PATIENT INFORMATION
TOUJEO®
(Too-Jay-o)
(insulin glargine injection) 300 units/mL (U-300) for subcutaneous
use
Do not share your TOUJEO SoloStar® or TOUJEO Max
SoloStar® pen with other people, even if the needle has been changed. You may
give other people a serious infection, or get a serious infection from them.
What is TOUJEO?
- TOUJEO is a long-acting man-made insulin used to control
high blood sugar in adults with diabetes mellitus.
- TOUJEO is not for use to treat diabetic ketoacidosis.
- It is not known if TOUJEO is safe and effective in
children.
Who should not use TOUJEO?
Do not use TOUJEO if you:
- are having an episode of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- have an allergy to insulin glargine or any of the
ingredients in TOUJEO. See the end of this Patient Information leaflet for a
complete list of ingredients in TOUJEO.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using
TOUJEO?
Before using TOUJEO, tell your healthcare provider
about all your medical conditions, including if you:
- have liver or kidney problems
- take other medicines, especially ones called TZDs
(thiazolidinediones).
- have heart failure or other heart problems. If you have
heart failure, it may get worse while you take TZDs with TOUJEO.
- are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are
breastfeeding. It is not known if TOUJEO may harm your unborn or breastfeeding
baby.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you
take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and
herbal supplements.
Before you start using TOUJEO, talk to your healthcare
provider about low blood sugar and how to manage it.
How should I use TOUJEO?
- TOUJEO is available in two disposable prefilled pens:
TOUJEO SoloStar and TOUJEO Max SoloStar. Your healthcare provider will tell you
which TOUJEO Pen is right for you.
- Read the detailed Instructions for Use that come
with your TOUJEO SoloStar or TOUJEO Max SoloStar disposable prefilled pen.
- Use TOUJEO exactly as your healthcare provider tells you
to. Your healthcare provider should tell you how much TOUJEO to use and when to
use it.
- Know the amount of TOUJEO you use. Do not change
the amount of TOUJEO 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.
- Do not use a syringe to remove TOUJEO from your TOUJEO
SoloStar or TOUJEO Max SoloStar disposable prefilled pen. This can cause you to
give yourself too much insulin. TOUJEO has 3 times as much insulin in 1 mL
compared to other standard insulin pens.
- Do not re-use needles. Always use a new needle for
each injection. Reusing needles increases your chance of having blocked
needles, which can cause you to get the wrong dose of TOUJEO. Using a new
needle for each injection also lowers your risk of getting an infection. If
your needle is blocked, follow the instructions in Step 3 of the Instructions
for Use.
- TOUJEO should be used 1 time each day and at the same
time each day.
- TOUJEO is injected under your skin (subcutaneously). Do
not use TOUJEO in an insulin pump or inject TOUJEO into your vein
(intravenously).
- Change (rotate) your injection sites within the area you
choose with each dose. Do not use the exact spot for each injection.
- Do not mix TOUJEO 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.
Keep TOUJEO and all medicines out of the reach of
children.
Your dose of TOUJEO may need to change because of:
- a change in level of physical activity or exercise,
weight gain or loss, increased stress, illness, change in diet, or because of
other medicines you take.
What should I avoid while using TOUJEO?
While using TOUJEO do not:
- drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how
TOUJEO affects you
- drink alcohol or use over-the-counter medicines that
contain alcohol
What are the possible side effects of TOUJEO?
TOUJEO may cause serious side effects that can lead to
death, including:
- low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Signs and symptoms
that may indicate low blood sugar include:
- dizziness or light-headedness, sweating, confusion,
headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heartbeat, anxiety,
irritability or mood change, hunger
- severe allergic reaction (whole body reaction). Get
medical help right away if you have any of these signs or symptoms of a severe
allergic reaction:
- a rash over your whole body, trouble breathing, a fast
heartbeat, or sweating
- low potassium in your blood (hypokalemia).
