Canadian Pharmacy & Lubricant in Syringe Question

Shiloh567

Shiloh567

Member Since 2020
I have heard folks talk about getting their Lantus from Marks Marine Pharmacy in Canada. Has anyone used PharmaServe in Canada? They have 5 Lantus Pens for $159, and $29.99 to ship. Could take 5 days to arrive, but the pens should be fine. They are shipped in an insulated ox with ice packs. This is probably similar to Marks Marine. If you are giving 1 unit BID, one pen should have 300 units in it or 150 days. I would not use it this long. I also pull up more than the dose and shoot excess into the sink. I had read not to shoot back into the pen because of the lubricant in the syringe could contaminate the Lantus. Is this true?
 
Shiloh567 said:
I would not use it this long.
Click to expand...

Why would you not use it that long?

Yes, there's lubricant inside the syringe barrel - so it's better not to push it back into the insulin in the vial/pen as it contaminates it.

If you get calipers you'll get better at pulling up a closer dose and waste less. I rarely ever have to push out more than a drop on the tip of the needle since I started using calipers.
 
It looks like the Insulin pen is good for 28 days, once opened, even if refrigerated. I know for our kitties, we use them much longer, and many folks use to the last drop.
I am afraid I have contaminated my pen, because the first week of using it, I never thought about lubricant in the syringe, and definitely pushed some insulin back into the pen.
I do plan on getting calipers, perhaps today.
Have a good day.
 
The pens lasted me for months. I was able to use them to the last drop. It’s nit true they only last 28 days if stored correctly. Even with calipers I would draw up more and lose a little. You don’t want to shoot it back into the pen or vial. After my first vial I never went back to vials. Mine lasted about 6 months and it was still half full when it lost its potency. I hope you never need more than one unit but you don’t know that will be true.

Good luck with the increase! I thought it was time. ;)
 
I also kept my insulin in the fridge from day one...my first vial lasted almost a year...my pens last nearly three months each.

I was in shock when I paid nearly $300 for that first vial of insulin and was relieved to read that it is good until the last drop...I've found that in most cases when folks think the insulin is bad it's usually a dose issue for the cat in question - not 100% of the time, but typically...Whenever I start to doubt the insulin, I wait a few days...and sure enough Luci usually responds...I wouldn't count it out unless there was obviously something wrong with it (floaters visible) frozen or left on the stove or dashboard of the car to overheat...The new insulins these days are very stable and people (hooman diabetics) carry it in their pockets and purses for a month - talk about abuse! And it lasts about a month that way...
 
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