Lantus Drug
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Q: has anyone gained alot of weight takeing the drug LANTUS?
A: I was on Lantus twice a day for four years and four months, and my weight pretty much stayed the same.. so.. no.
Q: Lantus vs Levemir and the Insurance Companies?
John asked me in email what the cost of the lesser expense Levemir was with insurance. He said his cost with insurance was $60 for Lantus. Mine was $120 with BCBS and Express Scripts. For the Levemir it is $25. I am on fixed income and cannot afford to spend $120/month. So was trying for the “prefered” drug. Guess I will give up the few veggies and fruits I could afford to have the Lantus. Any other suggestions?
A: health-quotes.talk4fun.net – here is my health insurance plan. As I remember they can provide such a service.
Q: Lantus at night or in the morning?
I just started on Lantus 10 units once a day. It’s been four days. My blood sugar levels are through the roof. Up to 300 never below 200. I am also taking actos and metformin. Yes I am watching my diet, 35 to 45 grams of carbs per meal, low GI foods, plenty of exercise and I work on my feet. I understand it takes awhile to adjust the dose, but geez I have never had levels this high. I don’t have very good insurance, these drug costs are killing me. Anyway, I’ve been taking it in the morning. Is there a difference between taking in the morning or at night?
A: Are you in contact with your doctor? I know when I was taking Lantus I was told that after three days if my glucose levels didn’t improve to increase it a certain amount. It’s been too long, don’t remember how much. Lantus is a background insulin meaning it’s not meant to quickly lower your glucose levels. I’m assuming you’re a type 2 which means you have a lot of insulin resistance. From what I’ve seen, 10 units is a very low dose for a type 2 and it’s likely you’ll need a LOT more to get any results. Although technically it doesn’t matter when you take the Lantus, just take it at the same time every day, some people do have better results taking at one time or the other. Sometimes it doesn’t last the full 24 hours, sometimes it lasts longer than 24 hours. Some people find it works better to split the dose. For most, one a day at the same time every day works fine. But you do have to get to the correct dose which you clearly have not achieved. Hang in there, make sure you’re talking to your doctor every few days, you shouldn’t have to wait until the next doctor appointment for your doctor to make adjustments to your dose. It is expensive…And with insulin resistance you’re more than likely going to need more than one bottle a month. 
Hang in there.
Q: Diabetics: Do you notice under-filling of Lantus bottles?
I have noticed that there seems to be a continuing problem with under-filling of Lantus brand insulin bottles. About 25 percent of the bottles I use contain less than 1,000 units. This is over a l-o-n-g period of time. It’s not just one bad lot. Some bottles are slightly over-filled, but I get a LOT of Lantus bottles that contain 930-980 units instead of 1,000.
Has anyone else noticed this? I have complained to the pharmacists. They claim it’s “impossible” for a drug company tio under-fill bottles. I am very accurate in my handling of dosages, and i know I am right.
A: My best friend uses Lantus and she has made the same comment!;
Q: Diabetics or healthcare workers, I need your help! Lantus users?
I have some questions about Lantus (Glargine) insulin use with other blood glucose lowering agents. I read through the Lantus website, and through their FDA information that dosage can range from 2-100 IU per day. Starting with 10 IU once daily, then raising the dosage once per week according to a sliding scale by glucose level (+8 IU >180 mg/dL; +6 IU >140 mg/dL and so on…). In this case, the insulin was prescribed for use with Avandia, which we are stopping now bc the Avandia drug info says NOT to mix the two. So, back to the Metformin.
And just FYI so nobody freaks out… this IS being supervised by a physician with my help. I am an RN trying to help a friend learn about her diabetes and how to control it. Her glucose levels are consistenely above 300 right now! Yesterday she was taking 10 IU Lantus and 8 mg Avandia. Today she started taking 18 IU Lantus once daily and 1000 mg Metformin twice daily.
Now for the questions…
How much Lantus do you use?
