Lantus vial/vs. cartridge/ vs solo star

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M

Mad Scientist and Buddy

Member Since 2010
Hi all,

Just realized my vial of Lantus is reaching 2 mos. old. I keep it in the fridge in the original box. Throwing out a question about which type of container you order for your lantus and how often do you change it? Is it easier and more sterile to just buy the solo star pen and withdraw the insulin into the syringe from that instead of buying just cartridges? Can you get the insulin to come out of the cartridges/solostar easy enough? Are the cartridges/solostar glass like the vial? Do you keep them for shorter periods of time if they are plastic?

Sorry if this question belongs under a different Board Index, thought I'd like the Lala land peeps to weigh in on this.

Tony
 
DC has only been on Lantus for just over 2 months. Maybe someone with more experience will have more input than I do.
I buy the package of 5 pen cartridges. They are glass just like the vial and I use a syringe.
My last cartridge I used until it was totally empty which was about which was about 2 months.
I keep the one I'm using in the fridge in a container with cotton padding surrounding it so it doesn't get moved as much.
It is stored in one of the crisper drawers that doesn't get used as much and the temperature is more stable.
The unopened cartridges, I just leave at the back of the crisper drawer in the box until I need them.
The best before date is Nov 2012. The pharmacist told me they will keep fine as long as they are not opened.
He also said I should be able to get at least 3 months out of the opened one as long as it's gently handled.
 
There is really no difference between the pens and cartridges, except maybe price or availability. I usually use cartridges for up to 2 months, some people get longer, the same is true or the vial. The mfg. has only tested for 28 days so that is their recommendation. When you get the cartridges/pens you are paying more but you also get half agin as much, 15 ml not 10ml. You also have the peace of mind that your whole supply can't go bad at once. I think the script has to be written for a specific type of container.

I handle mine the same way Noreen does.
 
I use cartridges, but only because I can't get vials of Levemir in Canada.
A cartridge lasts me 7-10 days, so a vial would not go bad on me.

if you are giving small doses, I would think the cartridges or pen would be better because on first penetration, the clock is ticking on the life of the container.
 
Thank you all for your replies! Buddy gets so little insulin that it will definitely be better to get the cartridges to the vial, even though there is more up front cost. I also like that my whole source can't go bad on me at once.

Tony
 
Did you see these photographs? You can see insulin being drawn out with a syringe from three options.

This info is in the Sticky above; "Lantus/Levemir; New to the Group"
Then click on the link "Lantus/Levemir; Info, Proper Handling and Storage"

I hope this helps, I love pictures. :-D

  • (Left to Right) Lantus 3ml SoloStar Pen, Levemir 3ml FlexPen, and the Lantus 3ml Cartridge Refill for the OptiClick Pen:
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thanksgiving2008006-1-1-1.jpg
lantuscartdraw2-1.jpg
 
The cartridges aren't refillable, right? Why does it say "refill"? I think when I looked on the canadadrugs website, the solostar was less expensive maybe?
 
"Refill" means that the cartridge itself goes into a pen, or something. I think someone else can clarify this a bit better.

I've used a vial since June 22nd, and it's almost empty now. Some people can use a vial up to 6 months.
 
The cartridges are the refill for the reusable Opticlik pen. Solo star is a disposable pen that comes with the cartridge already in place. If there is a price difference, make sure you check for quantity. As far as I know the cartridges are 5X 3mL or 15mL total and the SoloStar are 5X 3mL or 15mL in total. BUT, Walmart pharmacy told me the SoloStar was only 3X 3mL so 9mL total. Make sure you know exactly how much insulin you are getting before deciding what is "cheaper". Also, if you cat requires a lot of insulin, it may be cheaper to buy the vial if you will use it up before about 2 mos. when some users are calling it "bad" and getting rid of it. Some users are keeping it for 6 mos. too. I'm no expert on longevity, my vial just hit the 2 mos. mark and I'm still using it, but thinking about replacing.

Tony
 
Thanks, Tony. When I called around, WalMart was more expensive than Costco but then some of the folks gave me the link to the canadadrugsonline and they were MUCH cheaper than both WM and CC. Our girl gets so little that we will probably end up throwing most the vial away by the time it is toast (hoping 90 days). Thanks for doing this condo...great info.
 
I prefer the pen to the cartridge. The container in the pen is protected by the plastic case. I always felt like the cartridge could roll around or because the glass was exposed, the risk of it cracking if dropped was much greater.

If you check at a hospital that has an outpatient pharmacy, you may be able to buy a single or multiple pens or cartridges rather than a box of 5. Most places will not sell less than a box of 5 pens or cartridges.
 
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