Lantos, Shelf-life, Insulin Questions [Overdose]

[pevsfreedom]

So Luna is taking .5 units twice a day. When we first got her we got this bottle for about $350 [of Lantos] with I believe 100units in it, maybe 1000. Anyway, it's 6 months later and the bottle is still 95% full. The first vet told us it would last about a year, but I've been doing some reading and apparently this is not true?

So how long is Lantos good for after opened? It's always refrigerated. Am I suppose to be buying $350 worth a month? [Ive seen its only good 28 days?], or are there smaller 'sizes' I can get? What source do you guys buy your insulin from [if I'm allowed to ask?].

I would also like to add that last night my wife gave her the Insulin, and we have different needles and she misread the numbers and actually gave Luna 5 units instead of .5, needless to say we brought her into the emergency vet [I wanted to be safe] and the vet said her levels didn't drop all night - and that the insulin might potentially be 'bad' now. She was in remission since September so we weren't giving her any, might it be bad now?

Thanks.

 

[BJM]

Refrigerated on a stationary shelf, Lantus can be good for up to 6 months. They only tested it for a month with humans. Probably time for a new Rx. I would get it for the pens, as each pen has 300 mL and you can use most/all of it before it expires. Explain to the vet you treat the pen like a mini-vial and draw the insulin out with a syringe.

 

[pevsfreedom]

Refrigerated on a stationary shelf, Lantus can be good for up to 6 months. They only tested it for a month with humans. Probably time for a new Rx. I would get it for the pens, as each pen has 300 mL and you can use most/all of it before it expires. Explain to the vet you treat the pen like a mini-vial and draw the insulin out with a syringe.

Thanks, that's a good idea. Would that be something the vet directly prescribes, is the pen [instead of the vial] of Lantos? Am I better off ordering that kind of thing online with the RX? Thanks, I'm new at this obviously.

 

[BJM]

The vet would prescribe the pens. They come in a 5-pack, but some places may break them up and sell individual pens (ex some Targets), especially if it is written as dispense 1, refills 4. You may find that a Canadian pharmacy will have lower costs, but if you're in a hurry, start locally.

 

[pevsfreedom]

The vet would prescribe the pens. They come in a 5-pack, but some places may break them up and sell individual pens (ex some Targets), especially if it is written as dispense 1, refills 4. You may find that a Canadian pharmacy will have lower costs, but if you're in a hurry, start locally.

And they are 300mL pens [each?]? Just curious. I wish the first vet would have told me that, using $20 of a $350 bottle is kind of a bummer.

thanks for your help.

 

[BJM]

3 mL pen or cartridge (in Canada), 300 units.
10 mL vial, 1,000 units.

 

[pevsfreedom]

3 mL pen or cartridge (in Canada), 300 units.
10 mL vial, 1,000 units.

Thanks for clarification.

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

Are you hometesting? By testing before every shot, you will be able to tell when the insulin is becoming ineffective. The effectiveness can be different from vial to vial. I have used some that became ineffective after 3 months and others lasted almost 7 months.

With the pens, I never had one become ineffective before I was able to use it all. Depending on your dose, one pack of pens may give you enough insulin to last 9 months or more.