- heart failure. Taking certain diabetes pills
called TZDs (thiazolidinediones) with TOUJEO may cause heart failure in some
people. This can happen even if you have never had heart failure or heart
problems before. If you already have heart failure it may get worse while you
take TZDs with TOUJEO. Your healthcare provider should monitor you closely
while you are taking TZDs with TOUJEO. Tell your healthcare provider if you
have any new or worse symptoms of heart failure including:
- shortness of breath, swelling of your ankles or feet,
sudden weight gain
Treatment with TZDs and TOUJEO may need to be changed or
stopped by your healthcare provider if you have new or worse heart failure.
Get emergency medical help if you have:
- trouble breathing, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat,
swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, sweating, extreme drowsiness,
dizziness, confusion.
The most common side effects of TOUJEO include:
- low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), weight gain, itching,
rash, swelling, allergic reactions, including reactions at your injection site,
skin thickening or pits at the injection site (lipodystrophy).
These are not all the possible side effects of TOUJEO.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side
effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
General information about the safe and effective use
of TOUJEO.
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other
than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use TOUJEO for a
condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give TOUJEO to other
people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.
This Patient Information leaflet summarizes the most
important information about TOUJEO. If you would like more information, talk
with your healthcare provider. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare
provider for information about TOUJEO that is written for health professionals.
What are the ingredients in TOUJEO?
- Active ingredient: insulin glargine
- Inactive ingredients: zinc, m-cresol, glycerol,
and water for injection. Hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide may be added to
adjust the pH.
This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration.
Instructions for Use
TOUJEO® SoloStar®
(Too-Jay-o) (insulin glargine injection) 1.5 mL disposable prefilled pen
Read this first
Do not share your TOUJEO SoloStar pen with other
people, even if the needle has been changed. Youmay give other people a serious
infection, or get a serious infection from them.
TOUJEO contains 300 units/mL insulin glargine
- Do not re-use needles. If you do you might not get
your dose (underdosing) or get too much (overdosing) as the needle could block.
- Do not use a syringe to remove insulin from your pen. If you do you will get too much insulin. The scale on most syringes is made for
non-concentrated insulin only.
- The dose selector of your TOUJEO SoloStar pen dials by 1
unit.
People who are blind or have vision problems should
not use the TOUJEO SoloStar pen without help from a person trained to use the
TOUJEO SoloStar pen.
Important information
- Do not use your pen if it is damaged or if you are not
sure that it is working properly.
- Always perform a safety test (see Step 3).
- Always carry a spare pen and spare needles in case they
got lost or stop working.
Learn to inject
- Talk with your healthcare provider about how to inject,
before using your pen.
- Read all of these instructions before using your pen. If
you do not follow all of these instructions, you may get too much or too little
insulin.
Need help?
If you have any questions about your pen or about
diabetes, ask your healthcare provider, go to www.Toujeo.com or call
sanofi-aventis at 1-800-633-1610.
Extra items you will need:
- a new sterile needle (not included with the pen) (see
Step 2).
- an alcohol swab.
- a puncture-resistant container for used needles and pens
(see Throwing your pen away).
Places to inject
- Inject your insulin exactly as your healthcare provider
has shown you.
- Inject your insulin under the skin (subcutaneously) of
your upper legs (thighs), upper arms, or stomach area (abdomen).
- Change (rotate) your injection sites within the area you
choose for each dose.
Do not inject where the skin is tender, bruised,
scaly or hard, or into scars or damaged skin.
Step 1: Check your pen
Take a new pen out of the refrigerator at least 1 hour
before you inject. Cold insulin is more painful to inject.
1A Check the name and expiration date on the label of
your pen.
- Make sure you have the correct insulin.
- Do not use your pen after the expiration date.
1B Pull off the pen cap.
1C Check that the insulin is clear.
- Do not use the pen if the insulin looks cloudy, colored
or contains particles.
1D Wipe the rubber seal with an alcohol swab.
If you have other injector pens
- Making sure you have the correct medicine is especially
important if you have other injector pens.
Step 2: Attach a new needle
- Do not re-use needles. Always use a new sterile
needle for each injection. This helps stop blocked needles, contamination and
infection.
