects of Levemir that are different from Basaglar include swelling of the hands/feet, thickening of the skin where you inject Levemir, back pain, stomach pain, and flu symptoms.

Side effects of Basaglar that are different from Levemir include allergic reactions, body fat redistribution, itching, rash, swelling, upper respiratory tract infection, back pain, urinary tract infection (UTI), diarrhea, and depression.

Both Levemir and Basaglar may interact with oral antidiabetic medications, pramlintide acetate, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, propoxyphene, pentoxifylline, salicylates, somatostatin analogs, sulfonamide antibiotics, corticosteroids, niacin, danazol, diuretics, sympathomimetic agents (e.g., epinephrine, albuterol, terbutaline), glucagon, isoniazid, phenothiazine derivatives, somatropin, thyroid hormones, estrogens, progestogens (e.g., in oral contraceptives), protease inhibitors, atypical antipsychotic medications (e.g., olanzapine and clozapine), reserpine, guanethidine, beta-blockers, clonidine, lithium salts, and alcohol.

Levemir may also interact with pentamidine.

Basaglar may also interact with angiotensin II receptor blocking agents.

Common side effects of Levemir include:

• injection site reactions (e.g., pain, redness, irritation),
• swelling of the hands/feet,
• thickening of the skin where you inject Levemir,
• weight gain,
• headache,
• back pain,
• stomach pain,
• flu symptoms, or
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Levemir including:

• signs of low potassium level in the blood (such as muscle cramps, weakness, or irregular heartbeat).

Common side effects of Basaglar include:

• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia),
• allergic reactions,
• injection site reactions,
• body fat redistribution,
• itching,
• rash,
• swelling,
• weight gain,
• upper respiratory tract infection,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• back pain,
• cough,
• urinary tract infection,
• diarrhea,
• depression, or
• headache.

Levemir (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) is a man-made form of a hormone that is produced in the body used to treat diabetes in adults and children.

Basaglar (insulin glargine injection) is a long-acting human insulin analog indicated to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Levemir may interact with albuterol, clonidine, reserpine, guanethidine, or beta-blockers. Other medicines can increase or decrease the effects of insulin Levemir on lowering your blood sugar. Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications you use.

Basaglar may interact with antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, propoxyphene, salicylates, somatostatin analogs, sulfonamide antibiotics, atypical antipsychotics, corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens, protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents, thyroid hormones, alcohol, beta-blockers, clonidine, lithium salts, guanethidine, and reserpine. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Levemir is for once- or twice-daily subcutaneous (under the skin) administration. Patients treated with Levemir once-daily should administer the dose with the evening meal or at bedtime. Patients requiring twice-daily dosing can administer the evening dose with the evening meal, at bedtime, or 12 hours after the morning dose.

The dose of Basaglar is individualized based on metabolic needs, blood glucose monitoring, glycemic control, type of diabetes, and prior insulin use.