Newbie question on Lantus handling

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MelanieP and Ninja

MelanieP and Ninja

Member Since 2012
At the risk of appearing the most ignorant poster on this site (LOL!), I'm going to ask a stupid question about Lantus handling. When I first opened my Lantus bottle a couple of weeks ago, I was so freaked out and nervous about injecting my cat that I didn't pay attention to how the bottle was packaged at that time. Now, two weeks later I am wondering if the bottle came with a cap -- to protect the Lantus from air. If it did, then I inadvertently threw it away in the terror of my first day. The bottle just looks so odd with that rubber top exposed, and seems like it should have a lid on it or something to better protect the contents (since it deteriorates with time and exposure to the elements). So my questions are a) is the Lantus supposed to have a lid? And b) if yes, could I just put some cling wrap or foil over the top instead instead - since the lid, if one existed, is now God-knows-where? See...I told you this was a stupid question (LOL!). Thanks for putting up with me. :)
 
Hi Melanie,

I'm pretty new here too, but I got the Lantus 10 mL vial in a box, and it came with the rubber exposed. I think the needle makes a small enough hole that as long as you don't always poke the rubber in the same place, it should stay "sealed". I've used mine for a month now, and no insulin has ever come out when I tip it upside down, so it's not leaking. I try not to touch the rubber, but that's more the way I hold the bottle steady; I don't know if that makes a difference. I've never seen a cap for it from other resources, either.
 
This is a good question! I'm new too. My Lantus had a little orange lid that I pried off of the top when I first opened it. I don't think the lid was meant to go back on. My pharmacist recommended I swab the top of the rubber with alcohol before I used it though. I'm not sure why though. Now that I think about it - that might dry out the rubber. I hope you get more answers, and I'll be popping back in to read them too. Good luck to you and your kitty! :smile:
 
Thanks! Your kitty is gorgeous! Looks like a Panther! That's what my kitty looks like - in her dreams. LOL! I love her anyway. :)

SHK said:
This is a good question! I'm new too. My Lantus had a little orange lid that I pried off of the top when I first opened it. I don't think the lid was meant to go back on. My pharmacist recommended I swab the top of the rubber with alcohol before I used it though. I'm not sure why though. Now that I think about it - that might dry out the rubber. I hope you get more answers, and I'll be popping back in to read them too. Good luck to you and your kitty! :smile:
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All insulin bottles have a plastic or metal safety cap that you have to remove so you can acces the rubber stopper. The cap can be thrown away. You can keep the bottle in the orginal cardboard box if you feel the need to.

Speaking of insuln bottles, it's a good idea to wrap something around the outside of the bottle to preevent it from breaking should you accidentally drop it. Hocks.com has insulin sleeves: http://www.hocks.com/diabetic-supplies/diabetic-accessories.html The long "Securitee Blanket" one fits Lantus bottles. It comes in 3 color choices. ADW has them as well: http://www.americandiabeteswholesale.com/catalog/insulin-vial-covers_73.htm Or you can just wrap bubble wrap or a paper towel around the outside of the bottle.
 
Hi all! In googling "insulin cap" I did find something along the lines of what I was thinking about. It's called "Insul-Cap" (surprise! LOL!). Here's a link if you want to check it out: http://www.insulincase.com/Insul-Cap-P535.aspx . They are less than $10 and the description says it will keep the insulin vial sanitary, help with one-handed insulin draws and also helps you get the last of the insulin out of the bottle. My primary concern though in posting this question is, would this really help the Lantus last longer? I know rubber is a porous material -- so am thinking that after you poke the top of the insulin vial 25 or 30 times... wouldn't that lessen the integrity of the seal -- and would that additional "air" exposure make the Lantus degrade sooner than if you put one of these $10 Insul-Caps on the vial and kept it sealed between use? In other words, the expiration date on my Lantus bottle is 2014, as long as it remains unopened; so it has a long shelf life if not exposed to air. BUT once opened, the clock starts ticking, and we are supposed to replace in 30 days. So I am wondering if, by capping the top rather than letting it remain exposed to air, we would then be able to get 2 months out of the vial (or 45 days, or anything longer than a month). This would seem to make logical sense, but if any long-term Lantus users have any insight on this, please let me know. Thanks!!
 
I think the rubber material used for insulin bottles and pens is a "self healing" material. After you withdraw the insulin syringe, the rubber competely closes back up to seal out air and other thngs. I doubt anyone here, with the exception of high dose cats, can use a 10 ml bottle to the very last drop. The insulin starts to lose potency after awhile. Some people have gotten a few months out of a Lantus bottle, others only a month. Have you seen the sticky on the Lantus board on how to store and handle Lantus? http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=151
 
I'm new and don't know much yet, but I second squeem3's recommendation of vial protectors. I had a paper towel wrapped around the bottle but I was still worried it would slip and shatter on the floor. I saw one in the store this weekend and bought it. It has been my most reassuring diabetes-related purchase so far LOL! I noticed you live in FL - here's the link to see if they have one in your local Walgreens and you can pick it up without ordering online: http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/walgre ... 05-product

Edit - well, crud. I don't know why my link won't work, sorry, but it's called "Walgreens Insulin Vial Cover" and the Lantus one is blue.
 
