Is Glargine cost only about $7/month through Costco?

[Felicity]

Earlier thread title: Copper had 448 BG after missed shot.

I slept through his last Vetsulin shot, as he was eating a large meal. I didn't test right before meal, but I'd guess his BG was 200 then.
I just now gave him a substantial dose of 3.0U.

He's lethargic but not weak. Eyes were dilated. Breathing regular. Will try to test ketones when he uses the litter box.

I also am starting potassium gluconate, with info on separate thread.

Anything else to know?

 

[Marje and Gracie]

I slept through his last Vetsulin shot, as he was eating a large meal. I didn't test right before meal, but I'd guess his BG was 200 then.
I just now gave him a substantial dose of 3.0U.

He's lethargic but not weak. Eyes were dilated. Breathing regular. Will try to test ketones when he uses the litter box.

I also am starting potassium gluconate, with info on separate thread.

Anything else to know?

Sorry no one saw this.

I’m not sure what your question is but I saw you shot early today when he was high but haven’t tested since. It’s really important with a harsh insulin like Vetsulin to check his BG several times in the cycle during his duration. Have you thought about moving to Lantus or ProZinc? They are much better, gentler insulin for cats. They don’t require you have food on board before you shoot.

Since we triage responses and it’s a busy board, it helps us catch when someone has a question if you use the “?” Prefix. To find it, it’s to the left of your subject line so when you start a new subject, you can select it. If you have a question later in the day, use the “edit thread” from the dropdown to the right of “watch” and then select the “?” prefix but please remember to remove it as soon as your question is answered.

Please let me know your specific question so we can help.

 

[Felicity]

Thanks much for taking time to help!!
I'm so tired much of the time I've been working at this that I've had a hard time keeping track of how I should be doing things. Right now I think I don't have big questions, but will post if I do.
Thank you again!!

 

[Felicity]

I'd felt a bit panicked about missing a Vetsulin shot and his BG going higher than it had ever been. I wasn't sure how much insulin to give and how to handle feeding amount and timing.
I went ahead with my best guesses, which didn't go very well, but I've learned more since.

I've had a very hard time keeping scheduled times, and he's had some intense BGs a few times since, too.

I wish the vet had known and told me glargine could be bought inexpensively through Costco Pharmacy. My understanding is you don't even need to have a Costco membership.
My impression is Glargine is only about $7/month through them, and a much higher percent of cats end up achieving remission on it.
Glargine would indeed offer some benefits, since it can provide some more looseness in schedule, too.

The vet I went to said Vetsulin was $40/mo and next cheapest was $150/mo. Vet also said that once I chose a treatment, Copper could never be switched to another.
I know options more now.

@Marje and Gracie Thank you so much for all you & others do to give help, in addition to what vets are able to.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

The monthly cost of Lantus (or the generic glargine) really depends on the dose of the cat, where you buy it, and if you can get a discount coupon. It'll last longer for small dose cats so lower cost per month. Higher for cats that need larger doses to be regulated.

Cats can absolutely switch insulin. My Neko started out on Caninsulin (called Vetsulin in the US), and that name should tell. you what type of animal it is good for. Next we switched to Lantus because it was longer lasting. After a year and a half on Lantus, I switched her to Levemir for a couple reasons. One, she was starting to react to a larger dose of Lantus, and two, I was hoping for flatter more predictable cycles, which Levemir gave me. Unfortunately Levemir is no longer available in the US. Neko does varied over her diabetic journey, the cheapest was when a cartridge (pen refill) last three months - I paid about $24 for a cartridge in Canada. So that would be $8 a month for insulin. When on larger doses, the cartridge lasted me two weeks, so $48 a month.

 

[Felicity]

@Wendy&Neko
Sounds like it was pretty economical. Was the cartridge Lantus or Levemir?

I just looked us the price for a 10 ml vial of 100 units/ml of Lantus glargine using a GoodRX coupon and it's $35 as long as you qualify. Five Solostar pens of 3 ml are the same price. I'm seeing you can actually buy them at a wide range of pharmacies at that price using the coupon.
https://www.goodrx.com/insulin-glar...m=vial&dosage=10ml-of-100-units-ml&quantity=1
https://www.goodrx.com/insulin-glar...-solostar-pens-of-3ml&quantity=1&drugId=37030

I don't know what dose is common for cats on glargine, so am not sure what average monthly cost would be at $35 price...

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Was the cartridge Lantus or Levemir?

The 5 pack of cartridges for both was close to the same price. But we are talking 10 years ago and Canadian pharmacies.

There is no common dose for cats on glargine, I've seen a wide range. ECID - every cat is different. The majority of cats are on less than 5 units, but I have seen much higher.

 

[Kobe (Dean and Lesley)]

About a year and a half ago I got Lantus pens at Walmart for between $20 and $25 each. For some reason, with whatever special they had going on, the Lantus was cheaper than the generic. I think we used a single pen almost 4 months. But Kobe's doses got pretty small. I was expecting the Lantus to be way more expensive, but it wasn't, not with the pens. The reason that I thought Lantus, or glargine, would be so expensive is because the ONE PEN we bought from the Emergency hospital was $125!!! if you have the time to get the script and take it to the pharmacy, that is the way to go.