Cartridges being discontinued?

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pamela and tigger

pamela and tigger

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I asked my pharmacist via my vet to order me the five pack of cartridges...gave the empty package and an empty cartridge to my vet so he would know what to order for me. My pharmacist then called later and said he couldn't get these because the manufacturer had discontinued making them. He said he tried two sources.

He said he could get me the flex pens though at a cost of $243 for the five pack (total 15ml).

He said a 10ml vial would be $125 so I went with that again. I had used the vial two other times and liked it fine, but then I bought these carts off of Deb and really liked them.

Anyway, wonder if anyone else has heard they have been discontinued?
 
I didn't think cartridges were available in the US, only flexpens? So not necessarily discontinued, just not available through the usual sources....ie, you can get them from Canada. Unless they're being discontinued there.

PS, $243 is very expensive for flexpens. Although it was 1 year ago I bought mine, they were not any more expensive than the first batch I bought a year and 3 months earlier at $180/5.
 
Okay, thank you Vicky. I know Deb got her carts from Canada. I never realized that no one actually purchased carts in the USA. And it was strange too that he said that the manufacturers weren't making them anymore, as if they had at one time?

Being in a small town, this pharmacist knows me and has always been very helpful. But you are right in that the last time I bought the flexpens in 2007 (from this pharmacy) they were $180. I didn't start Tigger on Levemir at that time because his liver was in such bad shape. So I did wonder why they were so much more now...just figured since it was three years later they were just selling for more.
 
pamela and tigger said:
But you are right in that the last time I bought the flexpens in 2007 (from this pharmacy) they were $180. I didn't start Tigger on Levemir at that time because his liver was in such bad shape. So I did wonder why they were so much more now...just figured since it was three years later they were just selling for more.
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It does appear that NovoNordisk has raised the price on Levemir recently because the prices at the Canadian pharmacies have gone up. But I also can get 5 Levemir flexpens locally for ~$180. It looks like your pharmacy is pretty high priced.

You might ask them whether they will match competitors prices and then shop around. Or you can try a drug discount card. (Here's a Google search.) I got one from my County through the NACO program, and I haven't yet tried it for insulin, but it did save me over 50% on a prescription toothpaste I buy that insurance doesn't cover.
 
I have to call during regular business hours. I'll call tomorrow.

Also planning on asking if a Rx is now required for orders placed from the U.S. When i ordered from them last, i did not need one but i recently heard that it is now needed.

Any other questions you want me to ask them while i have them on the horn??
 
pamela and tigger said:
But you are right in that the last time I bought the flexpens in 2007 (from this pharmacy) they were $180. I didn't start Tigger on Levemir at that time because his liver was in such bad shape. So I did wonder why they were so much more now...just figured since it was three years later they were just selling for more.
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Venita and The Boyz said:
It does appear that NovoNordisk has raised the price on Levemir recently because the prices at the Canadian pharmacies have gone up. But I also can get 5 Levemir flexpens locally for ~$180. It looks like your pharmacy is pretty high priced.

You might ask them whether they will match competitors prices and then shop around. Or you can try a drug discount card. (Here's a Google search.) I got one from my County through the NACO program, and I haven't yet tried it for insulin, but it did save me over 50% on a prescription toothpaste I buy that insurance doesn't cover.
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Thanks Venita. I will keep that in mind for the next time. I already bought the vial so that should take me a few months to finish. I have seen others mention drug discount cards but never considered it since we have insurance (which sometimes doesn't cover a lot), but it looks like there are some you can use in addition to that? I will ask my pharmacist. He knows the insulin is for Tigger though so not sure if he would honor it.

Let us know what you find out Michele.
 
Pamela, some drug discount cards cover pet meds - like the AAA one does (much to the annoyance of the pharmacist that dispenses his methimazole - apparently). It's a free card for AAA members. Other drugstore cards will cover pets with a family club membership fee, or you can get the single membership and make it for the one pet. Read, do your research and ask questions. Specifically ask it they cover levemir because some are only for generics regardless of there not being a generic available.

