Help! I can't afford PZI!

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Megan & Ubu

Megan & Ubu

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Are there any other options? I'm unemployed and can barely makes ends meet as it is. I was always able to scrape up enough money for the now discontinued vetsulin, but this PZI is like 4 times as much! My cat is all I have and I can't let him go, but I really don't have $140 to spend on insulin.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks!
 
BCP PZI is a nice choice. You can get the first vial free. It's not a full vial, as it's a sample, but it lasts a long time. Your vet will need to fill out a form and fax it to BCP, they ship very quickly.

At the bottom of the page is a link to the sampe request form. If the link I've attached doens't work, just go to bcpvetpharm.com and choose the insulin.

http://www.bcpvetpharm.com/products_bovine.htm
 
I don't know your dose, but Prozinc may not be as bad as you think when you consider that a vial may last you a long time. My vetsulin always died in 3-4 weeks, and prozinc should last you until the vial is empty if its not abused, frozen, or left out in the light. a 10 ml vial of prozinc (and vetsulin) has 400units in it. Also, you can check the FDMB supply closet for donated vials.
 
We started Prozinc on the 4th of July, $130.00, yikes but I just checked the vial and it is just under half full. So we are 3 months into this vial so if we get another 2 months out of it that would work out to $26.00 a month.
 
Rob, since light is one of the things that hurts insulin, I wrap my vials in a sleeve of paper elastic tape (and keep it in the box as much as possible). I've seen Insulin vial "socks" at Hocks and I've been tempted...

As an acro cody used a vial in 2-3 weeks, so I would love to know if it really stays good all 400 units for a <3u/day cat. Gator?
 
The highest dose Harley ever got to was 1.4u.

I didn't know there were sleeves for the vial, I keep the vial in the original box, closed in the fridge so it only sees the light of day for 1 minute or two twice a day and it is still giving us good results after 3 months.
 
lol that's the way I'll make the next million [like I make millions every day lol] - selling custom sewn neoprene sleeves for PZI bottles LOL :lol: A PZI coozy.

It would be pretty cool for all five customers.
 
you will be taken care of, for awhile at least.
we don't know anything about you, please tell us about you and your kitty.
are you testing? i have testing kits available if you are not doing that.
are you feeding the right diet.
it is possible to have a kitty go into remission but it requires just a little work.
i see that you just signed on today so there is potentially so much more we could help you with other than getting you pzi.
please post us with what your currently doing ok.
we are here to help.
lori
 
Gator, fire up your sewing machine because Prozinc is the new Vetrinary insulin of choice and if it lasts until the vial is done that is huge cost wise.

I'm 3 months into my vial of Prozinc and I havn't seen any dimished effectiveness.
 
Well this thread had me tripping over my own feet running to the fridge to put the vial back in the stupid box. The things you learn spying on other peoples threads...
 
"Securitee Blanket" - That's so cool. It's even spelled southern style [err Ohioan style I guess since Hocks is in Ohio]. :-D Either that or someone already holds the TM for "Security Blanket" as related to insulin.

LOL, I love it even if it means I won't be rich tonight!
 
Thanks for all the replies!

Currently, Ubu is on 2.5 units a day of vetsulin. He was diagnosed 2 years ago, and has done very well on vetsulin, along with a diet of M/D dry and purina one dry mixed (he hates M/D, DM, and the like, hence the mixing), and fancy feast canned. I was hometesting until the strips ran out and the battery on the meter died (The strips, that's another issue. An expensive issue). Since losing my job, I just keep my fingers crossed that his bg stays steady, so far so good. Since I can't afford strips at the moment, I've been paying the vet $18 a month to check him. Yes, I know I should check him more often, but again, I'm about one unemployment check from being homeless, so I'm just making do for now.

I guess I got confused about prozinc vs. pzi. The vet wants him on prozinc, which I assumed was the same as the BCP PZI. Then I noticed that BCP is bovine, while prozinc is human. Which means I doubt my vet will okay me getting a sample of BCP.

