Insulin from Canadian pharmacies

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canadadrugsonline.com -- lantus: $119 for 5 cartridges

i use them and globaldrugsdirect but the latter raised their prices too high. both had great lantus--better than i got in the US for some reason. i think they all originate in germany but perhaps transport/wait time in US is too long or something.
 
Has anyone ordered from medisave.ca? That seems like a low price for lantus! Is it american or canadian prices? Also, does it include shipping, and do you need a prescription?
 
PeterDevonMocha said:
Has anyone ordered from medisave.ca? That seems like a low price for lantus! Is it american or canadian prices? Also, does it include shipping, and do you need a prescription?

I have never ordered from them, that I recall. That is a low price--$125 for 5 3ml Solostar pens. I called them. That is the current price, and shipping is $14. All prices US dollar. (Your credit card company may charge you a currency fee. I'm not sure why but it was an unpleasant surprise for me when I ordered in US dollars to a Canadian pharmacy and had to pay a currency fee.)

The woman I spoke to said the website is wrong in referring to Lantus as an OTC med. A prescription is required, she said.

Wow, look at their Levemir price. $115 for 5 Flexpens. I wish I had verified that price when I called. If true, that is something to snatch up. Doesn't make sense with the catridges being $170.
 
Venita
Keep in mind the exchange rates these days too. Yesterday the Canadian dollar surpassed the US Dollar. It has been hovering around par the last week.
As you know,you do not need a script to purchase Lantus or Lev here but maybe they are requiring on to ship to the US?
 
Randi & Max said:
Venita
Keep in mind the exchange rates these days too. Yesterday the Canadian dollar surpassed the US Dollar. It has been hovering around par the last week.
As you know,you do not need a script to purchase Lantus or Lev here but maybe they are requiring on to ship to the US?

The pricing on the site is in USD. Since 1/1/10, all Canadian pharmacies require a script to ship insulin to the US.
 
chriscleo said:
canadadrugsonline.com -- lantus: $119 for 5 cartridges

i use them and globaldrugsdirect but the latter raised their prices too high. both had great lantus--better than i got in the US for some reason. i think they all originate in germany but perhaps transport/wait time in US is too long or something.
I paid $57 + tax for ONE Lantus pen yesterday. (They didn't have cartridges.) But buying 5 at a time, would they KEEP??? I know they keep only 28 days once they are opened (though we can try longer), but it seems they wouldn't keep for months unopened either; sticking a sterile needle in can't make a huge difference... and using only 1/2 unit a day, Dr. Jen said one pen was 300 doses - that is, of course, if it will keep its strength that long.

Anyway, I just wonder if 5 would keep long enough to use them...if so, I will certainly get my next ones there.

Blessings!
 
Shirley and Ragnar said:
I paid $57 + tax for ONE Lantus pen yesterday. (They didn't have cartridges.) But buying 5 at a time, would they KEEP???

They are supposed to be good through the expiration date, which is usually into 2011 or 2012. You can call the Canadian pharmacy you want to order from and ask what expiration dates they are selling. You could consider splitting a box of 5 with someone else on the same insulin.
 
Shirley and Ragnar wrote:I paid $57 + tax for ONE Lantus pen yesterday. (They didn't have cartridges.) But buying 5 at a time, would they KEEP???

Sam's Club will sell single pens and will price match competitors prices. I purchased a single there for $38.02 which was 1/5th what Costco was charging for a box of 5. They just phoned and verified the price. I am not a member of either..but both will sell pharmacy to anyone. (w/ a prescription)
 
bettyandhank said:
Sam's Club will sell single pens and will price match competitors prices. I purchased a single there for $38.02 which was 1/5th what Costco was charging for a box of 5. They just phoned and verified the price. I am not a member of either..but both will sell pharmacy to anyone. (w/ a prescription)
That's the best deal I have seen! There isn't a Sam's Club in Valley City, but there is in Fargo, and I have friends who are members - and others who occasionally go to Fargo. I'm certainly getting my next pen from Sam's Club, and hope they will give me the same deal they gave you.

Blessings!
 
shirley

best way i can think of to keep them lasting is to buy a small fridge thermometer and make sure your fridge is at @40 degrees. i've only bought 5-packs of lantus (buncha cartridges and one set of 5 pens), and they've all lasted a long time.

initially i threw my lantus cartridges out at around a month but now i keep them to the last drop, which for me is about 9 or 10 weeks per cartridge. the only ones i had that went bad were from costco & walgreens near san francisco or were inherited from other cats. so far i swear by the canadian ones. they come in a styrofoam box with ice packs that have melted by the time i get them, and i put the cartridges in the fridge immediately. once i open one to use it, i leave it upright in an old pill container (those orangeish plastic ones) lined on the inside with bubble wrap so if they drop the impact is softer.

i've left my lantus out overnight and dropped it many times with no problem at all. only time i actually killed one of my cartridges myself i left it in front of a hot heating vent for hours so it was definitely my fault (high heat or freezing will kill it). after all the things i've done to it, i don't think lantus is fragile at all. cleo was on 0.75u BID for quite a while and those cartridges stayed good. (she's on a higher dose now and that's what lasts about 9-10 weeks.) normal shaking like it would get in transit has not affected the ones i got from canada. they're packaged very well.
 
