Levemir vs. Toujeo
Are Levemir and Toujeo the Same Thing?
Levemir (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) and Toujeo (insulin glargine) Injection are long-acting human insulin analogs used to treat diabetes in adults.
Levemir is also used to treat diabetes in children.
Side effects of Levemir and Toujeo that are similar include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), injection site reactions (e.g., pain, redness, irritation), swelling of extremities, weight gain, and cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.
Side effects of Levemir that are different from Toujeo include thickening of the skin where you inject Levemir, headache, back pain, stomach pain, and flu symptoms.
Side effects of Toujeo that are different from Levemir include upper respiratory tract infection, allergic reactions, body fat redistribution (lipodystrophy), itching, and rash.
Both Levemir and Toujeo 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.
Toujeo may also interact with angiotensin II receptor blocking agents (ARBs).
What Are Possible Side Effects of Levemir?
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).
What Are Possible Side Effects of Toujeo?
Common side effects of Toujeo include:
- cold symptoms
- upper respiratory tract infection
- low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- allergic reactions
- injection site reactions
- body fat redistribution (lipodystrophy)
- itching
- rash
- swelling of extremities, and
- weight gain
What Is Levemir?
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.
What Is Toujeo?
Common side effects of Toujeo include:
- cold symptoms
- upper respiratory tract infection
- low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- allergic reactions
- injection site reactions
- body fat redistribution (lipodystrophy)
- itching
- rash
- swelling of extremities, and
- weight gain
What Drugs Interact With Levemir?
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.
What Drugs Interact With Toujeo?
Toujeo may interact with other antidiabetic drugs, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents (ARBs), disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), pentoxifylline, pramlintide, propoxyphene, salicylates, somatostatin analogs, sulfonamide antibiotics, antipsychotics, corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isonazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens, protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic drugs, thyroid hormones, alcohol, beta-blockers, clonidine, lithium salts, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
How Should Levemir be Taken?
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.
How Should Toujeo be Taken?
The recommended starting dose of Toujeo in insulin naïve patients with type 1 diabetes is approximately one-third to one-half of the total daily insulin dose. The remainder of the total daily insulin dose should be given as a short-acting insulin and divided between each daily meal. As a general rule, 0.2 to 0.4 units of insulin per kilogram of body weight can be used to calculate the initial total daily insulin dose in insulin naïve patients with type 1 diabetes. The recommended starting dose of Toujeo in insulin naïve patients with type 2 diabetes is 0.2 units per kilogram of body weight once daily.