LANTUS expiration? | Please provide info | Vet says to replace after 60 days

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Rob W. & Emmett

Rob W. & Emmett

Member Since 2018
Same exact insulin in the states as in Canada. Many people here use the insulin until the last drop (I recently read about someone using insulin that was 2 years old on here...still worked). If the numbers are lowering, insulin works. Make sure it isn’t cloudy or has any particles, and most importantly that it has not ever been frozen, it should be fine. It is being extra cautious for you to replace it every 60 days (and I don’t even know where they got that figure from since the Lantus insert says to replace every 28). 28 days is what the manufacturer will guarantee it will last and be effective, of course it can work longer (much longer) than that, but the manufacturer is only responsible for it to work in that 28 day window. Contamination would be the other concern, the more you puncture it, the more possibility of contamination. If this has ever been a problem in a cat here, I am unaware of it, I’ve never heard any issues with that unless it was repackaged insulin (if you have the Lantus vial or pens, it is not repackaged).

If it gives you peace of mind to replace it and you can afford it, go for it, otherwise most people here use it up without issue.
 
p.s. just looked at your SS and doses. If you used a pen, it would be empty or near empty by now? Unless you never get air bubbles. I like the pens because I use them up faster and I don’t have to worry so much how long it goes past the use by date, they are pretty fresh as they have less insulin in them.
 
Rob W. & Emmett said:
I am from Canada, is there any difference between Canadian and US Lantus?

My vet just called and it's been 60 days, and they're insisting I replace it. What's the deal?
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Where did you buy the Lantus? What is the expiration date? It should be good up to the expiration date. However, once opened, people tend to replace them around 6 months time, though I have heard of people going longer. If you bought insulin from your vet like you did the syringes, that would explain his interest in you buying new insulin. Otherwise, just head on over to the human pharmacy and get a 5 pack of cartridges when your current insulin runs out. Costco/Loblaws/Canadian Superstore and especially Safeway on my list of cheapest places to buy insulin.

BTW. a lot of the members on this board buy insulin from a Canadian on line pharmacy. It is the same thing, except way cheaper here.
 
Ah okay. So, I have been refrigerating thanks to the suggestions here, so I will tell them to take me off their insulin call list lol. Once I told her I was doing home BG testing she was perfectly okay with me not getting the replacement. I think they're concerned that people use this stuff past the expiration and not know if it's even doing anything.

That said, I'm not sure these vets are 100% familiar with this new Lantus insulin, they speak of it being a solution...I'm pretty sure I read it's not (I can't remember what it's referred to as)...she said to "shake it to see if there's particles" ...but we know not to shake Lantus, anyway...that's why we have the interweb.

I have about half the Lantus vial left. I would need them to write me a prescription to get from Costco (which wouldn't be a problem)...perhaps I'll get them to write that up when I need it.

As for the air bubbles...I actually noticed with my new BD Ultra-fine syringes I don't get many air bubbles at all...perhaps because of the thinner gauge...




R
 
If you are in Canada...you just go to the pharmacy and ask for it. I took Jones' old pen and asked if I could get 5 pen pack and that it was for my cat.

I went to Costco...no questions etc, just issued the insulin.
 
Rob W. & Emmett said:
I would need them to write me a prescription to get from Costco
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No you don't. In Canada, just walk up to the counter and ask for insulin for your cat. No script needed. My grocery store pharmacist knew more about Lantus for cats than the vet did because of her large feline clientele.:) Shaking insulin is an "old insulin" type of thing.
 
Humans need a script, cats don't. Just explain to the pharmacist that you have a diabetic cat.

And you'll likely find the cost much lower than at your vet.
 
Red & Rover (GA) said:
Humans need a script, cats don't. Just explain to the pharmacist that you have a diabetic cat.

And you'll likely find the cost much lower than at your vet.
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Humans don't either. I just walked into pharmacy and asked for a vial of Lantus. No questions asked. A script would be better for me as I have a benefit plan that pays my prescriptions.
 
Hey Rob. If you have had your insulin refrigerated it should be good for 6 months.

Here in the States, we need a RX for Lantus. . We don't need one for Novolin R insulin. At Costco in the states we need a RX for animals using Lantus as well.
 
I think you dont need a script because you'll be paying cash/credit. I think they only want a script if your government is paying for it.
 
Humans don’t need a script in Canada, the only reason they need one is because then they can get a medical deduction from the Gov’t if they are over 65. I can buy at Shopers Drug Mart in any Thursday and get 20% off my needles and insulin, no perscription and just have to be a senior citizen. I’m not clos to that, but I tell them it’s for my mom. No questions asked. However, Costco is cheaper for needles and no tax if you buy at the pharmacy directly. My pharmacist knows me so they always give me a discount so no need to worry about that.

For lancets and meters, USA is half the price and luckily Walmart in Buffalo is 20min drive for me, so I stack up when I cross over, which is weekly. As for expiry dates the ones are great as you’ve heard as depending on the use, it could last a month. I just finished my first pen after a month, but I waste more then half as Davidson is on a small dose and I usually fill it to 5 ml and squirt rest.....that with getting bubbles out wastes some.....oh well. Good luck.
 
