Tresiba vs. Lantus

Tresiba (insulin degludec injection) and Lantus (insulin glargine [rdna origin]) are forms of long-acting human insulin analogs used to improve glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Side effects of Tresiba and Lantus that are similar include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), injection site reactions, and headache.

Side effects of Tresiba that are different from Lantus include allergic reactions, body fat redistribution, itching, rash, swelling, weight gain, runny or stuffy nose, upper respiratory tract infection, sinusitis, upset stomach or stomach pain, and diarrhea.

Side effects of Lantus that are different from Tresiba include hunger, weakness, sweating, tremors, irritability, trouble concentrating, rapid breathing, fast heartbeat, fainting, and seizures (severe hypoglycemia can be fatal).

Both Tresiba and Lantus may interact with clonidine, reserpine, and beta-blockers.

Tresiba may also interact with other insulin products, guanethidine, other antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, propoxyphene, salicylates, somatostatin analogs, sulfonamide antibiotics, GLP-1 receptor agonists, DDP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors, atypical antipsychotics, corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens, protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents, thyroid hormones, alcohol, lithium salts, and pentamidine.

Lantus may also interact with albuterol.

Side effects of Tresiba include:

• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia),
• allergic reactions,
• injection site reactions,
• body fat redistribution (lipodystrophy),
• itching,
• rash,
• swelling,
• weight gain,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• upper respiratory tract infection,
• headache,
• sinusitis,
• upset stomach or stomach pain, and
• diarrhea.

Common side effects of Lantus include:

• headache,
• hunger,
• weakness,
• sweating,
• tremors,
• irritability,
• trouble concentrating,
• rapid breathing,
• fast heartbeat,
• fainting, or
• seizure (severe hypoglycemia can be fatal).

Other common side effects of Lantus include pain, redness, swelling, itching, or thickening of the skin at the injection site. These side effects usually go away after a few days or weeks.

Tresiba (insulin degludec injection) is a long-acting human insulin analog indicated to improve glycemic control in adults with diabetes mellitus.

Lantus 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.

Tresiba may interact with other insulin products, beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, reserpine, other antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, propoxyphene, salicylates, somatostatin analogs, sulfonamide antibiotics, GLP-1 receptor agonists, DDP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors, atypical antipsychotics, corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens, protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents, thyroid hormones, alcohol, lithium salts, or pentamidine. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking Tresiba. During pregnancy, Tresiba should only be taken if prescribed. It is unknown if Tresiba passes into breast milk. Women with diabetes who are nursing may require adjustments in insulin dose, meal plan, or both. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Lantus may interact with albuterol, clonidine, reserpine, or beta-blockers. Many other medicines can increase or decrease the effects of insulin on lowering your blood sugar.

The dose of Tresiba is individualized based on type of diabetes, metabolic needs, blood glucose monitoring results, and glycemic control goal.

• Use Lantus exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to. Your healthcare provider should tell you how much Lantus to use and when to use it.
• Know the amount of Lantus you use. Do not change the amount of Lantus you use unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
• Check your insulin label each time you give your injection to make sure you are using the correct insulin.
• Lantus comes in a SoloStar disposable prefilled pen that you must use to give your Lantus. The dose counter on your pen shows your dose of Lantus. Do not make any dose changes unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
• Do not use a syringe to remove Lantus from your SoloStar disposable prefilled pen.
• Do not re-use needles. Always use a new needle for each injection. Re-use of needles increases your risk of having blocked needles, which may cause you to get the wrong dose of Lantus. Using a new needle for each injection lowers your risk of getting an infection. If your needle is blocked, follow the instructions in Step 3 of the Instructions for Use.
• You may take Lantus at any time during the day but you must take it at the same time every day.
• Lantus is injected under your skin (subcutaneously). Do not use Lantus in an insulin pump or inject Lantus into your vein (intravenously).
• Change (rotate) injection your sites within area you chose with each dose. Do not use the exact spot for each injection.
• Do not mix Lantus with any other type of insulin or liquid medicine.
• Check your blood sugar levels. Ask your healthcare provider what your blood sugar should be and when you should check your blood sugar levels.