3/16 Jack: 235@amps, 201@+5, first day on new brand of insulin

[Jack & Mopem'sMom]

First, Jack update- numbers were steady within a 100 point zone for 3 days. Overnight, we finally saw some movement, got us some nice blue numbers, but back to yellow this morning.

Yesterday's post: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/3-15-jack-249-amps-237-3.287741/#post-3161634

What follows is the long story/rant about his insulin and why we are now using a THIRD brand, which is supremely frustrating and aggravating because I am trying soo hard to control every factor/variable I can and this BS is NOT HELPFUL:
I HATE THE HEALTHCARE AND PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES IN THIS COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Walmart pharmacy had the lowest price when Jack was first diagnosed, so I filled the prescription there and they dispensed Mylan brand glargine. He has been on that for over 2 years. Last time I renewed they gave me Biocon Biologics- everything I saw said it should be the same, but some of the more experienced members here suggested there may be a difference in the stabilizing agents or something else that was causing higher numbers. Even thought it wasn't a big difference, I figured, every little bit helps, and if I could ensure the brand of insulin didn't change, that was one potential factor affecting his numbers that I could eliminate. So, even though it wasn't really time to re-order, I asked the pharmacy technicians to renew the script and make sure they ordered the Mylan. They claimed they did. I went to the pharmacy to pick it up and they tried to give me a bottle of Biocon Biologics. I went through the whole story again, with a different technician, who said the first person I spoke with didn't specify that it HAD to be Mylan so the distributor sent Biocon (at this point, I'm like, wtf was the point of my conversation with the first person, but whatever. Apparently the person you speak with isn't the person who does the ordering, so unless there are specific notes in the system, you get whatever they send) So, person 2 says they will make the appropriate notes in the system and order the Mylan. As all of this is going on, I'm using the bottle of insulin that I technically didn't need to renew when we started all this nonsense. Yesterday I went back to the pharmacy to pick up the Mylan and...of course, it not Mylan brand- it's Winthrop by Sanofi. A THIRD brand. I seriously could have reached across the counter and strangled this poor girl (person #3) She looked up the Mylan in the computer but according to their distributor, it's not currently available. So, faced with a dwindling bottle of Biocon that needs to be renewed within a few days now, and the choice between the two insulin brands available (Biocon with higher numbers or Winthrop by Sanofi) I went with the third brand (Winthrop). It's $60 more expensive but if there's a chance he could see lower numbers, it's worth it. I could have tried different pharmacies, but cost-wise, all the other pharmacies were more expensive for the Mylan so I stayed with Walmart. Paws crossed all this was worth it and his numbers start to come down. (Just not on Monday while I'm in NY)

I'm sorry for the rant, I am just so frustrated and aggravated with this nonsense, and the lack of information/education/concern for the patients, that I needed to vent. I hope everyone is having a good weekend. Sending hugs and love to all Hope you all have a happy St. Patrick's Day on Sunday if you are celebrating, and the kitties get into the mood and show lots of safe, dark green!

 

[tiffmaxee]

Wondering if a different pharmacy might have the brand you want? Sometimes when a particular pharmacy shows out of stock it does not mean another one will not have it. Just a thought as I understand the frustration.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Hi Christine, Rant all you want to, Jesus Christ!
Well hopefully the the Winthrop by Sanofi will give you better results with Jack's BG numbers . I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you .
I would start calling around see who has the Mylan brand ,how much and do they usually carry that brand for the future

 

[Jack & Mopem'sMom]

Wondering if a different pharmacy might have the brand you want? Sometimes when a particular pharmacy shows out of stock it does not mean another one will not have it. Just a thought as I understand the frustration.

I could have tried different pharmacies, but cost-wise, all the other pharmacies were more expensive for the Mylan so I stayed with Walmart. They typically have the lowest prices and most times, the Walmart pharmacy is easier to deal with. CVS is abysmal and RiteAid seems to charge the most. I may still switch pharmacies, based on how he does with this brand and what Walmart can do at next renewal. I just learned a hard lesson about what I need to explicitly say and make sure the person I deal with does. Thanks for your input! Hope all is well with your kitties

 

[Jack & Mopem'sMom]

Hi Christine, Rant all you want to, Jesus Christ!
Well hopefully the the Winthrop by Sanofi will give you better results with Jack's BG numbers . I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you .
I would start calling around see who has the Mylan brand ,how much and do they usually carry that brand for the future

I could have tried different pharmacies, but cost-wise, all the other pharmacies were more expensive for the Mylan so I stayed with Walmart. They typically have the lowest prices and most times, the Walmart pharmacy is easier to deal with. CVS is abysmal and RiteAid seems to charge the most. I may still switch pharmacies, based on how he does with this brand and what Walmart can do at next renewal. I just learned a hard lesson about what I need to explicitly say and make sure the person I deal with does. Thanks for checking in....hugs!

 

[Mikanmama (Mikan GA)]

Oh gosh, Christine. What an ordeal after waiting for so long
A lot of times, pharmacies have no clue what we have to go through!
Thanks for sharing your story!
Hope this third brand works well for Jack.
Looks like a better cycle this morning. Go Jack!
And you, Christine, go relax. Treat yourself!

 

[Alicia & Kit cat (GA)]

I end up going to a Walmart that isn't the one closest to me because it's the only one that would sell me the single pen (because I'm weird that way). Is a different Walmart an option? Or is it a Walmart can't stock it more of a thing.

That is all so very frustrating. Like, we're not just saying things to hear ourselves talk.

 

[Jack & Mopem'sMom]

I end up going to a Walmart that isn't the one closest to me because it's the only one that would sell me the single pen (because I'm weird that way). Is a different Walmart an option? Or is it a Walmart can't stock it more of a thing.

That is all so very frustrating. Like, we're not just saying things to hear ourselves talk.

I don't know. I'm in a rural area, so between the 2 Walmarts that are closest to me, the one I use is also closer to Petsmart (for prescription cat food for Pumpkin's urinary issues), and all the other stores/places I go to once a week. I think the issue was twofold- one was dealing with technicians who didn't do exactly what I wanted (whether that my fault or theirs?) and the distributor not having the Mylan. I'm not sure a different location would matter with the distributor, but I will ask next time I'm in the store. Thanks for that thought!