Lantus Pen Needles?

Jenn & Fluffy

Jenn & Fluffy

Member Since 2021
I am new to this message board. My cat is about to start Lantus this evening. The vet said they really wanted me to use the syringe from the Lantus pen but the pharmacist said that its not meant for that.
Does anyone use just the pen needle when administering to their cat? If so do you let out 1 unit for air bubbles every time to administer? Thank you
 
Jenn & Fluffy said:
I am new to this message board. My cat is about to start Lantus this evening. The vet said they really wanted me to use the syringe from the Lantus pen but the pharmacist said that its not meant for that.
Does anyone use just the pen needle when administering to their cat? If so do you let out 1 unit for air bubbles every time to administer? Thank you
Click to expand...
A lot (most?) of use use a syringe with a Lantus pen without any issue (basically we treat the pen like a vial).

You may find a lot of good info in the sticky at the top of the board on insulin handling - link here - https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...info-proper-handling-drawing-fine-dosing.151/

Are you set-up for home testing? Home testing help keeps kitty safe.

Your kitty is so cute in the bus :cat:
 
No, we all used the syringe. Your vet was right, the pharmacist wrong. For a few reasons. First, we change doses by 0.25 units at a time for the most part - you can't do that with pens. Second, you can't keep the pen in the fridge if using pen needles, as the pen mechanism might stop working. Lantus, if kept in the fridge, can be used to the last drop in pens. Outside the fridge, no more than 28 days.
 
The advisors here have a lot of experience. They've been doing it for years,every day.
You don't need a special meter calibrated for a cat. Nearly everyone here uses a human meter.Relion Prime meter & test strips. At the Walmart. Very inexpensive. The syringes you'll need are also at the Walmart you'll need to ask for them .
Relion 31 gauge, 8mm (5/16") Length Needle 3/10mL Syringe 100 in a box. There are other brands But that's the size you need.
There's an expiration date on the insulin but we use the insulin to the last drop My cat gets 1/2 unit now & a pen will last me more than 3 months. I don't squirt out any insulin.

If you're going to stay on the Lantus Forum you'll need to provide more information so people here can help you. It's also very important to setup a spread sheet.

The Yellow sticky notes at the top of the Lantus page gives you a lot of important info. The more you know the easier it will be to help your Kitty.

We do a new Post every day.

It's also important to feed your kitty low carb wet food. I've seen kitties go into remission when all dry food was eliminated. One other thing. You must test Kitties blood before you give him the insulin.

It's a lot to know but people here will help you. Ask a lot of questions. And read as much as you can. It WILL get easier!

What's your Kitties name?

Best of Luck to you.
 
Jenn & Fluffy said:
The vet said they really wanted me to use the syringe from the Lantus pen but the pharmacist said that its not meant for that.
Click to expand...

I read this opposite from Wendy. To me it sounds like your vet wanted you to use the regular pen syringes that go with the pens but the pharmacist said you don't.

But anyway, we use regular insulin syringes and pull the insulin out of the pen so we can give smaller doses. The pen needles only give you the option to change doses by whole units (like from 1U to 2U which although doesn't seem like much, it's a 100% increase). Our kitties need smaller dose changes.
Also, with the pen needles, you're supposed to waste 2 units to prime the pen every time you give insulin. With the price of Lantus, wasting 4 units a day runs into some serious money!

All these syringes have half unit markings (very important when you're doing microdosing) and are the correct syringes for U100 insulin and are available from ADW online:
UtiCare
Monoject
Carepoint
Sure Comfort
B/D

They're also available at WalMart if you have one near you. Their Relion brand 3/10ml, 30 or 31 gauge, 6mm or 8mm insulin syringes all come with half unit markings and are only $12.58 for a box of 100 (although a lot of them don't realize they DO come with half unit markings!)
 
Simply think of the pen as a vial. Get regular insulin syringes for U100 insulin (see the list given by @Chris & China, above) and insert the needle into the rubber gasket of the pen to draw out your dose. Keep the pen in the refrigerator and your insulin will be "good to the last drop".
 
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