Re: Lantus problems
Hi to all former Lantus Users and Those Still Suffering,
Thank you Latecomer for resurrecting this thread.
I would like to start by saying you/we/us/I are not alone - Lantus does undoubtedly, indisputably & without question cause debilitating side effects and/or difficulties with glycaemic control for a percentage of the diabetic community using it.
There are also a considerable number of users of Lantus who experience no problems.
If I knew the reason why some users experience such problems with Lantus I would be a very clever person :lol: :lol: - is it due to the “syntheticness” of the analogue, its composition, its aggressive nature, the fact its made from deactivated E-coli – who knows. :?: :?:
In theory and on paper the GM synthetic analogues Lantus & Levemir look fantastic – the idea that their profile mimics functioning pancreas / beta cells by providing basal (background) insulin is laudable. However I think that in reality this is often too far removed from what is actually happening when children, young people & adults use it. On the subject of children why when Lantus has not been licensed for use in the under 6’s is it being prescribed? :shock: :shock:
The alleged flat profile is sometimes too flat and insulin’s that have a predicable peaking effect can actually be very beneficial.
At a focus group I attended some weeks ago one of the diabetes teams stated “ we have done a great disservice to many diabetics by placing them on analogues before their effectiveness had been properly evaluated.” I felt vindicated!
I feel as do many others that we have in actual fact been guinea pigs :shock: :shock: during the time we have all been using Lantus.
The Department of Health have reacted in the same way they did when, the problems users who went onto Human Synthetic Insulin’s experienced and have completely denied there any are problems with Lantus. It actually makes little difference if out of 1000 users of Lantus, 999 are ok – for that one person affected by debilitating side effects their lives become a living hell. :cry:
I certainly stated to my doctor on more than one occasion I felt as if I was just existing purely because my heart & brain were functioning (of sorts!) but I was not living.
Chronic fatigue, huge weight gain due to water retention, muscle pain, memory difficulties, feeling like I was walking around with a gold fish bowl over my head, mobility difficulties, feeling poisoned – how many times did I mention to family members I felt as if there was something toxic inside me (and no I was not referring to the film Aliens!) loss of hypoglycaemia symptoms and crashing hypos despite good HBA1C results.
Having been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromalygia & finally Multiple Sclerosis in addition to being informed it was probably “all in my head” – now dear pop a Prozac and you will feel better in the morning!! I am not knocking antidepressants – they too are life saving drugs but of reduced help if you are taking a synthetic insulin day in day out that is actually poisoning you.
However 13 weeks, 4 days and 15 hours since coming off Lantus (and no I am not counting :lol: :lol: :lol: ) I feel like a new woman and no longer want to throw myself off a bridge at high tide in despair and agony but wanting to stand on that same bridge and shout for joy.
I am on a possibly perceived as “quirky regime” of Porcine Neutral, Porcine Isophane & Bovine Lente Insulin but it works for me and as I continue on my road to recovery I hope I can carry on to resurrect my ruined career, financial status and life.
Don’t suffer in silence. If you feel “cack” on Lantus – try another type of insulin be it animal insulin, human synthetic insulin or the other GM synthetic analogue Levemir. As latecomer eloquently put CHANGE INSULIN & TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE.
The Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust (IDDT) are a valuable resource for help on insulin related issues
http://www.iddtinternational.org/
If you change insulin due to side effects and/or poor glycaemic control please complete a yellow card side effects form for the MHRA
http://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/
Apologies for the long posting & the rant!
Best wishes
Txx