- Always use needles* from BD (such as BD Ultra-Fine®),
Ypsomed (such as Clickfine®), or Owen Mumford (such as Unifine® Pentips®).
2A Take a new needle and peel off the protective seal.
2B Keep the needle straight and screw it onto the pen
until fixed. Do not over-tighten.
2C Pull off the outer needle cap. Keep this for later.
2D Pull off the inner needle cap and throw away.
Handling needles
- Be careful when you are handling needles to help prevent
accidental needle-stick injury. You may give other people a serious infection,
or get a serious infection from them.
Step 3: Do a safety test
Always do a safety test before each injection to:
- check your pen and the needle to make sure they are
working properly.
- make sure that you get the correct insulin dose.
If the pen is new, you must perform safety tests before
you use the pen for the first time until you see insulin coming out of the
needle tip. If you see insulin coming out of the needle tip, the pen is ready
to use. If you do not see insulin coming out before taking your dose, you could
get an underdose or no insulin at all. This could cause high blood sugar.
3A Select 3 units by turning the dose selector until
the dose pointer is at the mark between 2 and 4.
3B Press the injection button all the way in.
- When insulin comes out of the needle tip, your pen is
working correctly.
If no insulin appears:
- You may need to repeat this step up to 3 times before
seeing insulin.
- If no insulin comes out after the third time, the needle
may be blocked. If this happens:
- change the needle (see Step 6 and Step 2),
- then repeat the safety test (Step 3).
- Do not use your pen if there is still no insulin
coming out of the needle tip. Use a new pen.
- Do not use a syringe to remove insulin from your
pen.
If you see air bubbles
- You may see air bubbles in the insulin. This is normal,
they will not harm you.
Step 4: Select the dose
- Do not select a dose or press the injection button
without a needle attached. This may damage your pen.
- TOUJEO SoloStar is made to deliver the number of insulin
units that your healthcare provider prescribed. You do not need to do any
dose calculations.
- The dose selector of your Toujeo SoloStar pen dials by 1
unit.
4A Make sure a needle is attached and the dose is set
to ‘0’.
4B Turn the dose selector until the dose pointer lines
up with your dose.
- Set the dose by turning the dose selector to a line in
the dose window. Each line equals 1 unit.
- The dose selector clicks as you turn it.
- Always check the number in the dose window to make sure
you dialed the correct dose.
- Do not dial your dose by counting the clicks. You
may dial the wrong dose. This may lead to you getting too much insulin or not
enough insulin.
- If you turn past your dose, you can turn back down.
- If there are not enough units left in your pen for your
dose, the dose selector will stop at the number of units left.
- If you cannot select your full prescribed dose, split the
dose into 2 injections or use a new pen. If you use a new pen, perform a safety
test (see Step 3).
How to read the dose window
The dose selector dials by 1 unit.
Even numbers are shown in line with the dose pointer:
Odd numbers are shown as a line between even numbers:
Units of insulin in your pen
- Your pen contains a total of 450 units of insulin. You
can select doses from 1 to 80 units. Each pen contains more than 1 dose.
- You can see roughly how many units of insulin are left by
looking at where the plunger is on the insulin scale.
Step 5: Inject your dose
If you find it hard to press the injection button in, do
not force it as this may break your pen. See the section below for help.
5A Choose a place to inject as shown in the picture
labeled “Places to Inject”.
- The site you choose for the injection should be clean and
dry.
- If your skin is dirty, clean it as instructed by your
healthcare provider.
5B Push the needle into your skin as shown by your
healthcare provider.
- Do not touch the injection button yet.
5C Place your thumb on the injection button. Then
press all the way in and hold.
- Do not press at an angle. Your thumb could block
the dose selector from turning.
5D Keep the injection button held in and when you see
“0” in the dose window, slowly count to 5.
- This will make sure you get your full dose.
5E After holding and slowly counting to 5, release the
injection button. Then remove the needle fromyour skin.
If you find it hard to press the button in:
- Change the needle (see Step 6 and Step 2) then do a
safety test (see Step 3).
