Ordering Levemir Online

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arniesdad

arniesdad

Member Since 2009
I am wanting to switch from Lantus to Levemir and if my vet approves it on Monday we are going to do so. Just wondering if I can get any advice where to order online and fast shipping is a must as we are going to run out of Lantus in 7-10 days. Any advice would be much appreciated!! I have been checking out the Canadian Pharmacy's online but there are so many of them and I don't see any that offer FAST shipping.
 
Hi,

I order from canadadrugsonline.com

I am not sure if they have expedited shipping or not- you could call or email and ask them.

I am sorry I don't have any extras to overnight to you, but if yiu post on SUpply Closet, here and on the Lantus board and ask if anyone will sell you a cartridge and overnight it, you might be in luck.

Also, some here buy from local pharmacies...you might call around and price them. They will probably cost more then Canada, but you can likely get it faster, local?

Good luck in your search!

You are welcome to post here if you'd like to chat with experienced lev users once you make the switch or have any questions leadig up to the switch....our forum can be a little slow at times, so if you have an emergency, you can always post on Health for faster responses!

:thumbup
 
Hi, Arnie's dad,

One thing to consider this time of year, with an order coming from Canada, is the possible shipping temps en route. I would be concerned with it freezing, so you might call in the order and ask them how they package it to avoid that. Maybe paying a bit more and getting it locally would be a good idea? I think everyone here gets the penfills (pack of 5 3ml), but not all pharmacies carry them.

Of course, when I ordered mine it was the middle of the summer and I had to worry about the opposite problem, but it arrived fine - same place that Melissa posted about.
 
Thanks Sheila, I didn't even think about it freezing.....can anyone tell me what it costs here in the U.S. for the 5 pack of cartridges? I know all pharmacies won't be the same but I'd like a ballpark estimate. I normally pay between $190 and $200 for the same order of Lantus. Just wondering if it is going to be more or less? I may not have time to wait for the shipping from Canada anyway.
 
arniesdad said:
can anyone tell me what it costs here in the U.S. for the 5 pack of cartridges?
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I think it depends on the location and the pharmacy. It's best to call around. Last time I did so, the lowest price I could find was ~$215. I have heard that the big box stores, like Costco, have the lowest prices and that you don't have to be a member to use the pharmacy.
 
Sheila is right that this time of year there can be trouble with freezing during shipping....when I ordered last year form canadadrugsonline.com, I asked them about this and they promised the carts would be fine, if not they would replace for free.

Of course that doesn't help your starting time if you have to wait for a second shipment, but I think it would be fine. When they sent mine last year, it arrived in this really thick styrofoam container- seemed like the thing was at least 14"x11" ( for an insulin box about 4"x6" ish)....and the thickness of each side was around 4", so total was about 8" thick- if memory serves me right.

The package was damaged and taped together with postal tape, but the insulin was perfectly sound, viable and in good condition.

if it were me in your place, I might see if I could get one cart or pen from someone right away- either local pharmacy or someone on the board near you, and then take some time to research the best way to get more Lev from an internet source.

let us know if there is anything we can help with.
 
I used a "local" pharmacy, meaning not a chain one. They OFFERED to find a discount code for me after I presented one which did not work. They saved me about $15, which hey, that's a whole pen!! So maybe ask the pharmacy if they can find a discount. Tell them it's for a cat, which if you have a scrip, they can't refuse to fill. DVM should clue them in anyway :-)

When you work out the monthly cost of Levemir for most of us, it is silly to be nickel and diming the cost here or there. It is the cheapest insulin available, unless you consider N which is not a good insulin to use in cats. It's just that you have to pay a large chunk at once for the 5 pens, which in these economic times is not always possible for some.
 
arniesdad said:
Thanks Sheila, I didn't even think about it freezing.....can anyone tell me what it costs here in the U.S. for the 5 pack of cartridges?
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Just so there is no confusion when you ask your pharmacy about costs, Levemir doesn't come in "cartridges" in the US. You either order a 10ml vial (which is fine too especially for cats on higher doses) or 5 x 3ml FlexPens. If ordering the Flexpens tell them you don't need the special syringes that come with it but that you will just keep using the U100 syringes that you have been using with the Lantus. Maybe you already knew all this - just making sure. I thought I did too when I switched to Levemir but asked on the board and was corrected. ;-)
 
You might try Costco if there is one near you. Last time I bought it the price was 188. If your vet doesn't know how to rx the levemir the pharmacist at Costco can tell you how it needs to read. The advantage I had buying locally was that I found that the pens expired only 5 months out from date of purchase - and Costco replaced the entire package for me this fall when I noticed. So, if you buy it in person, check the exp. date before leaving the premises - because they won't realize (even with dosing on the package) that you won't use it as quickly as a human diabetic would.

