Lantus pens vs vials
- Thread starter luluht
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Hillary & Maui (GA)
Very Active Member
You will find that the pens are more cost effective than purchasing the vial. Treat the pen the same as the vial, by inserting your insulin syringe into the pen. Don't purchase the syringes that are sold with the pens, instead use your regular supply of syringes.
Treat the pens the same as the vial - keep in fridge, no rolling, shaking or mixing.
Treat the pens the same as the vial - keep in fridge, no rolling, shaking or mixing.
Lisa and Witn (GA)
Very Active Member
The initial cost for the pens is about twice that of a single vial, however you get 5 pens in the prescription. With a vial, you will not use all of the insulin in it. It will only be effective for about a couple months and with most cats, that means that you will use about 1/3 of the vial before you have to throw it out. With the pens, because it is packaged in smaller amounts, you should be able to use almost every drop. For me, I am able to use a single vial for about 2 1/2 months before it is empty. So for about twice the cost of a single vial you will get about a year's worth of insulin with the pens.
You will use regular syringes with the pens that you would use with the vial. Hope this helps.
You will use regular syringes with the pens that you would use with the vial. Hope this helps.
Christie & Willie (GA)
Very Active Member
One suggestion... If you have a Sam's or Costco nearby, they may offer you the option of buying pens one at a time as opposed to 5 all at once. If these aren't viable options, you can also check with the outpatient pharmacy at your local hospital as they may be willing to do the same. No real discount, just a decrease in up front out-of-pocket expense.
Good luck!
Good luck!
squeem3
Very Active Member
10 ml bottle of Lantus:
Lantus SoloStar pen:
(For Human diabetics, the parts of the pen are this: http://www.lantus.com/images/hcp/charts/breakout.gif)
The Lantus SoloStar pen is basically a pen-shaped container with 3 ml of Lantus inside. Insert the insulin syringe needle right into rubebr stopper of the uncapped pen, no different really than inserting the needle into the rubber stopper of the 10 ml bottle. One difference: do not inject air or extra insulin into the pen. The pen is designed to work with negative pressure. There is a rubber stopper inside the pen that keeps the insulin pressed up against the rubber stopper.
Lantus SoloStar pen:
(For Human diabetics, the parts of the pen are this: http://www.lantus.com/images/hcp/charts/breakout.gif)
The Lantus SoloStar pen is basically a pen-shaped container with 3 ml of Lantus inside. Insert the insulin syringe needle right into rubebr stopper of the uncapped pen, no different really than inserting the needle into the rubber stopper of the 10 ml bottle. One difference: do not inject air or extra insulin into the pen. The pen is designed to work with negative pressure. There is a rubber stopper inside the pen that keeps the insulin pressed up against the rubber stopper.
Karen & Smokey(GA)
Very Active Member
luluht said:
I think they discontinued the cartridges. Ask your vet to write it for SoloStar pens.
Ask to write 'prn' for 1-5 pens. If the pharmacy will sell you one at a time, then great,
and you can purchase them one at a time. (I suggest you buy two initially...when one is nearly
gone, open the second one and buy a replacement).
If the pharmacy will only sell them in un-broken packages of 5, then the Rx for 1-5 would cover
you also. The initial cost is just more.
For a authoritative answer on cartridges vs. pens, ask your question on the Lantus Forum.
squeem3
Very Active Member
luluht said:
Other than the shape of the container and how a Human diabetic uses it? Nothing :smile: The OptiClick cartridges have been discontinued. So ask the vet to write the prescription for the SoloStar pens. If you want a box of them (5 pens in the box), the prescription should say something like "SoloStar pens 5 x 3ml".
Phoebe_TiggyGA_NortonGA
Very Active Member
I buy Levemir in cartridges from Canada.
Basically it is a 3ml tube that fits inside a pen injector like the Lantus pictured above - except no pen housing, no cap etc.
They come in 5-packs.
This is from Canada drugs online website: I'm surprised to see this big price difference.
Levemir
5 x 3ml Penfill Cartridge Novo Nordisk 100 IU 1 $160.00
Levemir
5 x 3ml FlexPen Novo Nordisk 100 IU 1 $114.99
Basically it is a 3ml tube that fits inside a pen injector like the Lantus pictured above - except no pen housing, no cap etc.
They come in 5-packs.
This is from Canada drugs online website: I'm surprised to see this big price difference.
Levemir
5 x 3ml Penfill Cartridge Novo Nordisk 100 IU 1 $160.00
Levemir
5 x 3ml FlexPen Novo Nordisk 100 IU 1 $114.99
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