Toujeo vs Basaglar – Dosage, Costs, Effectiveness, Side Effects

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Posted by Prescription Hope - See Editorial Guidelines (Last Updated On: Wed Apr 26 2023)

One question asked regularly is, are Toujeo and Basaglar the same? So, in this article, we’re covering Toujeo vs Basaglar in detail, what each is for, how they work, pricing, their effectiveness, and much more.

But first, here’s the quick answer to get you some fast info, then we’ll get into the details.

Toujeo vs. Basaglar: Toujeo is prescribed for type 1 and 2 diabetes, for patients 6 and above. Basaglar is for patients with type 1 diabetes of 6 years and older and adults for type 2 diabetes. Both are long-acting insulins that work similarly to the insulin produced by the pancreas. Both are equally expensive and effective, with similar side effects.

While that’s the simple answer, there are more details than this to understand, so let’s get into that now.

What is Each? – Toujeo vs Basaglar

Toujeo is a long-acting insulin that’s used for the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, approved for use in pediatric patients of six years of age and older.

Basaglar is also long-acting insulin that’s used for the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Unlike Toujeo, Basaglar is prescribed for adults and children of 6 years and older for type 1 diabetes and just adults with type 2 diabetes.

So, both Toujeo and Basaglar are for treating type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with the difference of age restriction on each.

And to recap on the background of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes is where your body can’t produce insulin at all.

On the other hand, type 2 diabetes is a situation where your body can’t respond to the insulin produced by your body to the level required to cure your medical condition. Severe Type 2 diabetes may come to a point where your body does not produce enough insulin.

How Each Works – Toujeo vs Basaglar

As we said, Toujeo and Basaglar are both long-acting insulins. Long-acting insulin stay active within the body, typically for a full 24 hours. However, there is no peak, unlike short-acting insulin.

Type 1 diabetes patients must not use Toujeo or Basaglar as a mealtime insulin, as it will not reduce their blood sugar levels appropriately after they have a meal.

Both of these medications work in a similar manner to the pancreas. After a meal, all your carbs intake will be broken down into glucose and passed into the bloodstream, which increases blood sugar levels.

The pancreas will detect a rise in blood sugar levels and release insulin as needed using its beta cells.

Likewise, both Toujeo and Basaglar assist in controlling your blood sugar levels in-between meals and through the night. These types of insulin are also called “basal” or “background insulin.”

In other words, both these medications keep working steadily in the background to keep your blood sugar levels under control throughout one’s daily routine.

Time to Take Effect and Working Time for – Toujeo vs Basaglar

The time both these medications take effect and how long they work for differ slightly.

Basaglar, on average, takes around 3-4 hours to start working and works for one day, or a 24-hour period.

Toujeo also takes 3-4 hours to begin working but will remain in your system for up to 36 hours.

This is why doctors are very specific when it comes to the dosage administration of Toujeo when comparing to Basaglar. This is because there is a higher chance of an overdose if the medication is still in your system when you take consistent doses.

Strength and Available Forms – Toujeo vs Basaglar

Toujeo comes inside prefilled pens in two forms as follows:

• Toujeo SoloStar – This form has 450 units of insulin glargine in 1.5 mL of solution. This form can deliver up to 80 units of insulin glargine in a single injection.
• Toujeo Max SoloStar – This form has 900 units of insulin glargine in 3 mL of solution. This form can deliver up to 160 units of insulin glargine in a single injection. This form is recommended for people who require at least 20 units of insulin or more a day.

Also, Basaglar comes in two forms of prefilled pens as KwikPen and Tempo pens.

Both these forms come as a 3ml pen for single patient use of 100 units/mL (U-100). Each of these forms as a prefilled pen can deliver a maximum dose of 80 units.

Price – Toujeo vs Basaglar

Both Toujeo and Basaglar are brand-name drugs and, on average, have the same price range. When looking at the retail pricing, they both tend to be more expensive than many other types of long-acting insulin.

Read more on this in our guide on, is your insulin too expensive?

The average retail price of Toujeo for a supply of 4.5 millimeters (300 units/mL) is $415. The average price of Basaglar solution for a supply of 15 millimeters (300 units/mL) is $350.

These prices are only for cash-paying customers and are not subject to any insurance plan. Also, these prices may vary depending on your pharmacy.

However, if you enroll with us, our Patient Assistance Program application can save you a lot. Each medication through the program will only cost you $60.00 per month.

Effectiveness – Toujeo vs Basaglar

According to studies, both Toujeo and Basaglar are equally effective in treating patients (controlling blood sugar levels) with type 1 and type 2 diabetes when used in combination with other diabetes drugs.

But the same studies found that Toujeo could result in fewer episodes of hypoglycemia and weight gain (a side effect) when compared to the Basaglar.

Apart from this, Toujeo is more concentrated when compared to Basaglar.

This makes it a convenient option for diabetes patients to avoid consistent injections and pain, as less volume of Toujeo can give the glucose-lowering effect compared to high volume and multiple injections of Basaglar.

Side Effects – Toujeo vs Basaglar

Both these medications have the same active ingredient, making the side effects pretty much the same.

Some of these side effects of Toujeo and Basaglar include:

• Skin thickening or pits at the injection site (lipodystrophy)
• Allergic reactions,
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• Injection site reactions (pain, redness, itchiness, or swelling around the area of your injection)
• Infections such as cold symptoms
• Skin rash
• Weight gain
• Itchy skin

Conclusion

We hope this has helped your understanding of Toujeo vs Basaglar. Always consult your doctor before looking to take or change any medications. And be sure to enroll with us here to look at getting your medications for just $60.00 a month through Prescription Hope’s medication access service.