How did you titrate it and how often?
What other diabetic meds are you taking and how much?
How were your glucose levels affected by the Lantus and meds?
Other than diet and exercise, is there any uselfull advice you would like to offer?
Have you ever used Byetta?
What happened?
Your help will be GREATLY appreciated!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU TTC!!!!! That really helps! I have given Lantus before, but just in 10-20 IU doese. I was worried about going really high. But with your reassurance I will feel better!
A: A couple of years ago, I had glucose levels consistently in the 300s and sometimes 400s. Working with my dr. to find a way to lower while I refused to resort to insulin. The thought of being “insulin dependent” was psychologically unacceptable to me at the time. We tried metformin and actos in varying dosage amounts for nearly a year. My a1c was at 12 when I finally gave in. I started at 10 IU Lantus once daily and and continued with 1000mg metformin twice daily to not much change. We increased the Lantus by 2 IU weekly as long as my glucose levels (fasting) remained higher than 150. I got as high as 126 IU Lantus once daily, 1000 mg metformin twice daily and added back in the 30 mg Actos once daily. A1C began to come down gradually over the course of 9 months. We began reducing the Lantus by 2 IU weekly as long as fasting glucose level remains below 120. My most current labs were an A1c of 6.2, fasting glucose level at 60, eliminated the actos, lowered metformin to 500 mg twice daily, Lantus at 90 IU once daily and still decreasing on a regular basis weekly. What has helped me the most is a very consistent time of taking all the medications and having meals from day to day. Diet and exercise are key as we all know, but it was truly amazing how the timing was so important for me. If I alter the time of any of the medication and/or meals by just one hour…glucose level begins to elevate.
Never used Byetta.
Hope this helps with your friend. Good luck!
Q: Using Lantus, what’s the best injection site… belly or thigh?
I’m just curious about the experiences of other people using this drug. I’ve been told by a nurse that the belly is the best site because the drug is better absorbed. All the information says both are fine.
A: Having given enough subcut injections as a nurse, what my patients tell me is to give it where it is most comfortable. Generally that is in the belly because as your nurse has stated the absorbtion can be better there. But the thigh can be just as good as long, as well as your bicep area assuming your not to thin. My nanna is also a belly person and just alterates where she does it on her tummy to keep it comfortable.
Q: what is jessica’s clinical summary?
Clinical Summary
C N A
Name: Jessica Hickingbottom Weeks of October 8-24, 2007
Clinical Assignment Area Brookhaven Nursing Home
1.What type of surrounding do most patients have in their rooms? Does it have
anything to do with any of the disorders? List specific examples.
(10 points)
When I first walked into Brookhaven Nursing Home I felt very warm and welcome, but upon arriving in the first patients’ room I felt a sense of loneliness and despair. This man had no photos and no belongings, just machines all around him, including an oxygen machine by which his every breath depended on. I had a fear that every other resident was just the same. By the time my shift was over I had a totally different view. The second resident that I met was so happy to see me she just kept talking and talking. All around her room there were so many pictures. She was a diehard Elvis Presley fan and her room had every bit to show of it. On her night stand she had a framed picture of her and an Elvis impersonator signed by the man himself. She is a very lively lady and all she needed from me was a helping hand in the morning to get out of bed so she could grab her walker, which sat right next to the edge of her chair, just so she could move on with her day. Every time I walked into a residents room the first thing I would do was look around and see all of their things. One resident even had her very own motorized scooter ;I had been so used to pushing around wheelchairs that it was nice to see someone do it on there own. I noticed that most of the residents had a water jug in there room that was located on their bedside table. Some residents were not allowed to have water, I knew this because some of them had signs posted above their beds warning the CNA’s of certain things. Some signs would tell you not to give the resident water or to be gentle when lifting certain parts of their bodies, while other signs warned us where to put the laundry because their family does it for them. Other miscellaneous items such as night creams, extra pillows, special foot wraps, arm bandages, and denture cups led me to the obvious conclusion s of their needs. I really enjoyed rooms that were filled with things that represented where the resident had been or where they were from. One man had a wall filled with postcards and letters from pen pals of extraordinary trips he had taken in the past and friends that he had met along the way. Another resident that I had come across was originally from china. In her room she had sweet pictures of her grandchildren surrounded by paper fans and ancient Chinese quotes. Many of the residents had equipment in their rooms like walkers, wheelchairs, and lifts that aided them with their disabilities, but the residents that looked past that and decorated their rooms with pictures and memories of their younger years were the one’s I really enjoyed spending time with.