- If you still find it hard to press in, get a new pen.
Do not use a syringe to remove insulin from your
pen.
Step 6: Remove the needle
- Take care when handling needles to prevent needle injury
and cross-infection.
- Do not put the inner needle cap back on.
6A Grip the widest part of the outer needle cap. Keep
the needle straight and guide it into the outerneedle cap.
Then push firmly on.
- The needle can puncture the cap if it is recapped at an
angle.
6B Grip and squeeze the widest part of the outer
needle cap. Turn your pen several times with your other hand to remove the
needle.
- Try again if the needle does not come off the first time.
6C Throw away the used needle in a puncture resistant
container (see “Throwing your pen away” at the end of this
Instructions for Use).
6D Put the pen cap back on.
- Do not put the pen back in the refrigerator.
Use by
- Only use your pen for up to 42 days after its first use.
How to store your pen
Before first use
- Keep new pens in the refrigerator between 36°F and
46°F (2°C and 8°C).
- Do not freeze.
After first use
- Keep your pen at room temperature below 86°F (30°C).
- Do not put your pen back in the refrigerator.
- Do not store your pen with the needle attached.
- Store your pen with the pen cap on.
- Keep TOUJEO SoloStar pens and needles out of the reach of
children.
How to care for your pen
Handle your pen with care
- Do not drop your pen or knock it against hard surfaces.
- If you think that your pen may be damaged, do not try to fix it. Use a new one.
Protect your pen from dust and dirt
- You can clean the outside of your pen by wiping it with a
damp cloth (water only). Do not soak, wash or lubricate your pen. This
may damage it.
Throwing your pen away
- Put the used TOUJEO SoloStar pen in a FDA-cleared sharps
disposal container right away after use. Do not throw away (dispose of)
the TOUJEO SoloStar pen in your household trash.
- If you do not have a FDA-cleared sharps disposal
container, you may use a household container that is:
- made of a heavy-duty plastic,
- can be closed with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant
lid, without sharps being able to come out,
- upright and stable during use,
- leak-resistant, and
- properly labeled to warn of hazardous waste inside the
container.
- When your sharps disposal container is almost full, you
will need to follow your community guidelines for the right way to dispose of
your sharps disposal container. There may be state or local laws about how you
should throw away used needles and syringes. For more information about safe
sharps disposal, and for specific information about sharps disposal in the
state that you live in, go to the FDA's website at:
http://www.fda.gov/safesharpsdisposal.
- Do not dispose of your used sharps disposal
container in your household trash unless your community guidelines permit this. Do not recycle your used sharps disposal container.
This Instructions for Use has been approved by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration.
Instructions for Use
TOUJEO® Max SoloStar®
(Too-Jay-o) (insulin glargine injection) 3 mL disposable prefilled pen
Read this first
Do not share your TOUJEO Max SoloStar pen with other
people, even if the needle has been changed. You may give other people a
serious infection, or get a serious infection from them.
TOUJEO contains 300 units/mL insulin glargine
- Do not re-use needles. If you do you might not get
your dose (underdosing) or get too much (overdosing) as the needle could block.
- Do not use a syringe to remove insulin from your pen. If you do you will get too much insulin. The scale on most syringes is made for
non-concentrated insulin only.
- The dose selector of your TOUJEO Max SoloStar pen dials
by 2 units.
People who are blind or have vision problems should
not use the TOUJEO Max SoloStar pen without help from a person trained to use
the TOUJEO Max SoloStar pen.
Important information
- Do not use your pen if it is damaged or if you are
not sure that it is working properly.
- Always perform a safety test (see Step 3).
- Always carry a spare pen and spare needles in case they
are lost or stop working.
Learn to inject
- Talk with your healthcare provider about how to inject,
before using your pen.
- Read all of these instructions before using your pen. If
you do not follow all of these instructions, you may get too much or too little
insulin.
Need help?
If you have any questions about your pen or about
diabetes, ask your healthcare provider, go to www.Toujeo.com or call
sanofi-aventis on 1-800-633-1610.
