Lantus is a basal, long-acting insulin that's widely prescribed in Germany. However, it's very common for people using Lantus and other brands of insulin to make mistakes about their storage.
Refrigeration before and protection from heat after first use are what guarantee that your Lantus insulin stays fully effective and for the longest.
So, learn here how to refrigerate, store, and keep your Lantus pens or vials at home and while traveling!
Keep Lantus Refrigerated at All Times with 4AllFamily's Travel Coolers!
What is Lantus Insulin?
Lantus is a long-acting, basal insulin prescribed to treat people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It helps lower blood sugar levels and keep them in the normal range, ultimately preventing severe diabetes-related complications.
As opposed to fast-acting insulins (bolus insulins), long-acting insulins like Lantus are usually taken once daily and help manage blood glucose in between meals and overnight.
Lantus is administered via subcutaneous injections and is available in different formats like the Solostar auto-injectable pens, vials, or cartridges.
Does Lantus need to be refrigerated?
How to store Lantus pens and vials
According to Sanofi, the manufacture, Lantus must be refrigerated between 2°C to 8°C before opening. If properly stored in the fridge, it's good for use until the expiration date labeled on the pen or vial.
However, once opened or left out of the fridge, Lantus can be kept at room temperature (below 30°C) and is only good for 28 days.
Additional storage instructions for Lantus include:
- Do not freeze it. Frozen insulin isn't safe for use, even if it has thawed afterward.
- Keep it away from light.
How long do Lantus pens last?
Like any insulin, Lantus has two expiration dates.
The "official" expiration date is labeled on the pen or vial by the manufacturer. Lantus lasts until this official expiration date if kept in the refrigerator. It’s usually about one year after the purchase date.
The second expiration date is not set but occurs 28 days after you've opened your Lantus pen or vial for the first time or left it unrefrigerated for too long.
How Long Can Lantus be Out of the Fridge?
Once left unrefrigerated, Lantus must be used within 28 days. Past that time, laboratory and clinical tests have shown that it starts degrading and losing efficiency.
So, Lantus can be unrefrigerated for a maximum of 28 days. But meanwhile, it should still be protected from heat and light!
Can you put Lantus back in the fridge once opened?
No. According to Sanofi, you should not put Lantus back in the fridge once it's been left out.
Once it has reached room temperature and the cold chain has been broken, putting it back in the fridge won't prolong its shelf life. Besides, temperature fluctuations aren't good for biological drugs either.
How long is Lantus good for after opening?
Lantus is good for 28 days after opening or until its expiration date if it occurs first.
Throw away any expired Lantus pen or vial, even if there's still insulin inside. Injecting expired insulin can be dangerous for your health. Do not take the chance!
What Happens if Lantus is Unrefrigerated for Too Long?
When not refrigerated, the active ingredient in your Lantus pens or vials becomes unstable and your insulin starts degrading and losing efficacy.
Like all types and brands of insulin, Lantus stability at room temperature is limited. As said above, it's only safe for use within 28 days when not refrigerated.
Eventually, insulin is a protein, and, like any protein, it can quickly spoil if exposed to heat and light. That's why the Lantus Solostar pen cap is opaque, so it protects the insulin inside from light.
What if Lantus gets warm?
Exposure to temperatures above 30°C, even briefly, can quickly make your Lantus go bad and lose its potency, which could ultimately cause severe health complications, including high blood sugar levels and ketoacidosis.
Never leave your Lantus pen near a heat source (stove, chimney, sunlight, etc.). Do not leave it in the car either, and always carry it in a medical-grade insulin cooler whenever it's 30°C or more outside.
When in doubt, if you think your Lantus pen has gotten too warm, dispose of it and take a new, fresh one from the pharmacy or refrigerator.
How to Keep Lantus Cool When Traveling?
Keeping insulin cool during travel or when out for the day is a major worry for individuals with insulin-dependent diabetes.
Whether vacationing or dealing with daily activities, there are many instances where your Lantus pen might accidentally be exposed to heat, particularly in regions where temperatures often exceed 30°C.
Many diabetes patients opt for portable insulin coolers, such as those offered by 4AllFamily. Our expert team specializes in crafting medical-grade travel coolers designed to safely carry insulin and temperature-sensitive medicines.
How to tell if your Lantus pens or vials have gone bad?
Like most insulins, Lantus looks like a clear, colorless, water-like liquid. Any change of color, cloudiness, clumps, strings or frost inside are signs that your Lantus pen or vial may have gone bad.
However, bad Lantus isn’t always visible to the naked eye! Unusually high blood sugar levels may also warm you that your Lantus has gone bad.
Remember, using insulin that has gone bad can have severe consequences for your health. When in doubt, do not use it. Get a new pen or vial of Lantus from the fridge and ask for your doctor's advice.
What are the risks of using bad insulin?
The main risk of using bad insulin is prolonged hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels ).
If your Lantus pen or vial has expired, whether because it's past its expiration date or has been incorrectly stored, it can be partially or totally inefficient.
Injecting bad Lantus is like injecting water. It won’t make you sick, but it won’t help lowering your blood glucose. Ultimately, this could cause diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening diabetes complication.
We hope we've answered your questions about Lantus storage! If not, please place your comment below and we'll make sure to reply quickly!
