Give Lantus SoloStar shot at Room Temp?

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DragonFly

Member Since 2015
Hi, I have researched the forum here but can't find an answer yet. My vet prescribed Lantus for our Delsey. We are going to find a place who will sell them in singles. Anyway, I know everyone recommend storing the pen in the fridge. But my question is whether or not I should wait for it to come up to room temp before shooting. And if the answer is, yes, then the follow up question is whether or not the frequent changes in temp would affect the drug in a negative way.
 
You can draw up the syringe and let it warm up a bit if you wish, That won't hurt it. After all, in the body it is going to warm up anyway.
 
OK.

We are thinking to use the pen needles instead of drawing the dose out into a syringe — sorry, should have specify. Does it make any difference then?
 
We don't use the pen needles that come with the pens because we need to be able to make tiny dose changes (in .25u increments) and the pen needles only work with whole unit measurements.

You need to buy 3/10ml, 3o or 31 gauge insulin syringes with half unit markings (they don't make them with .25 unit marks) and pull the insulin out of the pen

syringe in pen pic.jpg
 
Delsey's Rx is for 1 unit, 2x a day. So the unit measurement is not an issue for now until her Rx is changed. But is there any other advantage of using the syringe instead of the pen needle? Conversely, looking at it from another angle, are there any disadvantage of using the pen needle?
 
By using the syringe, you can warm it up before you shoot; this can be more comfortable for the cat when the dose is large.
 
In my opinion, the biggest benefit to going ahead and using the insulin syringes instead of the pen syringes is that you're going to get used to them. The pen needles act differently and you have to hold them in the skin longer to make sure they get the entire dose (and from what I've seen from others who have tried to use them, a lot of times there's still a "drop" left at the end of the needle afterwards)

Depending on which protocol you use, you're going to need to make dose changes every 3-7 days, and each time you increase (or decrease) it's in .25 unit increments

Also, from what I understand, you have to buy the special needles...might as well just buy the insulin syringes from the start. You can get a box of 100 at WalMart for $12.88
 
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I have used the pen but find it a lot harder to use, especially for small does.
First it is harder to manage using the pen since it larger than a syringe.
Second, you have have to keep the pen needle inserted into the cat for at least five seconds otherwise a drop or two or may more will drip out of the pen needle after removing the needle. That about is significant with a low does like one unit.
 
DragonFly said:
OK.

We are thinking to use the pen needles instead of drawing the dose out into a syringe — sorry, should have specify. Does it make any difference then?
Click to expand...


If I might jump in here with my personal experiences with the Solostar pen injection system? (It's only my personal experience and research so, please take other's into consideration as well and make the determination on which method YOU feel best with).

At this moment in time, I am using whole units. Morrigan is on a full unit so, I decided to use the pen injector system this time. I had a previous diabetic cat over a decade ago and only used syringes as there wasn't an option. In short, I have used both.

Of course, the pen injector only works if your cat is on a whole unit (it does not do increments, half or quarter unit doses). *IF* you are planning on using the Tight Reign Protocol, there will be times when you're going to have to adjust up or down by .25U so, getting used to using a syringe is likely your best bet.).

Having said that, there ARE advantages to using the pen (which was difficult for me to get used to at first, having used a syringe with my previous diabetic cat) but, I did get used to it and frankly, I like it. It's easy to dial up the number and not make big mistakes with it. (Of course, any method *can* produce a mistake but, if you're double checking...either one will be fine).

1) I find that syringes take practice in drawing up the dose and some in here use "callipers" which I just found out about the other day but, don't worry about that right now.
2) I found syringes frustrating in getting out bubbles, getting accurate lines to see and the stopper to the line as well as each brand, measures somewhat differently (which is pretty much only an issue when you're dosing at .25U or less). In my experience, unless using callipers, NO dosing method is 100% accurate and every method has inaccuracies so, unless you're going to go this tiny increment doses...it's not really all that worrisome.
3) when you're frustrated, rushed for time...the pen injector allows you to dial up, shoot and not fiddle with the above.

*IF* you are planning on trying the Tight Reign Protocol where you might get into tiny doses, go with the syringes so that you can get used to using it.

You will likely hear about the pen injector system not being accurate being cold from the fridge etc.. That is not true. I called the manufacturer on several occasions to find that there is NO "harm to the dosing mechanism by keeping it in the fridge. It is a comfort thing only as cold insulin in *larger doses* can sting." Keep in mind...the manufacturer does NOT acknowledge pet usage even though they know that it is being used on pets. Their clinical trials have been on humans only who used a higher dose than our cats would. If you are only using 1 to 2 units, the "sting factor" (unless you have an unusually sensitive cat) is usually NOT an issue so, no need to keep the pen out of the fridge. Keeping it in the fridge and out of light (meaning cover over the pen as much as possible) means that you can continue using the pen until it's pretty much used up or when the pen reaches the expiry date on the box. Generally, you will get a couple of months out of a pen unless your car is a "high dose cat".

