Apidra SoloStar
✅ Rapid glucose control
✅ Convenient pen format
✅ Adjustable dosing
✅ Lower hypoglycemia risk
✅ Easy self-administration
Apidra Solostar pen contains Insulin.
✓ Medically reviewed by Morgan Ellis — Pharmacy Researcher · 8 years experience · Last reviewed: May 2026
⚡ Quick Answer — What is Apidra SoloStar?
Apidra SoloStar is a pre-filled disposable insulin pen containing insulin glulisine (100 units/mL, 3 mL pen) — a rapid-acting insulin analogue used at meal-times (bolus insulin) in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It has an onset of 10–15 minutes, peak effect at 1–2 hours, and total duration of 3–5 hours. Inject subcutaneously into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm 5–15 minutes before a meal (or immediately after for unpredictable eaters). Usual dose: 0.5–1 unit per 10 g of carbohydrate, individualised to glucose, carb intake, and insulin sensitivity. Main risk: hypoglycaemia. Pair with a basal (long-acting) insulin in type 1 diabetes, or use alongside oral agents or basal insulin in type 2. Store unopened pens at 2–8°C; once in use, keep at room temperature < 30°C for up to 28 days.
📦 Every order is covered by our Reshipment Assurance Policy — if your parcel does not arrive within 20 business days, we reship it.
Why order from MedsBase
Our generic medications are sourced from WHO-GMP certified manufacturers and shipped worldwide in discreet, plain packaging — no medication name on the parcel exterior. Card payments are routed through a regulated processor (statement descriptors include a regulated card-payment processor — never “MedsBase” or any medication name). Crypto and SEPA bank transfer are also accepted. Every order is backed by our Reshipment Assurance Policy.
What Is Apidra SoloStar?
Apidra SoloStar is a pre-filled disposable pen containing 3 mL (300 units) of insulin glulisine, dialing 1–80 units per dose in 1-unit increments. It contains insulin glulisine (100 units/mL, 3 mL pen) manufactured by Sanofi, supplied in packs of 1 or 5 pre-filled pens.
insulin glulisine is a rapid-acting insulin analogue — a meal-time (“bolus”) insulin used to match the post-meal glucose rise. Apidra is the originator brand worldwide.
How Does Apidra SoloStar Work?
Insulin is the natural hormone the pancreas releases after meals to help cells absorb glucose. In diabetes, this insulin response is either absent (type 1) or insufficient (type 2). Meal-time insulin injections replace that response.
Insulin glulisine has asparagine at position B3 replaced with lysine, and lysine at position B29 replaced with glutamic acid — this keeps the insulin monomeric in solution (without relying on zinc) and gives the fastest onset of the rapid-acting analogues. This gives a pharmacokinetic profile tailored to the meal-time glucose rise:
- Onset of action: 10–15 minutes
- Peak effect: 1–2 hours
- Total duration: 3–5 hours
This profile closely mimics physiological post-meal insulin release — much better than regular human insulin, which has a slow 30-minute onset and a long 6–8 hour tail that can cause late hypoglycaemia.
Dosage and Administration
Timing: inject 5–15 minutes before each meal. If meal timing is unpredictable (young children, unwell adults), injecting just before or even immediately after the meal is acceptable — this flexibility is a key advantage of rapid-acting analogues over regular insulin.
Dose: individualised to the patient. Common starting approaches:
- Fixed-dose regimen: 4–6 units before each main meal
- Carbohydrate counting: 0.5–1 unit per 10 g of meal carbohydrate (insulin-to-carb ratio; individualised)
- Correction dose: add 1 unit for each 2.5–3 mmol/L (45–54 mg/dL) above target glucose (sensitivity factor; individualised)
Injection technique:
- Inject subcutaneously into the abdomen, front of thigh, upper outer arm, or upper outer buttock. Absorption is fastest from the abdomen.
- Rotate injection sites within the same area to prevent lipohypertrophy (lumps under the skin that make absorption erratic).
- Use a new pen needle for every dose.
- Always prime the pen with 2 units before dialing the dose (check for a stream of insulin from the tip).
Side Effects
Most important:
- Hypoglycaemia — the main risk of any insulin. Symptoms: shakiness, sweating, hunger, palpitations, confusion. Treat with 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate (glucose tablets, juice), then a snack with complex carb.
- Weight gain — 1–3 kg on average over the first year.
Local:
- Injection-site reactions: redness, itching, bruising
- Lipohypertrophy from repeated injection at the same site
- Rare lipoatrophy (thinning of subcutaneous fat)
Uncommon but important:
- Hypokalaemia (low potassium) — especially with rapid correction of hyperglycaemia or in DKA treatment
- Fluid retention, peripheral oedema (typically mild)
- Hypersensitivity, rarely anaphylaxis
Drug Interactions
Raise hypoglycaemia risk: sulfonylureas, meglitinides, ACE inhibitors, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, MAOIs, pentoxifylline, propoxyphene, salicylates, sulfonamide antibiotics, somatostatin analogues, alcohol.
