Expensive Insulin...

[Sarah and Baby]

Yesterday I learned that the Levemir that Baby is on has gone up in price by $30/pen. I asked, and Lantus is the same amount. That puts the pens at $97 each. This leaves me seriously considering switching to a less expensive insulin. Does anyone have any advice/ opinions about switching from Lantus or Levemir to a different insulin? Baby is doing very well on her current dosage and diet. I'm afraid to mess with it, but I can't really afford $100 every 2 months or so.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Yikes - I pay $120 for 5 cartridges in Canada. You might want to check out the last comment on the post on getting insulin from Canadian pharmacies.

 

[Sarah and Baby]

That is super helpful!! I was looking at that thread but I didn't see the second page, only the one that said... can't find anymore! We'll definitely go with that for our next refill.

 

[BJM]

You want to calculate cost per unit.
Lantus and Levemir have 100 units per mL, with 300 units/3 mL in the pens or cartridges and 1,000 units/10 mL in the vials.
ProZinc has 40 units per mL, with 400 units / 10 mL in a vial.
BCP is customizable - 40, 50, or 100 units per mL, in a 10 mL vial, and a 5 mL sample is available; samples must be sent to the vet's office

 

[Deb & Wink]

Not sure why you go through a Levimir pen every 2 months. Not much data on your spreadsheet, but if Baby is still getting 0.75 units twice a day, a pen should be lasting you 200 days or 6 months. (300 units divided by 0.75U a shot = 400 shots divided by 2x a day = 200 days per pen)

Are you storing the insulin pen in the fridge to help it last longer?

Has Baby's dose increased dramatically so you are using more?