Where to buy Lantus

[Paige & Wesson]

My vet just called and has our script for Lantus. Where is the best place/pricing to get it filled? Vet recommended Costco or Walmart.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Have the pharmacist fill the subscription with the biosimilar Semglee instead. With your approval the pharmacist can make the substitution since about June of this year. Use GoodRx to fine the least expensive place. I use Semglee for my Wiggles.
https://www.goodrx.com/semglee

 

[Paige & Wesson]

Do most people here use Semglee? I have not heard of this before. Also, do I want a vial or a pen?

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Do most people here use Semglee? I have not heard of this before. Also, do I want a vial or a pen?

More people are using Semglee it works the sane way as Lantus but less expensive
Use the coupon that Larry gave you , tap on it and put in your location and the prices will come up


Costco and Walmart are in there plus other places,call then and make sure they have them
You want to buy the 5 pens, depending on the doses you start with they will last you about a year or longer
Keep them in the middle shelf of your fridge. They will all be good to use until the expiration dates on them
We use U-100 syringes with half unit markings because we increase or decrease by
0.25 units at a time. If you use the pen with the needle on it you can only shoot whole units which is not good.
If you need to know where to purchase the syringes let me know.
Keep asking questions , you have found an excellent place to join
You can read all about Semglee here , read all the yellow stickys
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/lantus-basaglar-glargine-and-levemir-detemir.9/

Semglee, it is a generic Lantus, and was approved by the FDA last June.

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

I have used both and currently using Semglee for Charlie. I have not noticed a difference between the two except that Semglee is much cheaper than Lantus

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Also, do I want a vial or a pen?

Get the pens since usually you can use up a while pen (300units/3ml before it loses effectiveness compare with the 1000 unit/10ml vial.
Also, vials are very hard to get and per unit vials are less expensive.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I think Larry may have meant that the pens are less expensive but a lot depends on a price comparison.

The generics/biosimilars for Lantus are relatively new on the market which is why you (or your vet) may not have heard of them. There are two biosimilars available in the US -- Semglee and Basaglar. Semglee is the least expensive.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I think Larry may have meant that the pens are less expensive but a lot depends on a price comparison.

On a per unit basis, vials are less expensive than pens ASSUMING you can use up a whole vial. However, with most diabetic cats, it is very likely that one would not come close to using up a vial before it loses effectiveness. I have used Levemir vials for my aerocar MurrFee since he would use 50 units a day.

 

[Susan & Andy]

I think most people here get their Lantus from Marks Marine Pharmacy in Canada. You can get five Solostar pens (a total of 1,500Units) shipped to you in an iced chest for $200. I've been getting Andy's insulin there since he was diagnosed in 2019. I like the Solostar pens over a vial because you only open one pen at a time..... a smaller amount than a vial. I like that the other pens stay untouched and perfectly sterile until I finish the one pen that's open. We still get the insulin syringes (from Walmart) and pull the insulin up from the pen. Essentially you are using the pen as a vial. Marks will need a prescription from your vet, but they have never asked me for a refill prescription. You can get the info you need from their website, or you can call them. I've talked to them before, they are really nice!
https://canshipmeds.com/

 

[Paige & Wesson]

Thanks for all the great information!