Dropped bottle of Lantus and aftermath

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millerb

Member Since 2012
Hello all. I need some support on this.
Last night when I got home from work, I dropped my vial of Lantus, which I'd just bought Wednesday, and it smashed. The insulin was slowly trickling out, so I put it in a bowl and managed to get enough out of the vial for Skipper's evening dose before it completely drained out. I called the pharmacy to see if they'd give me another vial, even though it said no refills, and the pharmacist said he would do it and would call the vet in the morning for an authorization. I waited about 45 minutes then went to get it, and the pharmacist said, "I told you that I couldn't fill it until tomorrow." I said, "No, that's not what you said. You told me that you'd fill it tonight and call the vet tomorrow." He said, "No, that's not what I said." I said, "I wouldn't be standing here if you'd said you wouldn't have it tonight." I called the emergency line at the vet and got someone who remembered Skipper from when he was in ICU there and she got the doc to authorize a refill if the pharmacist would call them. I told the pharmacist that and gave him the number to call, and he says, "I'm not going to call now. I'll call tomorrow." The pharmacy assistant knows me, and she kept looking from him to me (I was shooting daggers at him by this point), and she told him she would call, and he said no. I was FURIOUS. He did give it to me, though, as I made clear I wasn't leaving without it.
Thankfully, the vet called me this morning to follow up and ask why the pharmacy never called. I explained the situation, and she gave me 1 refill on the Lantus in case I ever get in a bind again.

Has this ever happened to anyone else? What did you do?

thanks!
 
I would have quietly and politely suggested that the pharmacist, more than anyone else, should understand a diabetic's need for insulin and what the ramifications of not having insulin would be. That said, you will be happy to send him the bills if your cat needed ER/ICU treatment due to his oppositional behavior since he was putting your cat's health in jeopardy. What I would do now, is contact the store manager and explain what happened. Given the cost of Lantus, you could ask that the pharmacist apologize or you will take your business elsewhere and write up your experience on Yelp or other social media websites in your area.
 
I agree with Sienne and Karrie - excellent job!

Do you have any other pharmacy options near you? It doesn't sound like this is a pharmacist you can rely on.
 
Use something to protect your new bottle from accidental drops :smile: There are insulin bottle protector sleeve things that you can buy or you can make one yourself. A layer of bubble wrap or paper towel around the bottle works. So would keeping the insulin bottle in the original box and stuffing tissues to fill the gap between the bottle and box.

Think about buying the Lantus pens instead of the bottle next time. If one goes wonky or breaks somehow, you have a 4 more pens right on hand to use.
 
Good for you for not leaving without the insulin.
When I bought my insulin at Costco, the pharmacist insisted on giving me the pen with it.
He told me to store the insulin in the pen and to just poke the needle in where you normally would attach the needle tips too.
He specifically said at least if I dropped the insulin, the pen would protect it.
I've since dropped it more than once and it's been fine.
He also said if I dial a few units on the dose and press it before putting the needle in, I wouldn't have an issue with bubbles.
He was correct on that also.
I have not had a bubble in the syringe since.
 
Just as an FYI, most of us do buy the Solostar pens. The glass cartridge is encased in plastic which dose offer more protection. It's not indestructible but it is better protected than the vial.
 
OMG!!!!! I wanna go get that guy. Good for you for staying firm. I would probably have started crying and going hysterical right there in public. :o :lol:
 
Thanks to all for the support and advice. I called the store where I get the insulin and spoke with the manager. He told me that he would pass along the message to the store's pharmacy manager, who is also the regional manager. I have been using this pharmacy for several years and have never had an issue, but have never dealt with this particular pharmacist. I understand he has rules to follow, but a little understanding would have gone a long way. I get my own prescriptions there, but will consider changing, although they have the lowest prices.

Also, my vet is giving us 1 refill on the insulin so this doesn't happen again!

I keep the vial in the original box, but I think I will find some neoprene, bubble wrap or something similar and wrap it tightly around the bottle so this doesn't happen again. I am prone to drop things and have somehow acquired ADHD since Skipper was diagnosed, so any little bit of protection is helpful! Do you know if wrapping the bottle with insulated material impacts the ability for the bottle to chill? In other words, does the wrapping around it allow the insulin to stay cool enough?

Thanks again!
 
Noreen&DC&Frisky said:
He also said if I dial a few units on the dose and press it before putting the needle in, I wouldn't have an issue with bubbles.
He was correct on that also.
I have not had a bubble in the syringe since.
Click to expand...

:o :shock: I did not know that! Thanks for the tip!
 
I had no idea about the dialing a couple units to keep it from forming a giant bubble! I just replaced my pen so I will have to try this.
 