Shawna & Davidson said:
Humans don’t need a script in Canada, the only reason they need one is because then they can get a medical deduction from the Gov’t if they are over 65. I can buy at Shopers Drug Mart in any Thursday and get 20% off my needles and insulin, no perscription and just have to be a senior citizen. I’m not clos to that, but I tell them it’s for my mom. No questions asked. However, Costco is cheaper for needles and no tax if you buy at the pharmacy directly. My pharmacist knows me so they always give me a discount so no need to worry about that.

For lancets and meters, USA is half the price and luckily Walmart in Buffalo is 20min drive for me, so I stack up when I cross over, which is weekly. As for expiry dates the ones are great as you’ve heard as depending on the use, it could last a month. I just finished my first pen after a month, but I waste more then half as Davidson is on a small dose and I usually fill it to 5 ml and squirt rest.....that with getting bubbles out wastes some.....oh well. Good luck.
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Well meters are free with the price of strips. Both in the US and in Canada. You just need to go to the website of the meter and get a voucher. I've had four meters that way.
 
But if i go to walmart and pay cash/credit its like $80 something candaian. If you are a human with a prescription, dont you get a discount or insurance pay for most or aprt of it?
 
No script for discounts and meters are free but the test strip prices are a killer compared to in USA. Reli-on meter is around U$10 and 100 test strips are u$17.....pretty cheap.
 
So me as an American citizen goes and buys insulin for $80, the Canadian government is subsidizing it for me also.
 
Sean & Rufus said:
But if i go to walmart and pay cash/credit its like $80 something candaian. If you are a human with a prescription, dont you get a discount or insurance pay for most or aprt of it?
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No discount. No. I pay the full $80. It is not covered by government insurance plans. I believe senior citizens get a discount.
 
Chris & China said:
Basically, yes....Canada has price controls (for lack of a better term)
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I don't think so. I am in Ontario and the government does not help with the cost of insulin via OHIP. We pay the full price ourselves. Insulin is cheaper here but the strips are far more expensive. It balances out.
 
This is a great discussion! I paid $275 for Lantus at Costco here in Florida. I usually pay $35.00 for 100 Relion Confirm test strips; the meter was cheap - I think around $14.00. A box of 100 BD syringes is around $35 (I think)...been a while since I picked up the last box. The test strips are my biggest running expense since I test frequently we burn through those rather quickly...seems like I'm in Walmart every other week or so to pick up another box or two-- $70 is kind of a hit at once, so I buy one at a time until first of the month - payday...

As for the Lantus, I've only bought one vial - in January - and after I recovered from nearly having a heart attack at the cost! How do people without insurance afford such a life sustaining medication???? :(

I'm from Michigan - so this Summer if Luci still needs Lantus, we'll be taking a drive over to Windsor for a bit of shopping at the local pharmacy - $80 is so much easier on the budget than $275...ouch...ouch...:blackeye:
 
Sean & Rufus said:
That's almost double the price if you are close enough to drive and get it yourself.
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Oh yes...we're just over an hour from the border - it'll be a little 'outing' for us...maybe have dinner over there . Hope the pharmacies are open on Sunday...or Saturday afternoon.
 
Sue and Luci said:
This is a great discussion! I paid $275 for Lantus at Costco here in Florida. I usually pay $35.00 for 100 Relion Confirm test strips; the meter was cheap - I think around $14.00. A box of 100 BD syringes is around $35 (I think)...been a while since I picked up the last box. The test strips are my biggest running expense since I test frequently we burn through those rather quickly...seems like I'm in Walmart every other week or so to pick up another box or two-- $70 is kind of a hit at once, so I buy one at a time until first of the month - payday...

As for the Lantus, I've only bought one vial - in January - and after I recovered from nearly having a heart attack at the cost! How do people without insurance afford such a life sustaining medication???? :(

I'm from Michigan - so this Summer if Luci still needs Lantus, we'll be taking a drive over to Windsor for a bit of shopping at the local pharmacy - $80 is so much easier on the budget than $275...ouch...ouch...:blackeye:
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Wow. Sweet price for strips and syringes! In Canada we pay $80 for 100 strips if you're lucky. Last place was $88. Syringes are $55 a box of 100. So like I said it balances out.
 
Sean & Rufus said:
That's almost double the price if you are close enough to drive and get it yourself.
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I'm in Missouri, so driving would be a long trip!

DCIN reimbursed someone who bought a 5 pack of Lantus in Canada for $126 so not quite double. It will vary some from province to province and pharmacy to pharmacy

But yeah, if you're close enough to the border for it to be doable, that's what I'd be doing too!! Get the best of both worlds! Cheaper insulin from Canada and cheaper strips in the US!
 
Sean & Rufus said:
The vial is $64 at walmart and $111 at Marks.
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No the vial can't be $111 at Marks when everywhere else in Canada a vial is no more than $80. The marks price must include shipping. And if they say free shipping then they've marked up the insulin.
 
Juliet said:
No the vial can't be $111 at Marks when everywhere else in Canada a vial is no more than $80. The marks price must include shipping. And if they say free shipping then they've marked up the insulin.
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LOL! I had no idea this would create such a bustling conversation! Haha, thanks for all the info and tips, I'm quite sure others, will use this info to. I plan to try Costco next time I need the juice. Thanks!



R
 
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