2.Name/identify (trade and generic) two drugs you observed being given.
what method was used to give the drug? (Oral, IV, IV Push, etc.) What is the classification of the drug? Why was it given to the patient? (pain, antibiotic,etc) How often is the drug given?
(10 points)
Trade nameGeneric NameMethod UsedClassificationWhy it was given?How often it was given?
Lantus Insulin GlarginIMInsulinDiabetes Every four hours
GlucagonGlucagonIMInsulinSevere hypoglycemiaFour times every shift
3.Name as well as describe one procedure you preformed this week. (10 points)
This week seemed to be a great time for me to give showers. I was just cleaning bodies from one patient to the next. By the time I had done my third shower I felt like it was the easiest task on hand. Showers started to change for me when I gained a new resident from moving to hall 300. To me it was a typical day, wake the resident, put them in the chair and roll them down to the shower room, all was fine until we started the actual shower. I uncovered the resident, started the shower, checking the temperature while the resident washed her face. I sprayed the water all around her body then I drenched the washcloth in soap and starting washing through the steps. During a normal routine cleansing of the perennial area the certain resident I was working on had a bowel movement and it took me by surprise. In the back of my mind I knew that this very thing could have happened at any time but I suppose I just didn’t expect it. The resident realized what she had done and knowing that she didn’t have any more control over what had happened than I did, I reassured her that everything was just fine. I continued on with perennial care and finished the shower. I knew that my resident was embarrassed and I felt bad about what had happened. I picked up the specimen with a used washcloth as the CNA had instructed to placing it at the bottom of the shower chair making it easier to dispose of. While back in the residents’ room, I gathered her clean clothes and a diaper. I dried off the rest of her body, particularly the hard to reach areas, armpits, peri, and underneath the breast. I started to apply her deodorant when I noticed something on the floor. She had accidently had another bowel movement when I had be drying her off. Just as before I grabbed another washcloth and covered the specimen placing it at the bottom of the chair. I wasn’t grossed out about what she was doing; it was all out of her control. I just wanted to let her know that everything was going to be ok since she was feeling so bad about it. It is part of my job to do these things, but more importantly my job is to comfort the residents and make them feel as positive as they should.
4.What affected you the most in your clinical area this week? (10 points)
While working at the nursing home I really started to see how the residents feel. Most people avoid going to nursing homes because they dislike the smell or they think it is just a sad place to be, but all of this is not necessarily truthful. When I was working and connecting with the residents, listening to what they had to say it really affected me. So many people missed their families, which is what it all seemed to be about. Almost every conversation I had was about someone’s grandchild or a family Christmas photo that was on their nightstand. The resident’s felt that they were put in a home waiting to die while the one’s they loved went on. It made me sad when residents would say things like, “When I get better and I get out of this place, I’m going to go visit my sister in Colorado, or my grandkids in California.” I know as well as they do that they won’t be going, but somehow I believe when they tell themselves things like that it makes them feel better. Everyone needs a reason to live you can’t just sit around waiting to die. Some residents would take their feeling s out in anger, yelling at the CNA’s or refusing to eat .While others took it out in sorrow crying their eyes out at every memory of a passed loved one. While on hall 200 I met an amazing lady who was so happy and giggly everyday I worked with her. She would always tell my CNA of the dreams she had the previous night about her husband, and they would always be so sweet and lovely. I felt so sorry that her husband had passed ,but she is one the nicest people I’ve ever met, and when she spoke of her dreams she always had a smile on her face, almost as if her husband were sitting right next to her. She has come to terms of what her life has given her and that made me respect her even more. Some residents made it difficult and sad to work with them but knowing one day that they will all return back to be with the one’s they love make my job so much easier,
5.Copy below from the patient’s chart a Doctor’s Order and interpret the order. (10 points)
Flu vacc 0.5 ml IM x 1 dose
Give the resident 0.5 milliliters of the Flu vaccine intra muscular only one dose
Check temp. Q shift x 72̊
Check the residents temperature every shift for 72 hours (3 days)
6.Copy below from a patient’s chart a Nurses Notes and interpret the order.