For people using the Solar Pen, do you use till the last drop or do you follow the 28 days expiry after opening & throw away the unused?
I have been following the 28days expiry as specified by Lantus.
 
Whether you use the vial or the pen, Lantus insulin will stay viable as long as you keep it refrigerated. With the vial, you have to be gentler with it than the pen because the insulin can get shaken up inside which can hurt the insulin. The pen doesn't have any air in it so it's virtually impossible to shake it up. The expiration date for the insulin is usually a year or two from the time you purchase it. In the "olden" days, it was though you could use the insulin for 28 days and then had to throw away whatever remained, but Lantus is much hardier than first thought. As long as you keep it in the refrigerator, it will last for a looong time My vial lasted for over 80 days. I then switched to the pen. I buy one pen at a time and i use it to the last drop which usually takes close to two months. I still get great results from the insulin with numbers below 100. If your start getting wonky numbers, anything unusual for what you expect from your kitty, try new insulin and see if it makes a difference.
 
My many years of retail management screams aloud that you did ABSOLUTELY the right thing by calling the manager...
Even in a pharmacy... the customer is right unless it endangers their health!

good for you, Beth!

celi & binks

(FWIW, i always dialed to 2 units on the pen before drawing insulin...it did seem to help with the bubble issue for us)
 
Now that I have permission to click the pretty purple button.... *CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK*

OCD is a blessing and a curse ohmygod_smile
 
Good for you!! I was lucky enough to have more than one refill when I dropped my bottle of lantus (with Jake). If I ever have any problem with a pharmacy - even a small problem I complain to the manager and to the store. I went all the way to the State Medical Board over Walgreens and the hassle they gave me for purchasing insulin syringes (which you do not need a prescription for where I live.) They wanted my drivers license and I told them to forget it... I did get the syringes too.

I also use yelp :-D
 
Ok, so tell me about the pens. I know nothing about this. Is it easier to use than the syringes? I'm struggling with my new syringes because they gave me 5/16th of an inch, which is shorter than what I was using with the ProZinc, and I feel like I need the longer needle because of the fur. Would I have to get a different prescription from the vet for the pens?
 
millerb said:
Ok, so tell me about the pens. I know nothing about this. Is it easier to use than the syringes? I'm struggling with my new syringes because they gave me 5/16th of an inch, which is shorter than what I was using with the ProZinc, and I feel like I need the longer needle because of the fur. Would I have to get a different prescription from the vet for the pens?
Click to expand...

You would still use insulin syringes with the pen. The pen itself only doses in whole units which is fine for a Human diabetic but not so good for cats who need microdoses of insulin.

Picture of how to use a SoloStar pen for diabetic cats

You can get insulin syringes with 1/2 inch long needles. There are 3/10 cc ones with half unit markings and 1/2 inch 29 guage needles. Monoject is one brand, http://www.americandiabeteswholesal...t-insulin-syringes_3348.htm?source=SiteSearch and http://www.americandiabeteswholesal...t-insulin-syringes_1289.htm?source=SiteSearch

Yes, you will need a new prescription to buy the pens.
 
Wal-Mart sells the ReliOn brand with the 1/2 inch 29 guage needles as well. That's where I get mine from. And they are 3/10 cc with 1/2 unit markings. It's in a white box with purple markings.
 
tortie58 said:
For people using the Solar Pen, do you use till the last drop or do you follow the 28 days expiry after opening & throw away the unused?
I have been following the 28days expiry as specified by Lantus.
Click to expand...

WE get every drop out of our pens. I keep the pen in use wrapped in a washcloth standing in a tall plastic container on top shelf of fridge. The extra pens stay wrapped in a towel in a bottom crisper.

HUGS!
 
When I was in the U.S. I bought the ReliOn Brand with the 1/2 inch 30 guage needles. They are also 3/100 cc with 1/2 unit markings.
I use my insulin right til the end and I store the pen in the leather case that it came with in the fridge.
 
Sienne and Gabby said:
Noreen bought her pens someplace special. Mine have never come in a leather case!! They did, however, come in a box.
Click to expand...
I got the pen @ Costco in Canada.
It's a ClikStar pen. I did see them at a drug store when I was in Las Vegas in September.
 
I keep my vial in an old test strip plastic bottle inside the insulin box with paper in it, inside the butter compartment in the door of the fridge so it doesn't get bumped into all the time. I put the butter and cream cheese in front of it to be extra safe.

I'm so glad you reported that pharmacist. I do that all the time. I would never let someone treat me like that and not report them. I've gone as far as calling vp's of companies! :lol:

Melanie & Racci
 
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