Just checked pricing with 77canadapharmacy.com phone: 1-800-545-1106

I chatted with gal online whom emailed a comment in regards to comparing pricing to other online canada pharmacys: very competative pricing and fastest shipping time.
 
CANADADRUGCENTER.COM--FEEDBACK---

I finally received the LANTUS!-- It took 10 working days but I saved quite a bit of money so there it is.

*customer service online was prompt. There were times noone was online but once there was a customer service agent on line (I spoke to George) I always received fantastic service.
 
Venita and The Boyz said:
CanDrug.com

- Wow, seems VERY expensive for Lantus. . . . there is a 10ml vial available at the IDA pharmacy in BC, Canada for $70 plus taxes ($78 all in) - is that good? Is that the same product as you are referring to? - Chatcat24
 
Hi ChatCat,

These insulins are OTC in Canada, and cheaper than they are by prescription and mail order for US residents. Canadians get a break on the insulin costs.

The US pharmacies are even more for these insulin. For example, the retail cost of 5x3ml pens of Lantus and Levemir in US pharmacies runs about $215.
 
Shirley and Ragnar said:
bettyandhank said:
Sam's Club will sell single pens and will price match competitors prices. I purchased a single there for $38.02 which was 1/5th what Costco was charging for a box of 5. They just phoned and verified the price. I am not a member of either..but both will sell pharmacy to anyone. (w/ a prescription)
That's the best deal I have seen! There isn't a Sam's Club in Valley City, but there is in Fargo, and I have friends who are members - and others who occasionally go to Fargo. I'm certainly getting my next pen from Sam's Club, and hope they will give me the same deal they gave you.

Blessings!

I tried to find lantus insulin on Sam's club, Walmart and Target website but no luck. Do you have to get it at a brick and mortar store? Any other suggestions on where to get inexpensive lantus?

Thanks and happy New Year!

Randall
 
Randall said:
I tried to find lantus insulin on Sam's club, Walmart and Target website but no luck. Do you have to get it at a brick and mortar store? Any other suggestions on where to get inexpensive lantus?

Randall,

You would have to go to or call a brick and mortar pharmacy. The US pharmacies generally don't list prescription items on their websites.

Another possible sources of inexpensive Lantus is Craigslist. I don't know where you live, but (for example) here is a person in Dallas selling what I presume to be a box of 5 Lantus pens for $30. You need to be extra cautious buying from CL, asking questions about where the person got the insulin and how it has been handled, and hoping to find it in a factory sealed box and, if not, checking each pen to make sure it hasn't been tampered with. I have been able to successfully buy insulin inexpensively through CL. I have even posted on CL looking for insulin and diabetic supplies for free or inexpensively.
 
Thanks Venita,

Wonder if that offer from Dallas is still good; if you or others here haven't already rushed to take advantage! I live on east coast so transportation might be an issue. I did post and look on the CL in my area (near D.C.) but nothing so far. Probably a bad time of year to be looking for this.

Randall
 
Hi there,

Those who have received insulin from Canada before, can you let me know how they were shipped? How they were packaged, and which carrier was used? What was marked on the customs form? Just doing some research on shipping my extra Lantus to someone in the States.

Thanks!

Sophia
 
i JUST ordered Lantus insulin - 5 solostar pens - from 77canadapharmacy.com

I live in WA state.

I called the order in on Friday 1/21/11 in the evening on the phone. The lady on the phone was very helpful and said I DID NOT need a prescription.

The cost for the pens was 159.99...shipping was 15.00 so totall was $174.99

They arrived here on 1/29/11 - wrapped in a cooler pkg in a box. Wrapping on outside is Xpresspost. It came from Mannitoba,Canada The customs form says Personal Prescriptions with a value of 99.00.

The papers inside say that "effective OCTOBER 5/09 this item requires a prescription for orders placed from the US" .......hmmmm
ALSO - the receipt is definitely from www.77canadapharmacy.com - however - at the top it also says www.canamericaglobal.com - the other canadian pharmacy - w different phone numbers for both.

Hope this helps someone! :)

I just "chatted" with canamericaglobal and they say 5 pens thru them are 93.92 + shipping. Pens come from turkey. NO RX needed
 
NorthWestPharmacy.com has a box of Lantus SoloStar pens for $98.49. Shipping is $10. Here.

