Lantus Insulin For Kitties

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MurphsMom

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Hi, My Kitty, Murphy was originally diagnosed with Diabetes in October of 2009. After only about 6 weeks on Lantus he went in to remission. However, in August of 2010 the Diabetes came back. He was put back on Lantus and now it is a little over 5 months and he is still on Lantus. His dosage is one unit twice daily. My main concern is that his Vet told me that the Lantus is good for Cats for 3 months as opposed to the normal length of time which is 28 days. I've noticed that his numbers start to creep up after about 2 months. I've decided that I am going to tell his Vet that I want a new Prescription every month. Any suggestions where I can purchase a vial of Lantus at a lower cost than the $126.00 that I'm now paying? I've heard that Walmart Pharmacies are less expensive???? Does PetMeds carry Insulin? Thanks so much!!!!
 
This board will be going down in 20 minutes and will be off for 2 hours for routine maintenance. I am sorry this is happening when you have questions and concerns. You might want to print off the information on the pages I linked for you before the board goes down. Then you will have time to read and can come back and we will help you out with your questions.
 
Get the prescription for either the Solostar pens or cartridges. Even though the inital cost is a little higher than a vial, you will be able to use almost every drop. The package comes with five pens/cartridges and you should be able to use all of it before it becomes ineffective. One package of pens should be enough insulin to last almost a year or more.

Also, if you look in the Supply Closet, there is a link for a $25 coupon towards the cost of the Solostar pens.
 
Thanks so much for the suggestion for the Solostar Pen!! I am going to call Murphy's Vet tomorrow to see about getting a Prescription for it. Can one Pen last for a little longer than one month like the vials? Also, I printed out the coupon for $25.00 off. Thanks so much for the help!!
 
MurphsMom said:
Can one Pen last for a little longer than one month like the vials?
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It can. Some people get a little more than month out of a pen or cartridge. If you closely monitor bgs you'll know when the insuin is starting to poop out.
 
squeem3 said:
MurphsMom said:
Can one Pen last for a little longer than one month like the vials?
Click to expand...

It can. Some people get a little more than month out of a pen or cartridge. If you closely monitor bgs you'll know when the insuin is starting to poop out.
Click to expand...

Some here get 2 months of more from a Lantus SolorStar pen or cartridge. Each one holds 3ml (300 units).

So how long it lasts depends upon your dose....how fast will you use up the 300 units, and also upon how
carefully you handle it. Do not shake or roll it. Refrigerate it properly. And never shoot insulin back into
the container.

What is your dose ?
 
Hi, I also use the pens & want to say that a lot of times if you call a hospital & ask for the outpatient pharmacy they will sell one pen at a time because they use a higher volume of them, I get Baby's for about $45.00 a pen. I am conservative with the pens & do buy new between 28-30 days, but I know others use them longer & have no issues.
 
Murphy's dose is 1 unit twice daily, so one pen would definitely last for a little over a month. I'm so glad that all of you have told me to keep the Lantus in the fridge and not to roll it. When Murphy was diagnosed for the first time in 2009 his Vet left me with the Vet Tech to explain how to give Murph his Insulin. She told me to leave it out of the fridge once it was opened and to roll the vial in my hands to circulate the particles!!!! Now I know to keep it in the fridge and not to roll it. And that particles in it means there is something wrong with it!!!!!! Thanks everyone for educating me about all of this!!!
I spoke to a friend today, who is a Pharmacist, and she said that even most Hospitals keep their Lantus Vials for about 3 months and that it's fine as long as it's refrigerated and handled properly. Murph's Vet is calling me back tomorrow about the Lantus Pens and to call the Pharmacy with a Prescription. I'm hoping and praying that with the new Insulin and with what I've learned in the last few days Murphy might go into remission again. I know it's more of a long-shot the second time around but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
 
For the first six months my cat was diagnosed, I always got a new vial every month.I can now get two months out of each vial and save myself a lot of $.
 
If you switch to the cartridge or pens:
Do not inject air into vial and especially not cartridges or pens. Cartridges and pens are designed to work on a negative pressure principle.

Its not that big of a deal with the vial, but it is with the others.

Since the cartridges or pens have less insulin in each, you may use up one within a month vs the 10 ml vials.
 
MurphsMom said:
Murphy's dose is 1 unit twice daily, so one pen would definitely last for a little over a month. I'm so glad that all of you have told me to keep the Lantus in the fridge and not to roll it. When Murphy was diagnosed for the first time in 2009 his Vet left me with the Vet Tech to explain how to give Murph his Insulin. She told me to leave it out of the fridge once it was opened and to roll the vial in my hands to circulate the particles!!!! Now I know to keep it in the fridge and not to roll it. And that particles in it means there is something wrong with it!!!!!! Thanks everyone for educating me about all of this!!!
I spoke to a friend today, who is a Pharmacist, and she said that even most Hospitals keep their Lantus Vials for about 3 months and that it's fine as long as it's refrigerated and handled properly. Murph's Vet is calling me back tomorrow about the Lantus Pens and to call the Pharmacy with a Prescription. I'm hoping and praying that with the new Insulin and with what I've learned in the last few days Murphy might go into remission again. I know it's more of a long-shot the second time around but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
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Some of the PZI insulins are 'suspensions' in which the particles have to be evenly mixed in
before drawing insulin out of the vial. They are cloudy in appearance. You mix by
rolling gently between the palms, not by shaking.

But Lantus and Levemir are not suspensions. They need no mixing, they are clear in appearance.
Shaking causes air bubbles in the insulin--not desirable. If you see particles, called 'floaties' in the
insulin, it's probably lost its potency.
 
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