Lantus's Potential Effects: Common, Mild, and Severe Adverse Reactions
Lantus, a brand-name insulin injection, is commonly used to manage type 2 diabetes in adults and type 1 diabetes in both adults and some children. This medication helps regulate blood sugar levels by mimicking the body's natural insulin production.
Common and Serious Side Effects
While Lantus is an effective treatment, it can cause a range of side effects. Some of these side effects, such as anxiety, blurred vision, chills, cold sweats, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, excess hunger, fast heartbeat, headache, nausea, nervousness, nightmares, restless sleep, seizures, shakiness, slurred speech, tingling in hands, feet, lips, or tongue, and unusual tiredness or weakness, require immediate medical attention.
Less Common or Rare Side Effects
Less common side effects may include depression, thickening of skin at injection sites, fast pulse, itching, pain, redness, or swelling at injection sites, skin rash or itching over the body, sweating, trouble breathing, and more.
Side Effects with Unknown Incidence
Side effects with unknown incidence include bloating or swelling of face, hands, legs, or feet, cough, decreased urine, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, hives, increased thirst, irregular heartbeat, muscle pain or cramps, numbness or tingling in hands, feet, or lips, puffiness or swelling around eyes, face, lips, or tongue, rapid weight gain, vomiting, and more.
Managing Common Side Effects
Common side effects such as joint pain, injection site reaction, lipodystrophy (skin thickening, lumps, dents, or pits at the injection site due to fatty tissue changes under the skin), upper respiratory infection (common cold), and weight gain can be managed. For instance, joint pain can be alleviated by resting the affected joint, using over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), or by applying a cold pack.
Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)
Hypoglycemia, the most frequent and serious side effect of insulin, can quickly become serious and life-threatening if not treated. Symptoms include hunger, irritability, shakiness, dizziness, sweating, fast heartbeat, headache, blurred vision, nausea, weakness, slurred speech, confusion, seizures, loss of consciousness, coma, and death. If episodes of hypoglycemia occur frequently or if hypoglycemia is detected according to blood sugar test results but there are no noticeable symptoms, it's important to contact your doctor.
Special Considerations for Children
Children using Lantus are more likely to have hypoglycemia, and it's more likely to be severe in children. Close monitoring is advised to avoid hypoglycemia and other injection site reactions.
Interactions with Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can cause hypoglycemia, and Lantus can also cause hypoglycemia. So drinking alcohol with Lantus could increase your risk of hypoglycemia, especially severe hypoglycemia. Alcohol can also worsen this side effect.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
If you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding, talk with your doctor before starting Lantus. If you do take Lantus while pregnant or breastfeeding, it's likely that your doctor will adjust your dosage.
Serious Side Effects
Serious side effects can include hypokalemia (low blood potassium level) with symptoms like muscle weakness, muscle cramps or twitches, fatigue, increased thirst, constipation, increased urination, irregular heartbeat, respiratory failure, paralysis, severe hypoglycemia (very low blood sugar).
Seeking Medical Attention
If you develop serious side effects while taking Lantus, call your doctor right away or immediately call 911 or your local emergency number if the side effects seem life-threatening or you think you're having a medical emergency.
Diarrhea during Lantus Treatment
Diarrhea during Lantus treatment can be managed by drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, using an over-the-counter medication like loperamide (Imodium), or seeking advice from a doctor or pharmacist.
It's crucial to discuss any concerns about Lantus with your healthcare provider, including potential side effects, dosage adjustments, and management strategies. By understanding the potential side effects and taking proactive steps to manage them, individuals can effectively use Lantus to manage their diabetes.
- Lantus, a predictive medicine used to manage certain medical-conditions like diabetes, can have several side effects, including hypoglycemia, which can be life-threatening if not treated.
- Less common side effects of Lantus may include depression, thickening of skin at injection sites, fast pulse, itching, and sweating, among others.
- While common side effects such as joint pain, injection site reaction, lipodystrophy, upper respiratory infection, and weight gain can be managed, hypoglycemia requires immediate medical attention due to its serious effects.
- Some drugs like alcohol can interact with Lantus, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia, especially severe forms.
- Individuals who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding should consult with their doctor before starting Lantus, as the medication may affect the mother and baby.