Extra items you will need:
- a new sterile needle (not included with the pen) (see
Step 2).
- an alcohol swab.
- a puncture-resistant container for used needles and pens
(see Throwing your pen away).
Places to inject
- Inject your insulin exactly as your healthcare provider
has shown you.
- Inject your insulin under the skin (subcutaneously) of
your upper legs (thighs), upper arms, or stomach area (abdomen).
- Change (rotate) your injection sites within the area you
choose for each dose.
- Do not inject where the skin is tender, bruised, scaly
or hard, or into scars or damaged skin.
Get to know your pen
Step 1: Check your pen
Take a new pen out of the refrigerator at least 1 hour
before you inject. Cold insulin is more painful to inject.
1A Check the name and expiration date on the label of
your pen.
- Make sure you have the correct insulin.
- Do not use your pen after the expiration date
printed on the label.
1B Pull off the pen cap.
1C Check that the insulin is clear.
- Do not use the pen if the insulin looks cloudy, colored
or contains particles.
1D Wipe the rubber seal with an alcohol swab.
If you have other injector pens
- Making sure you have the correct medicine is especially
important if you have other injector pens.
Step 2: Attach a new needle
- Do not re-use needles. Always use a new sterile needle
for each injection. This helps stop blocked needles, contamination and
infection.
- Always use needles* from BD (such as BD Ultra-Fine®),
Ypsomed (such as Clickfine®), or Owen Mumford (such as Unifine® Pentips®) that
are 8 mm long or shorter.
2A Take a new needle and peel off the protective seal.
2B Keep the needle straight and screw it onto the pen
until fixed. Do not over-tighten.
2C Pull off the outer needle cap. Keep this for later.
2D Pull off the inner needle cap and throw away.
Handling needles
- Be careful when you are handling needles to help prevent
accidental needle-stick injury. You may give other people a serious infection,
or get a serious infection from them.
Step 3: Do a safety test
Always do a safety test before each injection to:
- check your pen and the needle to make sure they are
working properly.
- make sure that you get the correct insulin dose.
If the pen is new, you must perform safety tests before
you use the pen for the first time until you see insulin coming out of the
needle tip. If you see insulin coming out of the needle tip, the pen is ready
to use. If you do not see insulin coming out before taking your dose, you could
get an underdose or no insulin at all. This could cause high blood sugar.
3A Select 4 units by turning the dose selector until
the dose pointer is at the 4 mark.
3B Press the injection button all the way in.
- When insulin comes out of the needle tip, your pen is
working correctly.
If no insulin appears:
- You may need to repeat this step up to 6 times before
seeing insulin.
- If no insulin comes out after the sixth time, the needle
may be blocked. If this happens:
- change the needle (see Step 6 and Step 2),
- then repeat the safety test (Step 3).
- Do not use your pen if there is still no insulin
coming out of the needle tip. Use a new pen.
- Do not use a syringe to remove insulin from your
pen.
If you see air bubbles
- You may see air bubbles in the insulin. This is normal,
they will not harm you.
Step 4: Select the dose
- Do not select a dose or press the injection button
without a needle attached. This may damage your pen.
- TOUJEO Max SoloStar is made to deliver the number of
insulin units that your healthcare provider prescribed. You do not need to
do any dose calculations.
- The dose selector of your Toujeo Max SoloStar pen dials
by 2 units and can only dial even doses of insulin.
4A Make sure a needle is attached and the dose is set
to ‘0’.
4B Turn the dose selector until the dose pointer lines
up with your dose.
- Set the dose by turning the dose selector to a line in
the dose window. Each line equals 2 units.
- The dose selector clicks as you turn it.
- Always check the number in the dose window to make sure
you dialed the correct dose.
- Do not dial your dose by counting the clicks. You
may dial the wrong dose. This may lead to you getting too much insulin or not
enough insulin.
- If you turn past your dose, you can turn back down.
- If there are not enough units left in your pen for your
dose, the dose selector will stop at the number of units left.