Reduce insulin effect: corticosteroids, oral contraceptives, thiazides, thyroid hormones, sympathomimetics, atypical antipsychotics, isoniazid, niacin, danazol, protease inhibitors.
Variable: beta-blockers (mask hypoglycaemia symptoms), lithium, octreotide.
Who Should Not Use Apidra SoloStar?
- Current hypoglycaemia episode
- Known hypersensitivity to insulin glulisine or any excipients
- Diabetic ketoacidosis — only in supervised settings with IV insulin and fluids
In pregnancy: rapid-acting analogues are considered compatible and widely used. Discuss with your obstetric diabetes team.
Paediatric use: both NovoRapid and Apidra are approved for use in children (Apidra from 4 years, NovoRapid from 1 year) with appropriate paediatric dosing.
Storage and Handling
- Unopened pens: refrigerate at 2–8°C until the expiry date. Do not freeze.
- In-use pens (after first injection): keep at room temperature (below 30°C), away from direct heat and sunlight. Discard after 28 days — even if insulin remains.
- Do not use if the insulin is cloudy, discoloured, or contains particles.
- Never share a pen between patients, even with a new needle.
- Carry a spare pen and glucose tablets when away from home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Apidra compare to NovoRapid or Humalog?
Apidra (insulin glulisine), NovoRapid (aspart) and Humalog (lispro) are the three rapid-acting insulin analogues. They all have similar onset (10–15 minutes), peak (1–2 hours), and duration (3–5 hours). Clinical effects and side-effect profiles are essentially interchangeable. Choice is usually driven by formulary availability, pen device preference, and cost.
When should I inject Apidra SoloStar — before or after the meal?
5–15 minutes before the meal is standard and gives the best glucose control. Injecting just before or immediately after is acceptable when meal timing is unpredictable — for young children, people with gastroparesis, or when you do not yet know how much you will eat. Injecting much later than that reduces control of the post-meal spike.
What if I accidentally inject too much?
Eat a fast-acting carbohydrate immediately (15 g of glucose), then a slower-acting snack (bread, biscuits, sandwich) to cover the ongoing insulin action over the next 3–5 hours. Check glucose every 15–30 minutes. Severe or unresponsive hypoglycaemia needs glucagon or medical help.
Do I need basal (long-acting) insulin too?
In type 1 diabetes — yes, always. Rapid-acting insulin alone cannot provide 24-hour basal coverage, and stopping long-acting insulin in type 1 diabetes causes diabetic ketoacidosis within hours. In type 2 diabetes, Apidra SoloStar is often used alongside basal insulin (glargine, degludec) and oral agents.
Can I mix Apidra SoloStar with long-acting insulin in the same syringe?
No — rapid-acting analogues should not be mixed with long-acting analogues (glargine, degludec, detemir) in the same syringe. Use separate injections. You can give them at the same time with different pens.
Can Apidra SoloStar be used in insulin pumps?
Yes — rapid-acting analogues including aspart and glulisine are the standard insulins for continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) pumps. Ask your diabetes team for pump-specific guidance.
Does Apidra SoloStar expire once the pen is in use?
Yes — once you take the first injection, the pen lasts 28 days at room temperature (below 30°C). Discard on day 29 even if insulin remains. Note the start date on the pen.
Where can I buy Apidra SoloStar online?
You can order Apidra SoloStar (100 units/mL, 3 mL pen) from MedsBase in packs of 1 or 5 pre-filled pens. Insulin ships with temperature-protected packaging; worldwide shipping. Discreet packaging and genuine Sanofi manufacturer stock.
Related Diabetes Medications
- NovoRapid FlexPen — Insulin aspart (rapid-acting)
- Apidra SoloStar — Insulin glulisine (rapid-acting)
- Glycomet SR — Metformin (oral first-line)
- Januvia — Sitagliptin (DPP-4 inhibitor)
- Jardiance — Empagliflozin (SGLT-2 inhibitor)
- Browse all Diabetes Medications
Related Alternatives
Other products in Chronic Conditions that customers also view:
More options in Diabetes
Ranked by recent MedsBase order volume — what other customers in this category are picking.
| Strength | 100 iu/ml |
|---|---|
| Quantity | 1 Pen/s, 2 Pen/s, 3 Pen/s, 10 Pen/s |
Apidra SoloStar
Q & A
Apidra SoloStar
Related products
Reviews
There are no reviews yet