You may also hear about the doses "not being accurate" under any circumstances. Well, I have also done experiments where I've drawn up insulin in a syringe and using the pen injector, putting the drops onto a surface side by side and repeating that at least several times. If anything, even being careful to measure the syringe properly (NOT using callipers), the syringe was the least accurate as the human eye, bubbles, steady hand, etc., were in play here. In general though, the amounts were always about the same from the pen injector system.

Now, the one downside to the pen while using whole units....is that you DO have to hold it in place for a count of 6 to 10 before withdrawing. This wasn't a problem for me as she is usually eating treats while I inject and she could care less what I'm doing back there as long as she's occupied with those treats. :p But, as others have mentioned, it can take a bit for the last droplet to get in there unless you do hold it in. The cat really doesn't feel anything much even with the poke, let alone, once it's in. If you don't believe me, take the pen needle (a fresh one with no pen attached) and just poke yourself as a human would do by rolling up the stomach area and poke yourself. Trust me...even knowing I was going to do it...I didn't feel it. I've had far more noticeable mosquito bites than this! :D )

So, there you have it from someone else who has used both and is currently using the pen injector system. If I have to go to half units....I will have to go back to using syringes but, for now...I have been enjoying the injector pen and have been liking it (once I got used to using it). Again, it's purely your personal preference.

By the way, I'm editing to add...that I THINK..once you have been using the pen with a syringe instead of the injector tips you screw on, you CANNOT go back to using the injector tips because you will likely be injecting some air which will throw off the dosing mechanism. So, if you've already used the pen with a syringe, don't go backwards and try the injector tips. If you choose to change...wait until you're starting a new pen to use the injector tips.

Hope this helps. :bighug:
 
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I used the pen needles and did half doses with them (Spaz started off on 1.5 units). You have to have a steady hand but it is possible. Doses smaller than half units would be next to impossible though and I almost always got a drop of insulin at the end of the needle after the injection-and I always left the needle inserted for ten seconds.
 
Angela said:
I used the pen needles and did half doses with them (Spaz started off on 1.5 units). You have to have a steady hand but it is possible. Doses smaller than half units would be next to impossible though and I almost always got a drop of insulin at the end of the needle after the injection-and I always left the needle inserted for ten seconds.
Click to expand...

Interesting! I can see that holding the dial between units would possibly give a "half unit" but, I'm wondering whether holding between the "clicks" of the whole units really does allow the dosing mechanism to give that extra half or whether it assumes either the lower 1 unit or the higher 2 unit??? And, of course, less than half units would be totally impossible to even guess.

As for he drop of insulin at the end/tip after using the pen...yes...I get that even before I DIAL any number on it as well as afterwards. I'm assuming that it's because the unit is operating on a "vacuum" type of mechanism and that allows some insulin to be "expressed" BEFORE even dialing up a number and even after expressed???? As soon as I insert the needle tip and remove the 2 covers, there's already a drop there as well as after pulling out. I've seen that happen even when not injecting but, just using an old pen to "measure" against a syringe. Still, even without including that tiny bead, the full dose seems to be there.

Hmmm...wondering now about that half dose???
 
I definitely got more than one unit and less than two when setting the dial between units. I tested it out a few times prior to injecting to make sure. You have to have a steady hand and a laid back cat though because a bump to the pen will cause it to slide down to one unit or up to two units. The pharmacist actually switched me from vial insulin to the pens and showed me how to measure out the half unit. He actually told me the pens and pens needles would be more accurate than the syringes.
The insulin drop was annoying. I actually went out and bought longer needles as I thought it was because the needles were too short! Had the same issues regardless of the length though.
 
Thanks Angela! I don't have a steady hand and I have a "freak-out" of a cat that takes 2 of us to hold her to get both tests and shots but, it's good to know that it's possible to do! I'm going to play around with it and see if I can manage that hold in between. :) :bighug:
 
You're welcome :). I'm pretty fortunate with Spaz as he's a really laid back cat. I never had to hold him when giving injections or when I test his ear. He's a fairly hyper crazy cat, but now that he is older he doesn't fuss much when I need to do stuff to him, lol.
 
Thank you for the new info. Finally got a Lantus pen (had to go to a few places before finding one that would sell a single pen AND accept the Lantus Saving Card for cat — I'll open another thread for that experience) and a Walgreen TrueResult meter and the other supplies. I have the pen needles also.

I think I will try the pen needle method first — it sounds better to us as we both are not very comfortable handling syringes. We'll see and will try the syringe method if we have trouble with the pen needle.

We will start the testing and injection tomorrow. A bit nervous about all that.
 
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