Lantus allergy?

[ccfromtc]

Since I started using Lantus I have been sick with flu-like symptoms. I just get over one bout and get sick again. I have never been this sick before and wondered if it has anything to do with the insulin. I was unable to use Levemar (sp) because it caused very high blood pressure. Do these sounds like allergies and has anyone else had the same problems? I also get up in the morning aching all over and this also started with the Lantus.

[Anita Ramsetty, MD]

Hi,
This would be an unusual reaction to Lantus but certainly not impossible. Did you start any other medications at this time? Or have sick contacts with anyone?

Please speak with your doctor as soon as possible about this and perhaps he/she will suggest a change in medication.

Take care.

[ccfromtc]

I did not start any other meds with the Lantus. I also became proactive last night and stopped the Lantus. I went back to my NovoRapid, Novolin NPH routine. Will see how I feel in a couple of days. Today went well. I want to find out before discussion with the dr. if this could be the problem, otherwise they will have nothing to compare it to because as I am finding out there are many different reactions as there are people. They had problems believing me when I told them about the high blood pressure reaction to Levemir. Funny the blood pressure returned to normal when I got rid of it. :)

[thinkthink]

Common sense told me to stop taking the insulin.  Its hard.  But I have done much better regulating my glucose eating just meat and lots raw veggies (79-166) than I ever did on the insulin (75-490).

I wonder how many other people are told "to seek mental help" when they come to the ER with these symptoms after taking lantus.  Maybe thats why there are virtually no reported cases of this....hmmmmm....

I also wonder what would have happened to me if I would have listened to those people and kept taking the Lantus.....how unwell would I be?? Would I be alive?

[ccfromtc]

Boy is it ever nice feeling healthy again. I have been off the Lantus now since the beginning of April and what a difference. The cramps are gone and other than normal aches and pains, I am not hurting from head to toe. Have not been to see the dr. yet because I have to go in with proof that it made a difference. I think I am ready now. Don't know what it is about these 24 hour insulins, but my body just does not like them. I have not heard of others with the same problems, so must be a person allergy, but won't be taking them again.
Thanks for your responses.
CC

[thinkthink]

I would be interested to know what the industrial manufacturing process is for Lantus or other long acting Insulins.

I have known of cases that are never reported where drugs are so-called 100% safe even though it is a known fact that the a certain amount manufacturing personnel become sick from handling the sealed vials of the drug...I always wondered if the people who used those drugs would have any idea what happened to them.

I have a feeling that this long acting insulin involves mold in some part of its manufacturing process, since I have developed a severe sensitivity to it since I used Lantus.  Mold by itself, without sensitivity can make you very ill (flu-like symtoms, nausea, confusion, mood swings...)

Have you noticed anything like this?

Well, I won't give pharmaceutical companies $10,000 a year so they can make me sicker than they already have....

[Enoch Choi, MD]

i'm glad you're feeling better off your long acting insulin, but i hope the NovoRapid, Novolin NPH are keeping your blood sugar down.  If it's not, you really need to see your doctor.  I'm concerned you haven't seen your doctor since changing it.  At least you could leave a message?

thinkthink, i haven't heard mold is used in the manufacturing process.

[ccfromtc]

Boy if you are right about the mold, that is the answer. I am severely allergic to it, can't even go in the basement of my church because we know it is there and I end up with an asthma attack. Very interesting theory, but I don't know how we would find out. Yes, I was basically sick with the "flu" from the time I started Lantus and had terrible lower abdominal cramps esp. in the morning. At my age, I have mood swings all the time so can't blame that on the insulin. :-)
My sugar levels are actually fine since the change back and my 3 month appointment with the Dr. is coming up in a couple of weeks. Just needed the ammunition to let them see that I am not losing my mind. I was being told it couldn't be the Levemir when my blood pressure shot up, but it went back to normal when I stopped it and I am feeling fine now that I am off the Lantus so I am surmising that it was the cause of the problems.
I really appreciate this discussion since I am learning new things as well. Thanks for all your input.
CC

[thinkthink]

Does your blood sugar go up or down  when you are exposed to mold?

My blood sugar goes up when I am exposed to mold.  But from what I have read, it seems blood sugar is supposed to go down with allergies.  Is this true?  If so, is there an explanation for why my blood sugar does the opposite?

