Lantus Vials vs Pens??

[Danelle and Flick]

I just dropped a 3/4 full vial of Lantus this morning breaking it...little sick to my stomach since I'm on a tight budget and finding $100 to spend on a new bottle is going to be tough. Thank goodness I had actually drawn Flicks am shot before it broke so I have time to pick up the new Rx. Before I have the vet call it in though I was hoping someone could answer some questions I have about lantus vials and pens. I've heard the pens cost more initially but less in the long run. Why is that? Is it just because they keep longer or do you actually get more for your money? Also with the pens or solostar do I need to buy different needles or can I use the same syringes I've been using? I watched the solostar demo on the lantus site and see there is a needle you can load on the pen but I just bought a box of syringes and don't want to buy more supplies if I don't have to.

Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.

 

[Libby and Lucy]

the info in this sticky should help (stickies are at the top of the forum): viewtopic.php?f=9&t=151

The pens are more economical, unless your cat is on a high dose, because if the insulin goes bad (or you drop it), you are only wasting 3mL instead of 10mL. It is hard to use up a whole 10mL vial before the insulin loses potency.

 

[Monique & Spooky]

Pens don't really cost more bif you compare the price per unit. A package of pens has 1500 units (5x 300 each) so it is more insulin and pens don't break as easy (plastic)! they do last longer because there is less waste.

In other words they cost 1 and a half times more but have 1 and a half times more insulin that will last a long time. It's like milk for one single person is better to buy in the smaller containers.

 

[Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)]

Hi Danelle,

The pens or cartridges are cheaper in the long run because they come in boxes of 5. Each cartridge (or pen) holds 3ml of Lantus, whereas the vial holds 10ml. Lantus is supposed to be discarded after 28 days (but lots of us get many more days than that: see the discussion of this yesterday; I'll look it up and send you the link after I finish here). Therefore, with the low doses most of us shoot, we would wind up throwing out a vial when only a little of the insulin was used. Since the cartridges hold only 3ml, they are more economical. A box of pens or cartridges costs around $200. in the US (much cheaper if you order from Canada). A vial costs around $100. So if you discard the vial after 28 days you are paying $100 a month, more or less. If you buy the box of 5 cartridges, you are paying $200 for 5 months. Some pharmacies will sell the cartridges singly. Check around.
You use your regular syringe with the pen or the cartridge. Just stick it into the rubber gasket and draw out the insulin. Keep the cartridge or pen refrigerated and don't shake or roll it! Don't use the needles that come with the pens. The dose is measured out in whole units (we need to be able to measure 1/4 and 1/2 units). Hope this helps. I'll send you the link to yesterday's discussion when I find it.
Welcome to the group to you and Flick

Ella & Stu

p.s. I see you've already received your answer while I was writing this. But I'll send it anyway

Here's the link to the Lantus discussion:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=19194#p190388

p.p.s. Here's the URL for Canada Drugs Online: http://www.canadadrugsonline.com/DrugMoreInfo5636.aspx

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

If there is a hospital with an outpatient pharmacy near you, they may sell individual pens.

 

[Lydia & Sid & Jake(GA)]

As everyone has already pointed out, the pens are more economical. At first I resisted the pens because I thought I needed to buy some new needle and then dial the pen to dose the insulin and I thought that was really scary - then I saw the photos on this site of how to draw out the insulin from the pen using a regular U100 needle that I already had. Simple. I love the pens. They are very pricey upfront (about $200) but Jake uses 1 pen/month so it equals about $50 or less per month.

 

[Danelle and Flick]

Thanks for the info. It all makes sense now especially since I realized 1ml = 100u and not 10u like I thought...not sure where I got that from. That explains why Ive had the same vial for over a month and it was still almost full...couldn't figure our how my calculations were so off...duh. I was prepared to spend $100/mo on a vial of insulin and didnt know how I was going to manage that so this was a huge relief which more than made up for a bad morning. Off to pick up Flicks new shatter proof solostar pens!