(10 points)
Cont. on flu fall-no delayed injury
The resident is continuing to come off of the flu and there
is no delayed injury
Noted- denies any pain or discomfort
The resident denies having any pain or discomfort
7.What do you feel that you need to improve on (skills, etc)? (10 points)
When making beds at the nursing home I noticed that residents liked it done differently then the way we were taught.
I got really nervous the first time my CNA had me make a residents bed , it was like I had forgotten all of the steps, I think I was just so nervous that my mind went blank. She had to show me all of the steps again like she was teaching me for the first time. I didn’t know that some of the residents liked their sheets folded in half because it makes the bed warmer and it took me a while to get used to that.
Each resident seemed to prefer their beds made differently and it took me some time to memorize just the way they liked it. But the majority of the beds that I made were not like the skills we practiced in class. I just don’t feel like my bed making skills are up to par. I have been making so many beds by the residents request that I have forgotten how to make them the way I need to for my CNA test.
I know that everything will be fine though, I have my procedural guidelines at home and a bed to practice on. As far as all of the other tasks go I think I have had enough practice and reading to excel.
8.Name two diets that different patients have. Describe. (10 points)
Mechanical soft was one of the diets that I came across while working in the cafeteria. This diet consisted of foods that were all soft like eggs, juice, oatmeal, soft sausage, and gravy.
A normal diet at the nursing home consisted of pancakes, syrup, eggs, cereal, oat meal, toast, or bacon. This is for residents who can eat easily or with the help of dentures.
9.Name some similar traits that most patients share. (10 points)
When it was just the resident and I that were left to converse I felt like I got to know them more as a person than just a room number at Brookhaven Nursing Home. As I mentioned earlier many of the residents were similar in the fact that they were crazy in love with their families. Most of the time I wouldn’t talk much because I would ask a resident about a family member in a picture and they would go on and on .Some residents would just tell me before I even got a the chance to ask. What I love the most about the residents though is that they are all on a schedule, and many of them have the same schedule. Things like going to the bathroom in the mornings or watching a certain television program. This made it so much easier for me because I became accustom to their needs and we could both work together harmoniously, for instance while working on hall 200 there were two ladies who shared a room and also shared the same schedule. I loved seeing them because they made my day so much easier. They both woke up, went to the bathroom and ate at around the same time. They even had certain television shows that they would watch together, it’s almost like they were best friends roomed together. I also met some couples that were in the same room, and I thought that was one of the sweetest things.
Most of them act quite similar because they are so used to being by each other side and that helped me out .
