Lantus pens?

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GAWildKat

Member Since 2010
My cat Sabrina was supposed to do a glucose curve today. Also was supposed to be started on lantus. I asked the vet for the pens rather than the vial, less waste, longer use, etc. Apparently the solostar pens can't be used like the flexipens that Levemir has? She said there's a concern of reusing a contaminated needle? I would like something we can print and show the vet. I have concerns because in addition to the waste the vial causes I can't grip a vial as easily as a pen with my cerebral palsy. Thank you for your time.

Tricia
 
a lot of us use the pens - not sure why the vet is wondering about contamination - you stick a needle into a vial too. basically you just use the rubber stopper of the pen as though it was the rubber stopper of the vial. you don't reuse the needle - you use a new syringe and needle every time just like with a vial. so how could the needle be contaminated?

i don't know if there is any documentation to share, but maybe someone else has seen some. i've gone to the lantus site to check various things, but it doesn't address using regular syringes with the pens.
 
That's the problem I'm having, convincing her that these can be used with regular syringes. I'm frustrated, and going to another vet will not help, they are all about the same.
 
well, as the saying goes, "the proof is in the pudding." perhaps you can convince her that you'd like the prescription and when she sees that it works, it will become a non-issue. if i could figure out a gentle non-rude way to say it, i might add that since i'm paying, i'm choosing the most cost-effective method for a low-dose kitty that works with my budget.

the bottom line is the pens cost less until you're up to perhaps 8-10u BID.
 
This vet obviously doesn't understand that you won't be using the needles that come with the pen.

Side note...you mentioned that Sabrina is going in for a curve. Are you home testing her as well? If not, everyone here will strongly urge that you start doing so. Curves at the vet office will be skewed, because Sabrina will be stressed and stress causes BGs to rise. Testing her at home will keep her safe...we all test before each shot, as well as at various points in-between shots. Plus, you doing the curves at home will save you tons of money. If you need any help with getting started on testing, just ask away!

And welcome to LantusLand! You will find tons of support and help here!
 
I was testing to monitor her, the vet doesn't want me to do that. Afraid I'll cause her to hypo if I adjust her dose up. I still plan on it but I have a lot of learning to do. My CRF cat was so much easier to deal with I swear.
 
Is there a pharmacist you can contact? If you are located near a vet school, they probably have a veterinary pharmacy. See if you can speak with someone there and raise the question about using a syringe with either Lantus or Levemir. The mechanism is the same with the Solostar and Flex pens. If there's not a vet pharmacy around, call a university medical center. They would have to run into this with kids -- children need smaller doses than the whole units that the pens dispense.
 
Print out the picture in the Lantus sticky and show your vet how an insulin syringe is used with any insulin pen: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=151

And this:

How%20to%20use%20an%20%20insulin%20pen%20for%20cats.jpg


The end of the pen has a rubber stopper, just like the end of an insulin bottle. So insulin syringe needle goes right in, draw up insulin just like with a bottle, and remove insulin syringe needle from stopper. Not sure why your vet can't understand that.
 
I emailed the link to her office earlier. I think my little bit of knowledge I don't admit to alot here, is having her go circles with me lol.
 
GAWildKat said:
I was testing to monitor her, the vet doesn't want me to do that. Afraid I'll cause her to hypo if I adjust her dose up. I still plan on it but I have a lot of learning to do. My CRF cat was so much easier to deal with I swear.
Click to expand...

Ughhh. I would switch vets. This is a dangerous attitude to have towards treating your cat. Testing a diabetic cat is non-negotiable. How can she think it's less dangerous to shoot blindly than know what the BG is? The only way to get a cat off insulin and avoid hypos is by home testing. Period. Any vet who knows their stuff is going to tell you that dosing based of in office numbers is dangerous because the numbers are inaccurate due to vet stress. I've been to three different vets since I moved to my current town, and all three said the same thing--home testing is the most important step in managing your cat's diabetes.

I'm also concerned that your vet is worried about contamination---is she going to have you reuse syringes? Syringes should be discarded after every use.

I would call around your area and find a vet that supports home testing. Maybe they'll give you less trouble about the pens, too. If you do end up staying with your current vet, you'll need to take charge and educate yourself because your vet isn't doing it. This will mean making decisions on your own, but you have wonderful group of experts here to give advice when you need it.
 
I've been to more vets than I can count in the past 2 yrs just trying to get insulin for the cat. I live in an area of Georgia that's semi-rural and the type of vets reflect that. One vet wanted to give her Humalin R for the diabetes. At least this one was willing to call the pharmacy to see if I could use syringes with the pens, but as she knew was not aware that it was possible. I emailed her office a link to the site in case someone decides she can read it. Still waiting to hear back tho.
 
i spent time with our pharmacist today about punkin's pen. it was full of air when we got it last week. basically they said that the pen isn't meant to have a needle go into it, and they assumed that it was my fault that there was air in it. the outcome was that they gave me 1 of the pen needles that go with them so that i could bleed off the air. There are directions on the lantus site for that if anyone needs it.

several people have ordered the pens from a canadian pharmacy online - there was a discussion about it on facebook today. here's the site: http://www.canadadrugsonline.com it's my understanding that you don't need a prescription for insulin from canada, but i'm not sure if i'm right on that. maybe some of our canadians can comment on it.

there is also a coupon for $25 off on your first solostar pen - i know it's here on FDMB somewhere but i found it by googling.
 
You do need a prescription to buy online from a Canadian pharmacy, such as CanadaDrugsOnline (see their website for precise instructions: http://canadadrugsonline.com). If you actually go to visit Canada, you don't need a prescription to buy insulin and can buy it in any pharmacy. Maybe this is a good time to visit Canada!!

I would get the vial that your vet prescribed so that at least you have insulin. Then look for another vet. If you home test, you don't need to go to the vet for curves. Many of us here rely on the guidance of this board and keep the vet out of the loop with regard to the treatment of FD. We go to our vets for other health issues.

Welcome to Lantus Land. Everyone here will help you.

Ella & Rusty
 
I concur- get the vial now, get a new vet.

every vet is different, i don't believe they would become vets unless they truly cared for animals, but not every vet has the ability/time/desire to dedicate time to specialties like fd.

some people here have fantastic vets out of the box, others have great luck being able to convert their vet when they present them with information about fd, and then some vets are really resistant to information brought in by patients and stick to what they know. i imagine the ones who are resistant feel a little intimidated by patients who know more than they do.

it sounds like you and your vet are on opposite ends of the spectrum on treatment. you are advocating for a more hands on approach, they are advocating for a more doctor managed approach (to be optimistically polite). i would find a vet who is on your side of the spectrum, and is more willing and eager to listen to your input. You wouldn't go to a doctor who didn't listen to your ideas about your health, same applies to your cat.
 
julie1220 said:
i spent time with our pharmacist today about punkin's pen. it was full of air when we got it last week. basically they said that the pen isn't meant to have a needle go into it, and they assumed that it was my fault that there was air in it. the outcome was that they gave me 1 of the pen needles that go with them so that i could bleed off the air. There are directions on the lantus site for that if anyone needs it.
Click to expand...


The pen needle just screws on top of the rubber stopper:

5b2d5fa562404eece3db716e504ad40e.jpg


Better pic here: http://www.lantus.com/images/hcp/charts/breakout.gif

Always push the insulin syringe plunger down to the zero line and hold it there while inserting the needle into the rubber stopper. This prevents air from getting inside the pen. And never inject extra insulin back into the pen.
 
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