I wonder if the place I got my 5 carts (in Canada) will refill the script. I didn't have one, but they arrived with a script written by some doctor and stating that it had 2 refills within a year.
 
so i spoke to the nice people over at www.canadadrugsonline.com and yes, they still have the pen refill cartridges and have not heard of them being discontinued. Right now it is $160 for five 3 ml. carts and $10 shipping and handling. The girl explained that the price fluctuates and maybe at the time i need to place an order, it will be lower (i found that odd). She also explained that as of January 2010 a prescription is required for all U.S. orders. A copy of an Rx needs to be faxed or emailed to them.

Hope that helps.
 
That's weird. I just bought my cartridges 2 days ago. It was expensive. 230 dollars. I almost vomited when the technician said that but oh well. It should last for a while and next time I will get if on line. I think the 5 cartidges I have should last me at least 5 months. Is this correct. If anyone wants to buy a couple off of me I would be happy to share. That way I wouldn't have to wrry about them going bad.
Why is the vial so damn big?!?!? PzI vials are so small in comparison and those lasted me 2 months. I still have all of the PZI vials from Cosmo. Trying to think of something cool to so with them.
 
ShellyandCosmo(GA)andFeeburt said:
That's weird. I just bought my cartridges 2 days ago. It was expensive. 230 dollars. I almost vomited when the technician said that but oh well. It should last for a while and next time I will get if on line. I think the 5 cartidges I have should last me at least 5 months. Is this correct. If anyone wants to buy a couple off of me I would be happy to share. That way I wouldn't have to wrry about them going bad.
Why is the vial so damn big?!?!? PzI vials are so small in comparison and those lasted me 2 months. I still have all of the PZI vials from Cosmo. Trying to think of something cool to so with them.
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At 1.5U per dose, one pen will last approximately 10 weeks. Keep them refrigerated.

Levemir vials would be 10ml. How many ml were in the PZI vials? If it was 5ml that's why the size difference.

As long as Levemir pens/cartridges are kept refrigerated, they will last probably until their expiration date. I am on the last pen of 5 which I purchased in January of '09. Keep in their original box, in a drawer or somewhere in the frig where they won't get jostled.
 
Hiya Shelly -

Yeah, i couldn't believe the price of levemir either when i switched from PZI. I was just so used to that PZI vial. I have to say though, i have saved money in the long run. Using canadadrugsonline, i paid $135 with $10 shipping in August of '09 for five 3 ml. carts. I still have 1 and 1/2 carts left - the PZI would never have lasted that long.

That the drug (Lev) cost increases and decreases depending on when you order it, according to the person at Canadadrugs, still has me baffled. Hell, i'll be that annoying person that calls each week until they finally give it to me at the lower price just to shut me up :-D
 
Hi Pamela!

Do you have a Costco near you? I paid $85 for a 10 ml vial of Levemir last week.

It normally is $98 but there is a discount because it's for my cat and I got it for $85!

xoxo
Ruthe and Rugs
 
Ruthe and Smokey (GA) said:
Hi Pamela!

Do you have a Costco near you? I paid $85 for a 10 ml vial of Levemir last week.

It normally is $98 but there is a discount because it's for my cat and I got it for $85!
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Thank you Ruthe. I already bought it and we don't have Costco around here anyway. that is a good price though.

You got a discount because it is for your cat??
 
Yes! Because Miss Rugs is a kitty and has no health insurance! Pretty smokin cool isn't it? I would be happy to get one for you and ship it to you overnight refrigerated shipment if you ever decide in the future that might work for you.
 
On Levemir cost, please consider how long those pens last! I know it's a lot of money at once for some, but not having to spend $100 every 3 months is a huge savings (that's what PZI was up to when I switched.)

Even if my next set of pens is $200+ that's still only $15/month. Still extremely affordable for life saving meds.
 
Ruthe and Smokey (GA) said:
Yes! Because Miss Rugs is a kitty and has no health insurance!
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Ack!! So the California taxpayers (even the ones who don't have animals) get to pay for that?? If so, that doesn't seem right somehow. confused_cat
 
That is Costco's discount program, nothing State of California related at all. As someone who is currently without health insurance, I really appreciate not getting gouged for myself or for my pets. You don't think that is a good thing Pamela?
 
Ruthe and Smokey (GA) said:
That is Costco's discount program, nothing State of California related at all. As someone who is currently without health insurance, I really appreciate not getting gouged for myself or for my pets. You don't think that is a good thing Pamela?
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My original thought was that this was a new state mandate/regulation that passed in CA. If Costco is providing this then good for them!
 
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