Quick Answer: Lantus insulin pens must be stored in the fridge between 2°C to 8°C before opening. Once opened, they can be stored at room temperature up to 30°C and are good for 28 days.
Lantus is among the most frequently prescribed insulin brands in the UK. However, research indicates that many patients do not know how to properly store their insulin pens at home.
Proper refrigeration and storage temperatures are essential to ensure that Lantus pens remain effective for as long as possible. Your diabetes blood sugar control depends on this.
Discover how to refrigerate, store, and maintain your Lantus pens or vials once you bring them home from the pharmacy.
What is Lantus?
Lantus is a long-acting, basal insulin used to treat people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It helps lower blood sugar levels and keep them in the safe range to prevent diabetes-related complications.
Long-acting insulins, also called basal insulins, have a prolonged duration of action and stay in the bloodstream for up to 24 hours. As opposed to fast-acting insulins (bolus insulins), they're usually taken once daily and help manage blood glucose between meals and overnight. More specifically, long-acting insulins such as Lantus, Basaglar, and Toujeo contain insulin glargine as their active ingredient.
Lantus is administered via subcutaneous injections and is available in different formats like the Solostar injection pens, vials, or cartridges.
Related article: Does Insulin Really Need to Be Refrigerated? Essential Storage Tips!
Does Lantus Insulin Need to Be Refrigerated?
Yes, Lantus must be refrigerated, like all types and brands of insulin.
Like most insulins, insulin glargine contained in Lantus pens is a biologic, meaning it's derived from parts of living cells. As such, it's highly sensitive to temperature and storage conditions and can quickly spoil and deteriorate when exposed to high temperatures, light, or humidity.
This is why Lantus must be kept refrigerated before it is opened and is only effective for a limited period once removed from the refrigerator.
Lantus Pen Storage Instructions
According to Sanofi, the manufacturer of Lantus, Lantus insulin pens must be stored in the fridge before opening (2°C to 8°C ) until their expiration date.
Once opened or out of the fridge, Lantus can be kept at room temperature (below 30°C) and is only good for 28 days.
When stored in the fridge, ensure your pens or vials are not in direct contact with the freezer compartment. Frozen insulin isn't safe for use, even if it has thawed afterward. Additionally, avoid exposing Lantus to direct light for prolonged periods of time.
If properly stored in the fridge, Lantus pens are good until the expiration date labelled on each pen by the manufacturer.
How Long Can Lantus Be Out of the Fridge?
Once removed from the fridge, Lantus has a limited shelf life and is only good for 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. It should be protected from high heat (below 30°C ) and direct light during that time.
Once Lantus has expired, you must throw your pen or vial away, even if it still has insulin inside. Using expired insulin or insulin that has gone bad can be dangerous for your health. Do not take the risk.
Can you put Lantus back in the fridge once opened?
No. According to Sanofi, you should not put Lantus back in the fridge after opening it. Once it has reached room temperature and the cold chain is broken, putting your Lantus pen back in the fridge won't prolong its shelf life.
What if Lantus gets warm?
While Lantus can remain unrefrigerated for up to 28 days without deteriorating, it must still be shielded from high temperatures.
Brief exposure to temperatures exceeding 30°C can rapidly degrade Lantus, diminishing its efficacy and potentially leading to serious health repercussions, such as elevated blood glucose levels and diabetic ketoacidosis.
During the 28 days following opening, ensure your Lantus pens and vials are kept away from any sources of heat. Avoid leaving them near appliances that generate heat, such as stoves or chimneys, and never leave them in a car on a sunny day. Always carry your Lantus pens in an insulin cooler when external temperatures rise above 30°C.
If in doubt, or if you suspect your Lantus has been exposed to excessive heat, dispose of it immediately and replace it with a new one from the refrigerator.
Related article: How to Travel with Lantus Insulin Pens: Helpful Tips & Carrying Case Selection.
Lantus Insulin Expiration
Each Lantus pen comes with an expiration date marked by the manufacturer. However, Lantus may also expire sooner if it's removed from the fridge-it remains effective for only 28 days once refrigeration is discontinued. Moreover, improper storage conditions, such as exposure to heat, can cause your Lantus pens to expire prematurely.
Like most insulins, Lantus is a clear, colorless, water-like liquid. Visual inspection may help tell if your Lantus has gone bad prematurely. Any change of color, cloudiness, clumps, strings or frost inside indicates that Lantus isn't suitable for use. However, bad Lantus isn't always visible.
Unexplained high blood sugar levels may also indicate your Lantus has gone bad. In any case, when in doubt, immediately throw your in-use pen or vial away and get a new one from the fridge. Do not take any chances.
We'd Love to Hear Your Thoughts!
Have you got any stories, tips, or questions about storing Lantus? Please share your experiences in the comments below to help others learn more about managing their insulin effectively.
