Purchasing Lantus best prices

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Laci

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Hi,
I'm registered under the name Laci whos was diabetic, then was diagnosed with kidney disease. She passed 1 year ago. My cat Sammy was diagnosed in Jan 2016. I check his BG two times a day & work with my vet for dosing protocals. He's currently on Humalin & his BG numbers are getting high & I'm considering awitching him to Lantus. It's very expensive in the US. Some people say to purchase from Canada. My vet sent me a link to screen Canadian pharmacies. Is Lantus a better insulin for cats? Any safe Canadian pharmacies to order Lantus from? I also can't figure out how to change my member name to Sammy.

Thank you,
Cheryl
 
Laci said:
Hi,
I'm registered under the name Laci whos was diabetic, then was diagnosed with kidney disease. She passed 1 year ago. My cat Sammy was diagnosed in Jan 2016. I check his BG two times a day & work with my vet for dosing protocals. He's currently on Humalin & his BG numbers are getting high & I'm considering awitching him to Lantus. It's very expensive in the US. Some people say to purchase from Canada. My vet sent me a link to screen Canadian pharmacies. Is Lantus a better insulin for cats? Any safe Canadian pharmacies to order Lantus from? I also can't figure out how to change my member name to Sammy.

Thank you,
Cheryl
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Idk about Canadian pharmacies. I've heard of ppl doing that. But the Lantus isn't all that expensive. It's $100 a pen and that lasts 2-6 months. Depending on how much your cat takes. If you have a Costco nearby, it's $399 for 5 pens. Ends up about $75 a pen. :)
 
Laci said:
I also can't figure out how to change my member name to Sammy.
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If you hover over your user name, you can see options. I can't remember exactly where it is, but if you play around with it, you should be able to find where you can update your user name. I had to change mine after people kept asking me for my name.
 
tiffmaxee said:
I bought from https://rxcanada4less.com/index.html. It's 169 for 5 pens and that includes shipping.
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I will 2nd Mark's Marine. They are a brick and mortar, they have great phone/email customer service and they have good pricing. Not sure where you are located but since it does ship via mail - just be conscious of the upcoming heat of the summer. They do ship in ice packs and styrofoam insulation but (in my case) 100+ temps in August and the sensitivity to heat that all insulin has, it is a risk.
 
Quite a few of us purchase from Mark's Marine (rxcanada4less.com). They are a brick and mortar pharmacy in Canada and have absolutely excellent customer service. I have ordered numerous times from them and they always call to ask if I have any questions and they usually ask about the weather to determine if a cooler / extra ice packs are needed.
 
tiffmaxee said:
I bought from https://rxcanada4less.com/index.html. It's 169 for 5 pens and that includes shipping.
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That's very reasonable. I called Sanofi who makes Lantus & she explained the differences between the 10ml vial vs the pens. She said I have to purchase pen needles to use for the pen. She also said that the insulin is only good for 28 days but then I see where people say it can last up to 6 mths. Is that accurate? I feel that using the pens makes more sense given the fact that each 3ml pen contains 3 units.
 
Mandy & Rex said:
If you hover over your user name, you can see options. I can't remember exactly where it is, but if you play around with it, you should be able to find where you can update your user name. I had to change mine after people kept asking me for my name.
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Thank you
 
You would still use the syrings with the pens.

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...insulin-info-handling-drawing-fine-doses.151/

USING PEN NEEDLES WITH AN INSULIN PEN:
  • When dosing cats, there can be more negatives to using pen needles with an insulin pen than positives:
    • Inability to administer doses in increments of 0.25 - 0.50 units with pens.
    • Forgetting to "prime" the pen prior to each use will result in a smaller dose than intended. Priming the pen involves wasting 2 units of insulin for every shot.
    • One must keep the pen needle in for 5 - 10 seconds after the shot or you'll run the risk of not administering a full dose (can be tough with some cats).
    • Manufacturers do not recommend refrigerating an in-use pen. Therefore, shelf life may be shortened to 28 days (Lantus) and 42 days (Levemir).
    • Some FDMB members have reported shots administered from insulin pens are more uncomfortable than from a syringe (?)
USING SYRINGES WITH A PEN, CARTRIDGE, OR VIAL:
  • U-100 3/10cc syringes with half unit markings are the best to use for drawing Lantus or Levemir from vials, cartridges, and pens. BD Ultra-Fine, CarePoint Vet, Monoject, GNP, UltiCare Vet Rx, Sure Comfort, and ReliOn are just some of the brands available with half unit markings. Needle gauge and length is your preference Syringes come in ½ inch or 5/16 inch needle lengths. Needle gauges are 29, 30 or 31 (31 being the thinnest)

