Key takeaways

  • Toujeo is a long-acting insulin available as a prescription drug. It’s used to manage blood sugar levels in adults and children ages 6 years and older with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
  • Toujeo comes as a liquid solution that’s injected under your skin once per day.
  • Each person’s Toujeo dosage may be different based on personal factors. Because of this, there is no recommended maximum dosage.

The active ingredient in Toujeo is insulin glargine. Toujeo belongs to a group of drugs called long-acting human insulin analog.

This article describes the dosages of Toujeo, as well as its strengths and how to take it.

Your dosage of Toujeo may depend on many factors, including how severe your condition is and what other medications you take. Your doctor will help you determine the best dosage of Toujeo for you.

Toujeo forms

Toujeo comes as a liquid solution in a prefilled pen that you use to inject the drug under your skin. The pen comes in two sizes:

  • 1.5 milliliters (mL), called Toujeo SoloStar
  • 3 mL, called Toujeo Max SoloStar

Toujeo strength

Toujeo has a strength of 300 units per mL of solution.

Your doctor will likely begin your treatment with a starting dose of Toujeo. Then they’ll adjust your dosage over time to reach the right amount for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

Each person’s Toujeo SoloStar dosage (or Toujeo Max SoloStar dosage) may be different based on personal factors. Because of this, there is no recommended maximum dosage.

But there is a maximum dose per injection, as follows:

  • The maximum SoloStar dose per injection is 80 units of insulin, delivered in one-unit dose increments
  • The maximum Max SoloStar dose per injection is 160 units of insulin, delivered in two-unit dose increments

If you’re concerned about the correct amount of insulin for you, talk with your doctor.

Always follow your doctor’s instructions. Notify them if you experience any side effects that may prevent you from taking your medication.

Dosage for type 1 diabetes

Your dosage for type 1 diabetes may depend on how severe your condition is and if you’re taking other medications with Toujeo. The dosing frequency for Toujeo is once daily at about the same time each day.

Always be sure to tell your doctor about any changes in your exercise or diet. You should also tell them if you develop any kidney or liver problems during treatment. Your doctor may change your dose of Toujeo based on these factors.

If you’re new to insulin treatment

If you’ve never taken insulin before, your doctor will calculate your dose of Toujeo. Your total dose of insulin per day will be based on your body weight.

The total daily recommended dose of insulin is 0.2 to 0.4 units of insulin per kilogram (kg) of body weight. And your dose of Toujeo will be one-third to one-half of your total insulin dose. The rest of the insulin dose will be made up of short-acting insulin that you’ll take before meals.

For example, if you weigh 75 kg (165 pounds), your total daily insulin dose should be between 15 units and 30 units. So your dose of Toujeo would be between 5 units and 15 units of medication per day.

It can take up to 5 days to see the effects of Toujeo after you start treatment. It’s important to monitor your blood sugar, as directed by your doctor, and take your dose every day.

If you’re switching from another insulin treatment to Toujeo

Your Toujeo dosage will depend on the type of insulin you’re switching from.

  • If you’re switching to Toujeo from another long-acting insulin treatment, your dose will be the same as it was before.
  • If you’re taking Lantus (insulin glargine) and change to Toujeo, you may need a higher dose of Toujeo.
  • If you’re taking an intermediate-acting insulin, you’ll start Toujeo at a lower dose. This is typically about 80% of your total daily intermediate-acting insulin dose.
    • Example: If you’re taking 5 units twice daily of Levemir (insulin detemir), your total daily dose is 10 units. So your dose of Toujeo would be 80% of that, or 8 units once per day.

When you first switch to Toujeo, your doctor may recommend you check your blood sugar level more often. This is just to be sure Toujeo is working for you.

Dosage for type 2 diabetes

Your dosage for type 2 diabetes may depend on many factors. These include how severe your condition is and other medications you take. You should inject your dose once daily at about the same time each day.

Be sure to tell your doctor about any changes in exercise or diet. And let them know right away if you develop any kidney or liver problems during treatment. Your doctor may change your dose of Toujeo based on these factors.

If you’re new to insulin treatment

If you’ve never taken insulin before, your daily starting dose of Toujeo is 0.2 units per kg of body weight. For example, if you weigh 75 kg (165 pounds), your dosage of Toujeo will be 15 units per day.

Your doctor may recommend you check your blood sugar more often when you first start Toujeo. This is just to make sure the treatment is working for you.

If you’re switching from another insulin treatment to Toujeo

Your Toujeo dosage will depend on the type of insulin you’re switching from.

  • If you’re switching to Toujeo from another long-acting insulin treatment, your dose will be the same as it was before.
  • If you’re taking Lantus (insulin glargine) and change to Toujeo, you may need a higher dose of Toujeo.
  • If you’re taking an intermediate-acting insulin, such as Levemir (insulin detemir), you’ll start Toujeo at a lower dose. This is typically about 80% of your total daily intermediate-acting insulin dose.
    • Example: If you’re taking 5 units twice daily of Levemir (insulin detemir), your total Toujeo daily dose is 10 units. So your dose of Toujeo would be 80% of that, or 8 units once per day.

When you first switch to Toujeo, your doctor may recommend you check your blood sugar level more often. This is just to be sure Toujeo is working for you.

Medical Perspective

“Exercise makes your body more sensitive to insulin, allowing your blood sugar to decrease. Additionally, diet can have a major impact on your blood sugar. For example, foods high in carbohydrates can cause dramatic increases in blood sugar levels, whereas foods high in fiber have a less significant impact.”

— Philip Ngo, PharmD

Learn more about blood sugar ranges here.

Quotes represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

As with adults, the dosage for children taking Toujeo is based on body weight. The recommended unit per kg dosage is the same for both adults and children. See the “Dosage for type 1 diabetes” or “Dosage for type 2 diabetes” sections for specific dosage information.

For more information about Toujeo’s dosage for children, talk with your child’s doctor or a pharmacist.

Toujeo is a liquid solution that’s injected under your skin once daily. You should inject your dose around the same time each day.

Toujeo can be injected into your belly area, thigh, or upper arm. You should change sites with each dose to avoid injection site reactions from happening.

For step-by-step instructions on how to inject Toujeo, see the manufacturer’s website. Or check out this video.

If you still have questions about how to inject Toujeo, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How long do you use Toujeo?

Toujeo is typically used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Toujeo is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely use it long term.

Below are answers to some common questions about Toujeo dosaging.

Yes, there is a dosing calculator available. But this calculator should only be used by your doctor to help determine your dosage.

The dosing calculator is just a guideline. It helps your doctor determine your dose based on your body weight. But the dosing calculator doesn’t consider other factors that may affect your dose, such as:

  • your diet and exercise levels
  • if you have kidney or liver problems
  • if you’re taking other medications

Using a combination of these factors, your doctor will determine the best Toujeo dose for you.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your prescribed dosage.

No, Toujeo is a administered once daily at about the same time each day. However, certain other types of insulin, such as intermediate-acting insulin, may be taken twice per day.

If you’re switching to Toujeo from an intermediate-acting insulin, you will start Toujeo at a lower dose. This is typically about 80% of your total daily intermediate-acting insulin dose.

If you have questions about your Toujeo dose frequency, talk with your doctor.

Do not use more Toujeo than your doctor prescribes. Using more than this can lead to serious side effects.

Symptoms of overdose

Symptoms of overdose from Toujeo are the symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) or low blood potassium level. Symptoms caused by an overdose can include:

What to do in case you use too much Toujeo

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much Toujeo. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.