[ccfromtc]

You know I have never checked. I never thought about allergies affecting my blood sugars. I have allergies to so many things I would be checking all the time. :)
Boy you really bring up some good issues and have given me many things to think about. The mold issue is the most serious though. I have presented that issue to the diabetic Yahoo group and am waiting to see if there are any replies. Will let you know.

CC

[ccfromtc]

I just spoke to a rep from Lantus after letting them know about the allergic reaction this morning, and questioned her about mold or other additives that could cause a reaction. She said the only thing in it was cresol as a preservative which I know nothing about, but definitely no mold. So now we are back to square one.
A person on the Yahoo diabetic list has also found that she reacted negatively to Lantus and is giving it up. I have not heard from her yet to know what the problem was, but will update when I hear.

[thinkthink]

Heh, I guess depending on who you talked to, they must have nearly s--t their pants at your suggestion.

There is yet another possibility as a source of mold in these types of products and that is the improper purification (or handling) of the water for injection (WFI.) The implication of this is--not a good one.

I find it odd that NONE of the doctors that has been told of these symptoms has suggested notifying the FDA since these symptoms are --as they say--'not supposed to happen.'

Regardless of whether there is mold or not in this particular medication, the fact that people (like you and I) are having these unexpected reactions is to be taken seriously.  In my case I was told that my symptoms of extreme nausea, violent vomiting and confusion were psychological and not related to the medication.  In your case, it seems you feel the need to PROVE to you doctor that your symptoms were--in fact-- true.  So basically, there may be something very wrong with this medication, but with the strategy these doctors are taking--no one will ever know.

I am not an expert, but it would seem to me that--when a physician finds an unusual reaction to a medication--it should be reported in order to prevent anyone else from being harmed.  It seems the only ones that they are protecting from harm are the pharmaceutical companies.

Has it occurred to any of these doctors that it is really not unlikely at all that these drugs were not manufactured properly—or that we are not being told the truth about the full list of side effects?  I guess it is just easier for them to just call me crazy…

I am not sure how to do this.  But after my communication with you I feel responsible to make sure that my reaction to this drug be reported.  I will have to figure out how to do that…

[ccfromtc]

I will send you the links for Lantus and Levemir later. I have reported both now and actually received a phone call from Lantus to get all pertinent info. Have to run this morning.
CC

[ccfromtc]

Lantus - www.lantus.com/why_lantus.aspx
If you go to the bottom of the screen there is contact info and please pass along your side effects. I don't think the physicians bother reporting reactions to meds probably because of time factors, so I think we can do it since we are the ones having the reactions. The lady who phoned me asked very detailed questions and even wanted to know the meds I was on. I guess they were looking for another cause.

The scariest part of the whole thing is my research on cresol, the preservative she said is in the insulin. It is a disinfectant and preservative, but the other info will raise many more questions than it answers. My main one is, why are they using something like this is a product used to stay alive? Check out www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/cresols.html or even easier just use your search engine to find cresol and check out a few of the results. VERY SCARY!

The other girl who wrote to me was having severe headaches and chest pains with Lantus, so the side effects for each of us have been very different. She is also having higher blood pressure readings since switching  to Levemir and that was what caused me to give up that one also. At least there are some older insulins to fall back on, but I am beginning to wonder what is in them as well.

Hope this is helpful or at least thought provoking.
CC

[DeeCee257]

I hope you are reporting any adverse reactions to the FDA - and just not the manufacturer.
You can report online at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/index.html or by phone at ****.  That way you can be assured that someone will take a serious look into adverse reactions. You can also check MedWatch for any current adverse reactions that have been reported on a specific med.
Good luck.

[sandywood]

i have been taking humalog and had a lot of pain, then switched a few weeks ago to humalog mix 50/50 and feel like im going to die.  all the symptoms mentioned here. i stopped it last night and am starting to feel a little better. cresol can cause myalgias i read in an insert either from humalog or noovolin

[CornelisJ]

Was I lucky to type in "Lantus and allergies".
As a retired medical specialist I am lazy in consulting others.
After taking Lantus for about 3 months I did also realise that I developed something like hay fever. Flu like symptoms indeed. Ear pains. Mood swings. Myalgia indeed.
There is a faint cresol smell to the Lantus.
I am sure all these side effects are known by now.
Good to learn of others experiences