 
Laci said:
She also said that the insulin is only good for 28 days but then I see where people say it can last up to 6 mths. Is that accurate?
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Forgot to address this - with proper handling and storage a pen (or vile) can be used past the 28 days (up to expiration). Make sure to not inject insulin back into the pen or vile once it is in they syringe - it can contaminate it.

There is more info at the link ^^ I posted above.

"Please note: Lantus is NOT as fragile as we once thought. Human diabetics will carry around an unrefrigerated pen in their purse, briefcase, backpack, or stuck in their pocket. The pens will be subject to motion, bumps and bangs... it still works! Refrigeration and minimizing movement will help your insulin last longer, but don't freak out if you drop your insulin or accidentally leave it out on the counter over night. Chances are the insulin is just fine!"
 
LizzieInTexas said:
You would still use the syrings with the pens.

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...insulin-info-handling-drawing-fine-doses.151/

USING PEN NEEDLES WITH AN INSULIN PEN:
  • When dosing cats, there can be more negatives to using pen needles with an insulin pen than positives:
    • Inability to administer doses in increments of 0.25 - 0.50 units with pens.
    • Forgetting to "prime" the pen prior to each use will result in a smaller dose than intended. Priming the pen involves wasting 2 units of insulin for every shot.
    • One must keep the pen needle in for 5 - 10 seconds after the shot or you'll run the risk of not administering a full dose (can be tough with some cats).
    • Manufacturers do not recommend refrigerating an in-use pen. Therefore, shelf life may be shortened to 28 days (Lantus) and 42 days (Levemir).
    • Some FDMB members have reported shots administered from insulin pens are more uncomfortable than from a syringe (?)
USING SYRINGES WITH A PEN, CARTRIDGE, OR VIAL:
  • U-100 3/10cc syringes with half unit markings are the best to use for drawing Lantus or Levemir from vials, cartridges, and pens. BD Ultra-Fine, CarePoint Vet, Monoject, GNP, UltiCare Vet Rx, Sure Comfort, and ReliOn are just some of the brands available with half unit markings. Needle gauge and length is your preference Syringes come in ½ inch or 5/16 inch needle lengths. Needle gauges are 29, 30 or 31 (31 being the thinnest)

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Thank you, very helpful. I'm use to using the vial insulin.
 
Laci said:
I feel that using the pens makes more sense given the fact that each 3ml pen contains 3 units.
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A 3ml pen holds 300 units.....each ml is 100 units of insulin

With the vials (10ml = 1000 units), unless your cat is on a fairly high dose, it's going to lose efficacy by about 6 months and you end up throwing half the vial away....since the pens only hold 300 units each, you can usually use every last drop in each pen. The other pens that you're not currently using should be kept in the fridge and will be good until the expiration date on the box...usually at least 2 years away
 
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Chris & China said:
A 3ml pen holds 300 units.....each ml is 100 units of insulin

With the vials (10ml = 1000 units), unless your cat is on a fairly high dose, it's going to lose efficacy by about 6 months and you end up throwing half the vial away....since the pens only hold 300 units each, you can usually use every last drop in each pen. The other pens that you're not currently using should be kept in the fridge and will be good until the expiration data on the box...usually at least 2 years away
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So as long as the pens are refrigerated and not opened,they last 2 years? Approximately?
 
If you want to buy locally, then it's worth giving the Lantus Savings Program a try. Success varies, but if you can get it to work, you will pay no more than $10 per pen for the duration of your participation in the program. Typically, this involves registering your cat as you would a human adult (sort of a don't ask don't tell kind of thing -- make sure to register a birthday that reflects an age of 18 year or older and then be sure to match this date with whatever you give your pharmacy), then finding a pharmacy that will work with you by dispensing individual pens and looking the other way when processing the program for an animal.
 
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