- If you cannot select your full prescribed dose, split the
dose into 2 injections or use a new pen. If you use a new pen, perform a safety
test (see Step 3).
How to read the dose window
The dose selector dials by 2 units. Each line in the dose
window is an even number.
Units of insulin in your pen
- Your pen contains a total of 900 units of insulin. You
can select doses from 2 to 160 units. The dose is adjusted by 2 units at a
time. Each pen contains more than 1 dose.
- You can see roughly how many units of insulin are left by
looking at where the plunger is on the insulin scale.
Step 5: Inject your dose
If you find it hard to press the injection button in, do
not force it as this may break your pen. See the section below for help.
5A Choose a place to inject as shown in the picture
labeled “Places to inject.”
- The site you choose for the injection should be clean and
dry.
- If your skin is dirty, clean it as instructed by your
healthcare provider.
5B Push the needle into your skin as shown by your
healthcare provider.
- Do not touch the injection button yet.
5C Place your thumb on the injection button. Then
press all the way in and hold.
- Do not press at an angle. Your thumb could block
the dose selector from turning.
5D Keep the injection button held in and when you see
“0” in the dose window, slowly count to 5.
- This will make sure you get your full dose.
5E After holding and slowly counting to 5, release the
injection button. Then remove the needle from your skin.
If you find it hard to press the injection button in:
- Change the needle (see Step 6 and Step 2) then do a
safety test (see Step 3).
- If you still find it hard to press in, get a new pen.
- Do not use a syringe to remove insulin from your
pen.
Step 6: Remove the needle
- Take care when handling needles to prevent needle injury
and cross-infection.
- Do not put the inner needle cap back on.
6A Grip the widest part of the outer needle cap. Keep
the needle straight and guide it into the outerneedle cap.
Then push firmly on.
- The needle can puncture the cap if it is recapped at an
angle.
6B Grip and squeeze the widest part of the outer
needle cap. Turn your pen several times with yourother hand to remove the needle.
- Try again if the needle does not come off the first time.
6C Throw away the used needle in a puncture resistant
container (see “Throwing your pen away” at the end of this
Instructions for Use).
6D Put the pen cap back on.
- Do not put the pen back in the refrigerator.
Use by
- Only use your pen for up to 42 days after its first use.
How to store your pen
Before first use
- Keep new pens in the refrigerator between 36°F and 46°F
(2°C and 8°C).
- Do not freeze.
After first use
- Keep your pen at room temperature below 86°F (30°C).
- Do not put your pen back in the refrigerator.
- Do not store your pen with the needle attached.
- Store your pen with the pen cap on.
- Keep TOUJEO Max SoloStar pens and needles out of the
reach of children.
How to care for your pen
Handle your pen with care
- Do not drop your pen or knock it against hard
surfaces.
- If you think that your pen may be damaged, do not try to fix it. Use a new one.
Protect your pen from dust and dirt
- You can clean the outside of your pen by wiping it with a
damp cloth (water only). Do not soak, wash or lubricate your pen. This may
damage it.
Throwing your pen away
- Put the used TOUJEO Max SoloStar pen in a FDA-cleared
sharps disposal container right away after use. Do not throw away
(dispose of) the TOUJEO Max SoloStar pen in your household trash.
- If you do not have a FDA-cleared sharps disposal
container, you may use a household container that is:
- made of a heavy-duty plastic,
- can be closed with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant
lid, without sharps being able to come out,
- upright and stable during use,
- leak-resistant, and
- properly labeled to warn of hazardous waste inside the
container.
- When your sharps disposal container is almost full, you
will need to follow your community guidelines for the right way to dispose of
your sharps disposal container. There may be state or local laws about how you
should throw away used needles and syringes. For more information about safe
sharps disposal, and for specific information about sharps disposal in the
state that you live in, go to the FDA's website at:
http://www.fda.gov/safesharpsdisposal.
- Do not dispose of your used sharps disposal
container in your household trash unless your community guidelines permit this. Do not recycle your used sharps disposal container.
This Instructions for Use has been approved by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration.