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Toujeo vs. Metformin

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

Key takeaways

Toujeo (insulin glargine) and metformin (Glucophage) are both used to manage diabetes, but they have some key differences. Toujeo is a long-acting insulin that you inject under the skin once a day to help control blood sugar levels in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. It helps your body absorb sugar from the bloodstream and store it for energy. On the other hand, metformin is an oral medication used primarily for Type 2 diabetes. It lowers the amount of sugar your body makes and absorbs, and helps your body use its natural insulin better. While Toujeo can cause low blood sugar and weight gain, metformin rarely causes low blood sugar and does not lead to weight gain. However, metformin can cause stomach side effects like diarrhea and nausea, which are less common with Toujeo. Additionally, metformin is available in both short-acting and long-acting forms, while Toujeo is only available as a brand-name medication in prefilled pens.

Toujeo

(insulin glargine)

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Metformin

 

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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

Summary for Metformin

Prescription only

Immediate-release metformin is an oral diabetes medication. It's approved for people 10 years of age and older with Type 2 diabetes. The medication belongs to the drug class called biguanides. It works best to lower blood sugar levels with a diabetes-friendly diet and exercise plan. Immediate-release metformin comes as a tablet and an oral solution. You take this medication by mouth usually two to three times a day. It's recommended to take each dosage with food to help lessen side effects like diarrhea and nausea.

Indications for Metformin

Pros and Cons for Metformin

Pros

Cons

  • Typically need to take a couple times per day
  • Can cause stomach upset, including diarrhea, nausea, gas, and stomach cramping
  • Not a good choice for people with severe kidney problems
  • Not recommended for people with liver problems

Common Side Effects for Metformin

  • Diarrhea (53%)
  • Nausea or vomiting (26%)
  • Gas (12%)
  • Weakness (9%)

Warnings for Metformin

  • Lactic acidosis
  • Low vitamin B12 levels
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when taken with certain other diabetes medications

Prices with our coupons for Toujeo vs. Metformin

Price Card Drug Icon
Toujeo1 carton / 3 prefilled 1.5ml pens of 300 units/ml
$367.08$521.23
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Price Card Drug Icon
Metformin60 tablets / 500mg
$8.63$30.88
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