I pretty much have 5 days left to come up with $130 for the prozinc.

This sucks
 
Bovine is actually a closer "match" to kitty insulin than human insulin. Bovine insulin has 1 amino acid difference from kitty insulin whereas human insulin has 4 amino acid differences.

Only "problem" with the free BCP sample is that it comes ONLY in u-100 strength. I just called BCP this morning to check on this. I also have updated the BCP part of the Sticky to reflect this info and updated a couple of the links. However, it sounds like you guys may not be on a lower type dose so the advantages of the lower strength u-40 would not be as relevant.

Perhaps you can print out the BCP product info and take it to your vet?
http://www.bcpvetpharm.com/products_bovine.htm

ProZinc has the advantage that it is a manufactured insulin [longer shelf life and hopefully more consistent] and is available just about everywhere locally but you don't need to tell your vet that. :smile:
 
Ubee -
I would BLESS GATOR, have him ship the Prozinc priority, and pay him for the shipping asap. he sounds like he would donate it...
 
Nancy and Cody said:
As an acro cody used a vial in 2-3 weeks, so I would love to know if it really stays good all 400 units for a <3u/day cat.
Click to expand...

Bix's 1st PZI Vet vial lasted us for a year almost to the day. It pooped out at the really bitter end, like when I had to tilt the vial funny to get anything in the syringe, all of a sudden it seemed to just be useless - switched vials, and things went back to normal. I don't know where it was relative to it's expiration date.

Can't speak for ProZinc tho...
 
ummmm, not to be rude but i have dibs on gators pro zinc for tomtom.
altho it is his call.
ubee has recieved a few other offers no?
 
Lori did pipe up first... [sorry Ubee :-| ] heck I seemingly couldn't pay anyone to take it before now. :roll:

Honestly, since Ubee's kitty is what I would call a not low dose of Vetsulin, in the log run the U100 BCP may end up being the most affordable option and in the short run she could get a free bottle. Vetsulin to PZI should be about a rough approximate 1:1 yes, no?? Input ideas form others??
 
Sorry Lori, missed that

if she only has 4 days left she better get it ordered FAST. the vet should be fine with it, If it is 5ml of u100 it should have 500units in the trial bottle (or 3-5 months)

when we switched from about 12u vetsulin we started on the BCP u100 pzi (not knowing it was u100) at about 2 units in a u40 syringe, (which was really about 5u I guess, if it had been in the right u100 syringe) and we increased it to 3u (which was really about 7.5u)

So I think she should start lower than the vetsulin, and definitely SWITCH to a u100 syringes (I can laugh because he's acro and not dead).
Oh and u100 syringes are cheaper than u40, arent they?
 
Thanks again for the replies. You all have been very helpful!

My vet is anti-BCP for whatever reason and will only prescribe prozinc :-(
Fortunately, a family member is lending me some money to pay for it, this time around. It's good to know that it will last a while. That should give me enough time to save up money when it's time for the next bottle

I'm assuming the storage is the same as vetsulin? Keep in the fridge, away from light?
 
Storage:
"How do I store PROZINC?
Store in an upright position under refrigeration at 36-46 degrees F (2-8 degrees C). Do not freeze. Protect from light.1"
http://prozinc.us/faq.aspx#prozinc_storing

The Sticky has instructions on perhaps how to save some money no the ProZinc. It should not cost you more than $95 shipped to your door. Or you can ask your vet to price match that $95.
 
Yes the storage is the same, in the fridge away from the light, I keep it in the box.

If you look further up the thread there is some discussion about a sleeve to put the vial in, very interesting.

I'm glad you will be getting some insulin. We are starting our third month on the same bottle of Prozinc with no problem.

Please come back more often if you have questions.
 
ubee i can provide you with syringes...is it u100 or u40's or both? do you need them. please never use a syringe twice to save $, it will cause your insulin to go bad.
pm me.
 
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