Vetsulin Product Alert Review

xpost from health:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2172&p=19816#p19816

 

Thanks Cheryl,

I've watched it.

My understanduing of it is from their limited studies they are sayig the only possible error is that the onset, peak could be later and a longer duration.(suppose would give you low/high bg's at different times to what you would expect?)
The warning pertains to all unexpired serials of vetsulin currently in the field (no specific batch number)

The insulin is checked against a specification number (standard PH etc).At first production the insulin passed all of these. Then intermittent tests are done across the 24 month shelf life (stored at 2-8 degrees celsius).
At these subsequent checks the insulin is out of specification in respect of the long term stability of crystalline-thus could expect delay in onset, peak and duration (they further state that such occurences have NOT been documented)

Guess what!!! Limited studies
Undertaken on healthy dogs! creating curves you would normally see in diabetic animals.

 

yes this is disappointing at best

Another good reason to switch that insulin now though and if they are telling vets to not prescribe vetsulin at the moment, it will strengthen their understanding of how and why the LLs are a better choice for cats.

Sigh,there is still much work to do.

 

I really didn't get it at all.

Yesterday I informed my vet, send them an e-mail with the links to the FDA recall and the website of the producer of vetsulin where they encourage vet's to put their patients on another insulin.
Guess what? They didn't know anything about it. Haven't been informed at all on this issue.
And still.. it took me a lot of convincing to get them to order me some Lantus. Whaaaa....
(No we can't get it for you. Caninsulin is the only insulin we prescribe, there are rules we have to follow, you have to go to a specialist, we have no experience (aha... so _that's_ it), only at your own risk bla bla bla).

 

They can write a script for you.

Have a peek in Lantus ISg, I've just posted to Anne and Tess as she's looking at swapping too.
She's looking at ordering on line. You want the carts for the pens-Squeem has posted the pics.

Maybe ask in Community if anyone knows a vet in your area? Get looking? Or ask your vet if he/she will work with you on using it?
You need a vet for other issues that may arise with FD kitties and any hypo incidents etc, you can't do it all on your own.

We are all here to help you in anyway we can :mrgreen:

 

For now I try to educate my own vet. See how far we can come together. :lol:

 

And no, they didn't want to write the script. They say they aren't aloud cause there is something else registered as an animal insulin (caninsulin) and as long as that is a possibility they can't prescribe something else (Lantus which is a human insulin).

 

Boy oh Boy-how long has your vet been a vet?!!!!

Vetsulin and Caninsulin are the same insulin!!!!

Vetsulin in USA -Approved March 2008, launched June 2008
Caninsulin (just a different trademark name) was released in Europe as long ago as 1992/93

Verra worried about your vets credibility now!!

I'd suggest they watch the video from the company-says all this.

Can you not find another vet who will write the script?
This is exactly what happened to us. I managed to get help off army vet who wrote script for Levemir and then just got it from the pharmacy. After that it was pretty much what I learned here and on my own research.

 

They've called the distributor to find out whether vetsulin is a brother/sister of caninsulin. :lol:
I don't know. I think they are, well, easy going. You know, here in the Netherlands caninsulin is the number 1 product for feline. And so far it obviously worked well for every patient they treated (or the cats weren't home monitored so that nobody truly knows how those cat's were/are doing). So why look for anything else or get more info? That's not necessary is it??
Pffffff....
I am curious how they going to manage me on Lantus (or am I going to manage them?).
Somebody gave me the address of another vet that seems to be good. I'll keep it in mind.

 

If it wasn't serious I'd be laughing for a long while yet :roll:

If they don't believe in home monitoring then no they probably haven't noticed anything wrong. You could always slip in that if you get highs and lows you'l know it is because of the insulin, and because they were continuing to prescribe, they did so knowing that the company had said not to.Thus obviously making them liable. :shock:


I think it sounds like it would be a case of learning together, if they are willing. Loads of stuff you can print off/refer them to. If they want to learn.


Someone said you were in Germany, close I guess I am coming there at some point and going to Amsterdam! Been saying it for the last 3 years.

 

Well Kate, I'll be seeing you soon then here in the wonderful Amsterdam. :smile:
I was born and raised in East Germany. That's all true.

The vet called today with the company that sells the stuff here. Seems the European caninsulin has nothing to do with the American vetsulin in a sense that the US has different batches than Europe. And the Europe batches are not the ones that are messed up. I don't know. I'm more interested in how the relationship with my vet continues.
And the whole liability is here not an issue. Nobody ever sues anyone else. Not for that kind of stuff.
Well, I send a bunch of links to different Lantus info. I guess I will find out what she did with it as things go on.

 

Man I'm befuddled!!!

The only thing I can suggest is that you contact the company.
Also if you want to push for Lantus that you would have no hesitation in taking litigation out on anyone who knowingly caused harm to your cat.
If you watch the presentation they actually say there is no specific batch number-it is the specifications (one of) of the insulin after manufacture (but within the 2 year shelf life) that there is a problem with.

With my scientific background that suggests to me there is no difference.

Out of interest they transferred manufacturing from the Nederlands to Bovari in recent years!
Not sure if that means it's produced in Europe and shipped to USA-if it is, well you can see what I'm getting at.

Amsterdam is a big place but I'm sure I can raise a glas to you ;-)

ps-there is a number given at the end of the presentation that I think you can ring-technical services dept: 1-800-224-5318 (afraid it means nothing to me in terms of what code you need) You may be able to e-mail too?

 

I think I'm going to mail them. It's too weird. And of course the vet is trusting the wholesaler. I'm not sure I have to give the link for the presentation to the vet. I don't know whether she would do anything with it. I guess I'm going to tackle this technical service guy's.

 

Good for you.

Tad confused though aren't you now using Lantus and having kittens right now? (hope that isn't a bad joke trying to give you a moment of reprieve)
Btw I'm on your time so will definitely be around in the morning (say what time you shoot on your LL thread)

 

Yeah.. this evening was the first Lantus shot. :smile:
I have to move... :lol:
Her next shot @ 7am..
I'm testing around 6:45 am.
Then, immediately after that, I will post the ps in Lantus ISG.