10. What is the most difficult thing that you had to do this week? (10 points)
I would have to say that the most arduous task I performed this week was when I was assigned to feed a particular resident. Monday morning I was taking breakfast trays to the rooms as I usually do and occasionally I will have to feed residents their meal which is no problem. So when the CNA told me to feed this man I thought alright and headed back to his room. Upon entering I noticed that he was still sleeping so I woke him and raised his bed to a proper eating level. While setting up his tray I tried to start casual conversation with him and I noticed he wasn’t saying anything back so I spoke louder. After my attempts I assumed he was deaf so I began sign language and again no response. Knowing that not every deaf person knows signs I just began to point at breakfast items and show him what I was going to give to him. I took a spoonful of oatmeal and lead it toward his mouth, when all of a sudden he swats his hand at me yelling in Chinese and not wanting any part of what I was doing. It took me back a little because he hadn’t said a word and now he just wouldn’t stop. I pulled the spoon away and calmed him down. After he was settled I pointed at some more of the food items to see if he wanted them or not. Any time I tried to feed him something he would seal his lips and shake his head, after fifteen minutes he knew I wasn’t giving in and he finally ate his food.
I just had a really hard time and I felt bad because, I didn’t know what he wanted or didn’t want. The communication barrier between us was so great that I felt lost. Even a persons body language is international and I still feel like he didn’t understand.
I’m just so glad that he finally ate and everything worked out nicely.
A: Well…I don’t understand the question at all. But when I read the summary, I think, this gal is going to be really good at working with these patients. Keep up the good work!
Q: How should I confront my boss?
Recently, I faced an ethical dilemma at work:
I work in the Human Resources Department of a relatively large home health agency. A few weeks ago, my boss asked me to retrieve insulin for a diabetic patient under her care. The insulin, Lantus, was stored in the vegetable compartment of a company refrigerator.
As I was carried the insulin to my boss, I happened to notice the drug’s expiration date– it was one year expired.
After bringing the expiration date to the attention of my boss, I was promptly reprimanded. My boss exclaimed, “I didn’t ask you about the insulin’s expiration date. As far as you’re concerned, insulin has no expiration date!”
Since that incident, I’ve been asked by an administrator to “look the other way” when nurses distribute insulin that’s 1-2 years expired. Additionally, I’ve noticed that prescription drugs (with the patient names removed) are stored in the Medical Supplies room.
I refuse to stand by idly as this agency jeopardizes the health and well-being of its patients. How should I address this issue in the future?
A: That’s against the law. In my hospital we don’t play that. Let someone know. Oh and wrong section.
Q: My Cartilages has me on Exforge?
He took me off Benazepril,Carvedilol,and Lisinopril.At the time I was seeing him he had me taking Exforge twice a day,I stopped seeing him be cos he said as long as I am doing so well I no longer need a Cartilages,and his clink was closed down.Now my General practitioner tells me I am only suppose to take Exforge once a day. and I should not stop taking Benazepril,Carvedilol, and Lisinopril.I have been off the three for 6 months now, And now I am being told to go back on them and take less of the Exforge.What I have read on Exforge it dos not do much good to take it more than once a day.My General practitioner for Clonidine,and Hydrochlorothiazide.I am doing well on the drugs I am taking now, Why should I increase the amount of drugs I am taking?Here is a list of drugs I have to take to stay well.
For Hypertension
Clonazepam.
Potassium.
Gemfibrozil.
Exforge.
Fluoxetine.
Isosorbide.
Aspirin.
Carvediliol.
2 water pils
Lasix.
Hydrochlorothiazide.
Chantix.
For Diabetes.
Amaryl.
Lantus.
Novolog.
What could I cut out?
A: Since your doctor put you on the medications, he is the one you should be asking this question. Your pharmacist is your best resource for information on your medications but you should not be picking out what you will take and what you will not take-discuss your concerns with your doctor.
Q: Should I switch doctors?
I just had an experience & now, I’m wondering if I should switch doctors. I went to see my doctor a couple of months ago for diabetes issues I was having. He was kind enough to give me free samples of Lantus insulin because I have a $2500 deductible before insurance will pay for anything.
I went to see him yesterday & he was going to give me more free samples of Lantus, but was out. So, he wrote a prescription for me. When I went to pick up the prescription, I found out that it would cost $275. Well, I honestly do not have the $$ to pay for it. So, I called the doctor back & told him that the Walmart pharmacist said that they offer a 3 month supply of generic drugs like Glipizide at $10. My doctor said, absolutely not. That I needed the insulin to control my blood sugars.