Great link Squeem3. According to that link, refrigerated Lantus lasts much longer than the 30 days I was thinking anyway. According to the link you sent me, Dr. Rand is quoted as saying up to 6 months -- so that's a big plus -- though I will probably replace long before then. He does say to replace sooner if you lose regulation in your cat (without reason) and also if you get "floaties" in the Lantus -- or it gets cloudy. I am wondering what makes the Lantus "lose effectiveness" though in the first place. It has to be exposure to air (???) so to be on the safe side, I think I will buy one of those Insul-Cap things and see. Can't hurt...and might help. What do you guys think??

Here's the quote from Dr. Rand, from the link Squeem3 provided (if anyone is interested):

From two of the leading researchers in the field of lantus use with feline diabetics, Jacquie S. Rand BVS, DVS and Rhett D.Marshall BVS (University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia):
"Glargine should be refrigerated because it has a shelf life of 4 weeks once opened and kept at room temperature. We have found that opened vials kept refrigerated can be used for more than 6 months. If using an insulin pen, the manufacturer recommends that once a vial of insulin is used, the pen be kept at room temperature because temperature changes associated with refrigeration alter the volume administered by the pen."
http://www.uq.edu.au/ccah/index.html?page=43599&pid=0
We use U100 syringes to draw Lantus from cartridges and pens. We do NOT use needle tips which can be attached to the pens to administer insulin. Therefore, refrigeration will not alter the volume administered by the pen apparatus. Refrigeration combined with the use of syringes to draw insulin (versus using the needle tip made for the pen) from the opened pen has been found to extend it's life well beyond the 28 days suggested by the manufacturer.
 
MelanieP and Ninja said:
I am wondering what makes the Lantus "lose effectiveness" though in the first place.
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Good question. I think the components of Lantus, whatever they might, start to break down after some period of time? Rough handling or improper storage may hasten the beak down of the insulin. My random thoughts. Really have no idea what causes Lantus to poop out, in as a little as a month for some people and not for several months for others.

I don't think it would hurt to be extra cautious with how you handle and store the insulin.
 
I agree Squeem3 about being "extra cautious." I treat the Lantus very gently -- though my first vet instructed me to roll it between my hands to mix (I am NOT KIDDING!). I have since changed vets as I learned (here) never to roll the Lantus. Would like to get the most mileage out of the Lantus (due to cost) without sacrificing the quality of care to my kitty. As Dr. Rand is an acknowledged expert on this, I will probably try for more than 30 days on the vial and see how it goes - monitoring carefully.
 
My current vial has lasted six months. I keep it in the fridge, in the box with a Kleenex stuffed in to protect it. Many say not to keep it in the door, but I do, wedged in between the Parmesan cheese and the side of the shelf. It's very secure there vs. on a shelf where stuff gets moved around all the time.
 
Amy- I HAVE to laugh.. I keep my Lantus EXACTLY the same as you do- only difference is mine is wedged next to the red raspberry jam instead of Parm cheese. LOL!!! When I read your post, I could picture it.. thanks for the laugh!
I agree about keeping it in the door for safety, and I find it to be absolutely cold enough there in my fridge- I keep it there because I KNOW it will get dropped, fall in the back, or something will happen when husband and kids get in there.

All medicines start to break down after a period of time, hence the expiration dates on things like tylenol, ibuprofen..etc.. Lantus is no different. My vet said 3 to 4 months should be just fine but he said he had heard of folks being able to keep it 6 months as long as it is effective in your cat.

Thank you for the info about the bottle protector. What an awesome thing to have.. getting one tomorrow!!!
 
I used to keep my lantus wrapped in a single layer of that foamy stuff (not bubble wrap) you sometimes get in packages. It kept it colder while it was out of the fridge and made it less slippery and less likely to break.

When we got pens, I taped the box of extra pens to the side of the fridge on the lowest shelf to prevent movement.

My lantus vial was 4 months old when Basil went OTJ. It was still fine.

If you use pens, you HAVE to refrigerate them, even after you begin using them. The no refrigeration instruction is meant for people who use the cartridges in the pen. The pen mechanism requires room temperature lantus, but they have apparently determined that is lasts 28 or 30 days even out of the refrig, so you can imagine that refrigerating greatly extends its life.
 
Hi Melanie - I use Lantus and am on the third bottle - so far they have all lasted about 4 months each. I keep it in the original box in the covered butter dish area too so I know it won't get knocked around. I didn't buy any kind of stopper cover and so far haven't had any issues without it. It does seem like a lot of money but if you think of it divided by 4 its not so bad :smile:
 
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