You do not need a Costco card to use the pharmacy - just tell the people at the door you are there for the pharmacy. If you do this over the phone - be sure and set up your name and cat's name and phone number - so they can call you if they have a question after they get the rx from the vet.

Best,
Pam & Layla
 
Pam and Layla said:
You might try Costco if there is one near you. Last time I bought it the price was 188. If your vet doesn't know how to rx the levemir the pharmacist at Costco can tell you how it needs to read. The advantage I had buying locally was that I found that the pens expired only 5 months out from date of purchase - and Costco replaced the entire package for me this fall when I noticed. So, if you buy it in person, check the exp. date before leaving the premises - because they won't realize (even with dosing on the package) that you won't use it as quickly as a human diabetic would.

You do not need a Costco card to use the pharmacy - just tell the people at the door you are there for the pharmacy. If you do this over the phone - be sure and set up your name and cat's name and phone number - so they can call you if they have a question after they get the rx from the vet.

Best,
Pam & Layla
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Hi Pam! So nice to 'see' you! Thank you for popping in here with this info. Very helpful. Hope all is well with sweet Layla. :)
 
Thank You ALL for the advice and tips!! We don't have a Costco store near here but we do have a Sam's Club and I hear you can go in there without a membership card and prices are lower than other big name pharmacies. I will talk to the vet tomorrow and go from there. Thanks also for informing me about the pens. I thought the Levemir came in cartridges just like Lantus does.
 
arniesdad said:
I thought the Levemir came in cartridges just like Lantus does.
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It does...I think they are saying it doesn't come in carts when ordered local in the states? I didn't know that either!

I get carts from the online place, or pens...whatever works.
 
Carts are not available in the states, only the flexpens (which I incorrectly called penfills, which is the name of the carts ohmygod_smile )

My first order was carts (from Canada), but my next two where flexpens and like them better. They are more protected and there is more to hold onto, but you use them the same as a cart.
 
fyi-i order my lev. from Hocks.com,no script needed,takes about 5-7 days.
i have an extra flex pen,3ml.thgat I can spare if you like, let me know i will ship it to you.
 
Marci and Buddy said:
ooops..i think i order the Lev from
global drugs direct 1-866-789-3784...sorry
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Nope, don't be sorry. That's why I asked. Global Drugs is Canadian, right? I just find it odd you didn't need a scrip is all. Canadian pharmacies were supposed to start requiring them either late last year or early this year.
 
hope not too soon, its so nice and easy not to have to deal with vets whnever i need insulin.thanks anyway for the heads up.
 
I personally think it is super great that your place doesn't slow you down with Rx requirements...those of that have been doing this for some time welcome any short cuts we can get, right?!

I just want to caution the newbie insulin administrator that blindly ordering insulin without a Vet first diagnosing your cat and prescribing insulin can be VERY DANGEROUS to your cat!

There are a smatering of illnesses that can replicate feline diabetes, and it is never wise to self diagnose a diabetic condition and then give insulin without first involving a licensed medical preofessional.

Not at ALL inferring that Marci would EVER condone or suggest anyone should do any of this- clearly that was not the intention of her post!

...just after reading the relaxed post between those of us that have done this for awhile, it occured to me that people we've never met and who never announce themselves are reading these posts, too and I just wanted to clarify that even though a Rx is not needed through this particular supplier, a person should still get a Vet involved to confirm the diabetic condition before just ordering and administering insulin.

;-)
 
YES YES absolutely....I only ordered it b/c the vet diagnosed him
and prescribed it in the first place...playing doctor may be fatal-insulin can kill if misused---thanks for that insight!
 
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