So, now, I’m at the point of have NO medicine to help with my blood sugar levels. To help get this under control, I always thought that it took both of us working together. He doesn’t understand that I just paid $70 cash for the office visit. Walmart said that I could purchase the insulin one vial at a time at $98, but I don’t even have that.
I’m just so frustrated now because I feel as though I’m on my own. I can purchase 1 vial (at $98) next week. But, for 1 full week, I don’t have anything. I watch what I eat, but it seems like without medicine, every morsel of carbs drives my sugar levels to over 200. I’m really nervous about this.
Any advice?
A: OK, there are generic equivalents of many brandname drugs, but Glipizide is not remotely a generic equivalent of Lantus insulin. Giving your doctor the benefit of the doubt, asing him to substitute Glipizide for insulin may have thrown him. If your diabetes is bad enough, nothing works but insulin. Ask your doctor (and a good Pharmacist…preferably at a different pharmacy) if it would be OK to substitute conventional generic insulin. This would mean a lot more shots in a day (Lantus is an expensive new “time release” version of insulin) but would probably be much cheaper.
Also, there are programs that help people who can’t pay for their drugs. Check out this website:
http://www.sanofi-aventis.us/live/us/en/layout.jsp?cnt=34FFDF5A-E281-466F-BDCE-2658D8763A11
or
https://patientassistanceprogram.sanofi-aventis.us/default.aspx
or calll 1-888-477-2669 and 1-800-221-4025
Are you old enough to qualify for Medicare Part D?
Q: SSDI SSI, Can i receive disability?
I am a type 1 diabetic, I have had complications all my life, I was forced to leave college due to my condition and how severe it became. I am unable to work, I am on Lantus and Humalog. I also take Menocycline, Cutemol, and Zoderm for a skin condition. I am constantly on amoxicillin to help with constantly being ill due to my diabetic condition and the severity it has on my body. I most likely will be on a fre drugs for my stomach as the lining has worn away. So I am wandering since I am sitting here filling out all these papers, will I be able to get disability?
dam. Cause I did work, but my condition got bad. So i am working temporary and then going to be home schooled.
A: Probably. Contact your doctor and get a documentation of the medical condition and how it limits your activities. Then go to ssa.gov and start the application process. Or you can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213
The information by Lisa S is incorrect. there is no period of time you have to have been out of work. You do have to have a certain minimum of lifetime work for SSDI–but can get SSI if you don’t have that work experience. Nor do you have to go to a government doctor.
Q: weight loss and diabetes?
ok i have a question, im 17, i weigh 250 lbs, and im a type 1 diabetic. recently ive quit drugs/cigarettes and im at the peak of self confidnece, so i decided that dropping a few pounds couldnt hurt. ive only been diabetic for about 16 months now and im still a little unclear on things they dont tell you at the hospital. a month or so before being diagnosed, i lost a lot of weight (like 35 lbs) pretty rapidly. i know this was caused by really high blood sugar levels (lets just say it was a miracle i was still walking around)… a few months afterwards i started to gain weight like crazy. plus the lantus im on supposedly increases appetite… can type 1 slow down your metabolism? and if it does is it possible to speed it up by means other than excersise? excersise and proper diet is not a problem, but im looking for something else that may help speed up the pace. of course my question might be in vain, im hesitant to make an effort before knowing what to expect. any thoughts on this?
A: I have type 2, and I lost alot of weight initially too. I know you may not be thrilled with the idea of exersise, but if I may suggest that you atleast include weight training, not the torture of the elipitical machine or the dreaded stationary bike. Seriously, you can keep your metabolisim high when you increase your muscle mass. invest in some free weights, and work out at home a few minutes a day. you will see that even at rest, with added muscle mass, you can keep buringing fat, and keep your metabolism going.
try it out!
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