I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post, but I have called LANTUS and they said they will only help with the insulin costs if the patient is human. Somehow I stumbled upon this site while trying to find financial help for Felix's upcoming dental surgery. I am paying $300 for 5 pens which is way cheaper than $166 per vial as I only use half a vial in 28 days before I need to toss it as opposed to each pen lasting 28 days with very little waste. However, the initial outlay of $300 sets me back plus $38 for the needles. I have to charge these items on a credit card. With an anticipated dental bill of $800 whilst still paying off $1700 for a Care Credit bill for 2 days in ICU this summer, I am at the point of barely making minimum payments. I receive SSDI and hours at part-time job cut back to one day a week. I was out of work for 6 months last year. Please advise? nailbite_smile
Help with cost of Lantus
- Thread starter jan_1959
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Ann & Tess GA
Member Since 2010
Where do you live? Prices can vary a lot. Try looking up your zip code on GoodRx. Put in the drug name and they will show you the price at local pharmacies. I've found the best price here at Walgreen's, even w/ paying for their membership card.
You can go online and get coupons for Lantus too. Just don't say it is for a cat and don't talk to a human, do it online.
Also check out the Supply Closet forum, sometimes there is some Lantus available.
You can go online and get coupons for Lantus too. Just don't say it is for a cat and don't talk to a human, do it online.
Also check out the Supply Closet forum, sometimes there is some Lantus available.
Amy&TrixieCat
Member Since 2011
I'm able to use the Lantus coupon at my local Target pharmacy - I buy one pen at a time and with the coupon they are $25 each. You do have to call around, though - not all Target pharmacies will sell the pens one at a time. When you fill out the info for the coupon, be sure to make the age "18", or it won't go through. When I took the coupon to my pharmacy, I didn't say anything about a cat, I just played semi-dumb and asked if I could use it. Of course my pharmacist does know the script is for a cat, but he tried the coupon and it worked. I know at least one other member here also had luck with her Target pharmacy.
Barbara and tuffy
Member Since 2009
Target honors the coupon and you are entitled to 5 pens at $25.00 each with 6 refills. Good luck.
With the coupons, you shouldn't indicate it's for a cat, as others have indicated. You may also need to specify a date of birth that makes the recipient over 18yo. I've used the coupons at Walgreens without a problem.
Hospital pharmacies are also a place to check out if you are looking to buy a single pen.
Hospital pharmacies are also a place to check out if you are looking to buy a single pen.
julie & punkin (ga)
Member Since 2011
hi jan! the 28 days that you're referring to are for people who leave the insulin unrefrigerated. you can make it last a lot longer - some people have used the vials/pens to the last drop on their cats, even as long as 6 months. Here's some info on how to take care of your insulin so you're getting your money's worth and how to know if it's time to replace it.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=151
the other thing is that you can sometimes find Lantus on craigslist. ask lots of questions - was it refrigerated the entire time? what is the expiration date on it? I bought several boxes off of craigslist from a woman whose diabetic elderly father had passed away. we bought maybe 4 boxes for the cost of less than 1 box. they were fine. still sealed, expiration date far out there, they'd been kept refrigerated. just trust your gut instinct on the situation on whether or not the Lantus is still good before you buy.
if you want help with taking care of your kitty, there is a wealth of information here and many volunteers who teach people. just ask.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=151
the other thing is that you can sometimes find Lantus on craigslist. ask lots of questions - was it refrigerated the entire time? what is the expiration date on it? I bought several boxes off of craigslist from a woman whose diabetic elderly father had passed away. we bought maybe 4 boxes for the cost of less than 1 box. they were fine. still sealed, expiration date far out there, they'd been kept refrigerated. just trust your gut instinct on the situation on whether or not the Lantus is still good before you buy.
if you want help with taking care of your kitty, there is a wealth of information here and many volunteers who teach people. just ask.
julie & punkin (ga)
Member Since 2011
if you wouldn't mind taking off the 911, that would be great. it gives all of us (at least me) a heart attack because we use it when a kitty is in a 911 situation and needs immediate help. you can continue to add posts at the bottom of this thread if you have more questions, though. that'll bump it up and people will see it and respond.
Good luck - it can be expensive taking care of these kitties and hopefully all of these ideas will help you get things reasonable. That $25 coupon and buying only one pen at a time let me get a pen for $18, which then lasted for months. You might have to make a lot of phone calls to find a pharmacy that will sell you just one pen, but it's worth it. you also need a different prescription for the pen or the vial, they're not interchangeable prescriptions.
Diabetic Cats in Need can help people in your position sometimes. http://fdmb-cin.blogspot.com/
Good luck - it can be expensive taking care of these kitties and hopefully all of these ideas will help you get things reasonable. That $25 coupon and buying only one pen at a time let me get a pen for $18, which then lasted for months. You might have to make a lot of phone calls to find a pharmacy that will sell you just one pen, but it's worth it. you also need a different prescription for the pen or the vial, they're not interchangeable prescriptions.
Diabetic Cats in Need can help people in your position sometimes. http://fdmb-cin.blogspot.com/
Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)
Member Since 2010
Hi Jan,
One other thought. If you buy a pen or a box of pens, DO NOT buy the needles that they sell for use in the pens. We use the pens as if they were smaller vials, and we use regular U-100 syringes with them. The pens do not have 1/2-unit markings (most human diabetics need larger doses of Lantus, so if they get a little more or less in each shot, it doesn't matter). Since cats use small doses of Lantus, those clunky needles and trying to dial in the dose on the pen just won't work. We need to measure our doses more precisely than the pen/needle combination allows. So be sure to buy a box of U-100 syringes. Most people here use 31-gauge syringes. Popular brands are Terumo and Monoject. You can buy them at American Diabetes Wholesale: http://www.americandiabeteswholesale.com/. Some states require a prescription for syringes, but you only need to have your vet call it in the first time you order (ADW will tell you if you need a prescription). After that it is kept on file. ADW is also a good source for blood-glucose meters and strips. Most of us use "human" meters, which are much less expensive, especially for the strips.
Welcome to Lantus Land. You will get lots of help here. As others have said, as long as you keep your Lantus refrigerated at the proper temperature, you can use it until the vial or pen is virtually empty.
Ella & Rusty
One other thought. If you buy a pen or a box of pens, DO NOT buy the needles that they sell for use in the pens. We use the pens as if they were smaller vials, and we use regular U-100 syringes with them. The pens do not have 1/2-unit markings (most human diabetics need larger doses of Lantus, so if they get a little more or less in each shot, it doesn't matter). Since cats use small doses of Lantus, those clunky needles and trying to dial in the dose on the pen just won't work. We need to measure our doses more precisely than the pen/needle combination allows. So be sure to buy a box of U-100 syringes. Most people here use 31-gauge syringes. Popular brands are Terumo and Monoject. You can buy them at American Diabetes Wholesale: http://www.americandiabeteswholesale.com/. Some states require a prescription for syringes, but you only need to have your vet call it in the first time you order (ADW will tell you if you need a prescription). After that it is kept on file. ADW is also a good source for blood-glucose meters and strips. Most of us use "human" meters, which are much less expensive, especially for the strips.
Welcome to Lantus Land. You will get lots of help here. As others have said, as long as you keep your Lantus refrigerated at the proper temperature, you can use it until the vial or pen is virtually empty.
Ella & Rusty
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