Looking for dococuments re: using syringes w/Lantus pen

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my Casey bear

my Casey bear

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I keep running into hurdles in getting Casey on meds. cat(2)_steam I know have a script for Lantus SoloSTAR injection pen, but the vet would only precribe the pen needles, not u100 syringes/needles. She said that if I could provide her w/documents supporting/indicating that an insulin pens can be used like vials. I The only supporting documentation that I have found so far are on this site but, since it would be from only one source, it many not be enough. :?: Have any of you seen any documentation outside FD that support the use of a syringe with the Lantus SoloStar injection pen?

Roberta
and Casey
 
Melissa is right....you can buy Relion syringes (U100, .3cc, 1/2-unit marking in either 1/2" or 5/16") from Wal Mart to get you started.

Here's the link in LL for using syringes and not the pen needles that humans use:

Solostar Pens/Syringes

Roberta: I know you like your vet but it is important that your vet understands that she is working FOR you and you are Casey's number one advocate. There is a very nice way to discuss it with her without making her defensive or angry but IMHO, you have to make the decisions instead of letting her run the show about something that she doesn't know anything about (the use of the pens). Sorry....off my soapbox. :-D
 
Our Walmart in Tulsa have the 1/2 unit Relion. Not all Walmarts do though. Just be sure to ask for them and look at them before you buy because you can't return. They are about $14 for a box of 100. I buy Relion 3/10, 31 gauge, 8mm, short needle. It is a blue box with a purple strip on it.
 
Our WalMarts in Tucson carry them as well.

Like Ann, we use Monojects that we order from ADW. But the Relions will get you started until you can decide if you want to buy something else. We used Relions, BDs, and now MJs and I love the MJs.
 
Whoa!!! Whether or not you need an Rx for syringes is State law -- in some states you DO need a prescription for syringes. You can mail order without an Rx, though.

You need to get your vet to think logically. The pens only dispense insulin in full units. You cannot inject 0.5u increments or less. How would the vet think that parents would use Lantus with a child. This link, in the section, "Reusable Pens" notes that Lantus can be withdrawn from a pen with a syringe.
If the reusable injection pen does not work properly, Lantus may be withdrawn from the cartridge into a syringe. Ask your doctor, pharmacist or diabetes educator for help.
Click to expand...
What they are referring to with the "reusable pen" is the holder for Lantus cartridges. The cartridge was container for Lantus. Cartridges have been discontinued but they are the same as the container that's inside the pen.
 
make sure that you do NOT inject any air into the pen. you work the plunger of the syringe to loosen it, then squeeze out all air and hold the plunger in tightly while you put the needle into the pen. then you withdraw the amount of insulin you need into the syringe and withdraw the needle from the pen.

the reason i'm emphasizing that is that i had mixed results with the pens. some were fine, but the last one i had was wonky and i had to toss it. the pressure was off inside the pen and when i was withdrawing the insulin into the syringe, the pressure was so great that it sucked the insulin back out of the syringe and into the pen. the syringes are lubricated and that lubricant can't go back into your container of insulin (vial or pen) or it contaminates the insulin. So just do the whole process carefully so you don't end up wasting your insulin.

when you use a vial (i'm unclear if you've been using one already) you draw the amount of air = to the amount of insulin you're going to use up into the syringe, then you inject that air into the AIR of the vial (not into the insulin liquid), then flip over the whole works and withdraw the insulin into the needle.

i found it easy to get mixed up the first couple of days when i switched between vial & pen and just wanted to pass on what was helpful to me.
 
my Casey bear said:
I keep running into hurdles in getting Casey on meds. cat(2)_steam I know have a script for Lantus SoloSTAR injection pen, but the vet would only precribe the pen needles, not u100 syringes/needles. She said that if I could provide her w/documents supporting/indicating that an insulin pens can be used like vials.
Click to expand...

Well, a pen needle doesn't just sit on the end of the insulin pen with the needle sticking out the front. The needle extends through the plastic to the other side so that it pierces the rubber stopper as you screw the pen needle onto the end of the insulin pen. How else would insulin be removed from the insulin pen body during the injection? :roll: Notice the needle sticking out of the bottom of the pen needle while the part you stick into the skin is still covered with the clear safety cap:

Insulin_pen_needles.jpg


Why would an insulin syringe be any different? You still have to stick the needle into the rubber stopper to get the insulin out.

If you use an insulin pen the way a Human diabetic would with the pen needles, the dose dial at the end of the pen only does whole units. If your cat needs, say 2.5 units, how would you measure that doing the Human diabetic way? You can't. That is why you use insulin syringes so you can measure all those teeny in between whole unit doses.

And yes, some states require a prescription to biu insulin syringes from an brick and mortar pharmacy. Check with your local pharmacy. I thought I heard that Hocks.com now requires prescriptions as well?? And AmericanDiabetesWholeSale.com too??
 
I called my area Walmart Pharmacy to ask about wether I needed a script or not.....and YEAH :-D I do not have to have one! I just have to know the specifics about the syringes I need, and thanks to all of you...I do! :razz:

Thanks again,

Roberta
and Casey
 
btw..if you ever do use Lantus in a vial, make sure you DO NOT inject air into the vial. Below is a quote from the sticky about handling and storing Lantus:

Code: 
Do not inject air into vial and especially not cartridges or pens. Cartridges and pens are designed to work on a negative pressure principle.
 
I stand by my post. Because we use Lantus for our cats, we don't follow a lot of the instructions on the Lantus website for the use and storage of Lantus because their instructions are for the use in humans. Until the person who writes the instructions on our stickys changes the information, I have to believe they are correct.
 
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