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Levemir vs. Toujeo

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Levemir (insulin detemir) and Toujeo (insulin glargine) are both long-acting insulins used to manage diabetes, but they have some key differences. Levemir can be injected once or twice daily, while Toujeo is typically injected once daily. Toujeo is an ultra-long-acting insulin that lasts up to 36 hours, whereas Levemir lasts up to 24 hours. Toujeo is more concentrated, containing 300 units/mL of insulin glargine, making it suitable for those needing higher doses, while Levemir does not have this higher concentration option. Levemir is available in vials and FlexPens, but Toujeo only comes in prefilled pens. Levemir Flexpens has been discontinued as of April 2024, and vials will be discontinued by December 2024, whereas Toujeo is only available as a brand. Both medications can cause low blood sugar and should not be mixed with other insulins within the same syringes.

Levemir

(insulin detemir)

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Toujeo

(insulin glargine)

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Summary for Levemir

Prescription only

Levemir (insulin detemir) is a long-acting insulin that helps control high blood sugar levels in children and adults. It's injected under the skin, typically once or twice daily. Like all insulins, Levemir (insulin detemir) can raise your risk for low blood sugar, so make sure to keep fast-acting sugars with you in case your blood sugar level drops too low. This medication comes in vials. But it's also available as a Flexpen for people who have trouble drawing up insulin from the vial.

Indications for Levemir

Pros and Cons for Levemir

Pros

  • Lower risk of weight gain compared to some other types of insulin
  • Doses can be adjusted to meet your body's needs
  • Insulin pens available for people who've trouble using insulin vials
  • Provides blood sugar control for up to 24 hours

Cons

  • Must be injected
  • Might need to inject it twice daily
  • Can cause low blood sugar
  • No generic option available

Common Side Effects for Levemir

  • Shakiness, hunger, and other symptoms of low blood sugar (up to 93%, depending on what other blood sugar medications you're taking)
  • Common cold involving the nose, throat, and lungs (up to 27%)
  • Headache (up to 23%)
  • Pain or irritation of the throat (10%)
  • Back pain (8%)
  • Fever, chills, and other flu-like symptoms (up to 8%)
  • Stomach pain (6%)

Please note: These side effects were reported by people who took Levemir (insulin detemir) for type 1 diabetes. Your risk for side effects might be different if you have type 2 diabetes.

Warnings for Levemir

  • Infections
  • Low blood sugar
  • Severe allergic reactions
  • Low blood potassium levels
  • Swelling from fluids and risk of heart failure

Summary for Toujeo

Prescription only

Toujeo SoloStar and Toujeo Max SoloStar are a pair of brand names for insulin glargine. It's a long-acting insulin that's used for diabetes in adults and children. This medication is a more concentrated version of insulin glargine containing 300 units/mL. Toujeo (insulin glargine) comes as prefilled pens. You inject the medication under the skin once daily. Side effects include common cold symptoms and low blood sugar.

Indications for Toujeo

Pros and Cons for Toujeo

Pros

  • Long-lasting insulin that provides consistent, all-day blood sugar control
  • Given once a day
  • Available as a prefilled pen
  • Good choice for people who need high doses of long-acting insulin
  • Can use in children as young as 6 years old

Cons

  • Must inject under the skin
  • Might be hard for some people to administer correctly
  • Has a risk of causing low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • Might cause weight gain
  • Can't mix with other insulins

Common Side Effects for Toujeo

Warnings for Toujeo

  • Risk of infections with pen sharing
  • Risk of changes to blood sugar levels with changes to your insulin regimen
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • Low potassium levels
  • Swelling and heart failure when used with certain diabetes medications
  • Allergic reactions

Prices with our coupons for Levemir vs. Toujeo

Price Card Drug Icon
Levemir1 vial / 10ml of 100 units/ml
$109.79$222.15
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Price Card Drug Icon
Toujeo1 carton / 3 prefilled 1.5ml pens of 300 units/ml
$367.08$521.32
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