Difference between Lantus pen and vial

[Mimis mom]

Is there any difference other than one is 3 ml and the other is 10 ml?
Do I need to “roll” the Lantus vial like other insulin’s or is it like the pen where it doesn’t need it. (The pen doesn’t need it right, because the vet tech at the ER discharge told me to roll the pen...)
What about drawing from it- what’s easier?
I calculated one pen will last me about 90 days with Mimi’s dosing- how long does a pen last vs a vial?

Thanks!

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Lantus never needs to be rolled.

The benefit of the pens is that you can use every drop. Each pen only holds 300 units where a vial holds 1000 units. Most cats are on small enough doses that there's no way to use 1000 units before the insulin starts to lose efficacy and you end up throwing a lot of it away.

If you buy a box of 5 pens, that's a total of 1500 units, but only 1 pen is "used" at a time...the rest of them stay safely in the fridge and will remain good until the expiration date on the box which is usually at least 2 years away.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Pharmacologically, the pen and vial are identical. The pens were developed to be easier for people to use since they don't "require" refrigeration. It makes it much easier if a person is traveling. We recommend keeping everything in the refrigerator since cats are typically at a much smaller dose of insulin than people and it helps to preserve the insulin for longer.

 

[Mimis mom]

Lantus never needs to be rolled.

The benefit of the pens is that you can use every drop. Each pen only holds 300 units where a vial holds 1000 units. Most cats are on small enough doses that there's no way to use 1000 units before the insulin starts to lose efficacy and you end up throwing a lot of it away.

If you buy a box of 5 pens, that's a total of 1500 units, but only 1 pen is "used" at a time...the rest of them stay safely in the fridge and will remain good until the expiration date on the box which is usually at least 2 years away.

I’ve read a lot of people order from Marks Marine pharmacy from Canada is a trust worthy pharmacy, and the pens are 50$ for 1 and I believe 150$ for 5!
I’m being optimistic with Mimi and thinking she’ll go into remission before I would use all 5 pens- but it is a really good deal..

 

[Mimis mom]

Lantus never needs to be rolled.

The benefit of the pens is that you can use every drop. Each pen only holds 300 units where a vial holds 1000 units. Most cats are on small enough doses that there's no way to use 1000 units before the insulin starts to lose efficacy and you end up throwing a lot of it away.

If you buy a box of 5 pens, that's a total of 1500 units, but only 1 pen is "used" at a time...the rest of them stay safely in the fridge and will remain good until the expiration date on the box which is usually at least 2 years away.

I should really call the hospital Mimi was at and tell them Lantus shouldn’t be rolled because they are telling people to roll it... they are also telling pet parents to go down in doses by entire units because the pen only measure a unit at a time, not realizing they should be using syringes. Also the pen needles they sent me home with were wicked long thick ones, and it was horrible trying to shoot Mimi.
I use 31 g 8MM now