CanPharm.com is much more expensive--$261--here. But they have a 110% price guarantee if other pharmacies meet certain conditions (which NorthWest does) and CanPharm gives a credit of $10 for new prescriptions. $10 shipping for orders under $99.

Could be a deal if you want to put a little work into it.
 
I recently ordered a box of Lantus SoloStar pens from Pharmacy Rx World for $95, free shipping. http://www.pharmacyrxworld.com/
I ordered on a Thursday evening, faxed the script to them within an hour, then called to confirm they received the fax. They said they ship within 24-48 hours when I talked to them, but the website says they ship within 2 business days....they shipped on Monday morning. They said shipping takes 7-10 business days...it took 7 calendar days (5 business days) to get them. They were well packaged with ice packs that were melted but still cold in a styrofoam cooler. The expiration date on the pens is 05/2013. I'm pretty happy with the service! I'll provide feedback on how long the insulin lasts once opened when I start using them (soon).

Hope this helps!

ETA: I opened the first pen yesterday, 3/10. No change in Mr Tinkles' numbers, so the Lantus appears to be fine! I'll post results about how long the insulin maintains potency when I open the next pen.
 
Laurie, i too am looking for lantus at a better price. i went to the site you mentioned and found the price you had given. what i need to know, (i've only used vials so far), what is the difference between a lantus cartridge 100ui/ml,1x(5x3ml) for $115 and lantus solostar insulin prefilled syringes 100ui/ml 1x(5x3ml) for $95?
is the cartridge the same thing as a pen. please forgive my ignorance.
 
The cartridge and pen are different. However, both are used the same. You stick the needle of the insulin syringe in the rubber stopper and draw out the insulin does you need. The five pacs of each contain the same amount of insulin 15 ml (5X 3 ml). Therefore, the pens are a better buy.
 
thank you Larry for the info. What is different about them if they are both used the same way and why are 2 different kinds offered if they produce the same result?
 
One other thing, when i have found what i want to buy, do i just call my vet and give him the website where i want to order from and the item number? again sorry for the ignorance but i've always had prescription in hand.
 
Recently, I saw a note that the Opticlik was being discontinued. So Solastar will be the option available for Lantus cartridges.

Claudia
 
Yes. I just checked. The OptiClik pen and its cartridges have been discontinued. Thus, the only reliable source of 3 ml containers of Lantus are the disposable SoloStar Pens.
 
Sorry, I don't check this thread every day...thanks Larry and Claudia! :-D I would order pens, both because the cartridges are being discontinued, and because the pens are plastic...less risk of breaking if you drop them. I'm a clutz, I worry about that. :lol: The difference between the vial and the pens/cartridges has been explained already.

You need to order the insulin first....then you can fax or email the script to them, or have your vet call them or they will call your vet for you if you want. I would fax or email it myself, because then *I* have control over it getting done in a timely fashion...but that's just me. They will email instructions to you promptly when you order, including a form to use to send your script. Then give them a follow up phone call an hour or so after sending the script to confirm that they received it...that may speed up your order processing.
 
Re: Insulin from Canadian pharmacies - Best deal 4/11/11

pepperthecat1969 said:
For Lantus solostar pens, 3 ml, 100u/ml 5 x 3ml pens:
$95 Pharmacyrxworld.com $10 shipping charge, ship in 7-8 business days

They are $110 here for 5 pens but apparently there is no shipping charge. This is still the best deal - and they will call the doctor for a prescription at no charge.
 
I bought a box of 5x3ml pens from Canadadrugsonline for $128 plus $10 S&H. It took 16 days to get them.

They were shipped from Turkey. Came in a cooler, the ice packs were melted and the insulin box was hot. I hope it didn't spoil. I will call tomorrow and complain. :evil:
 
Caution: some "Canadian" insulin comes from Turkey

Natalia & Enana said:
I bought a box of 5x3ml pens from Canadadrugsonline for $128 plus $10 S&H. It took 16 days to get them.

They were shipped from Turkey. Came in a cooler, the ice packs were melted and the insulin box was hot. I hope it didn't spoil. I will call tomorrow and complain. :evil:
The insulin I had ordered from pharmacyrxworld.com would have come from Turkey, too. I became suspicious when I got an email saying it would be up to 21 days in transit, used their live chat, found this out in time to cancel the order about 15 minutes ago, and came to the Board to tell everyone. The friend who was going to split the box of 5 pens didn't want it either. In the unlikely event that Ragnar goes back on Lantus (he has been having wide swings, and Dr. is switching him to Prozinc), the friend will pick up hers and mine at Sam's Club in Fargo.

From the address on the website, it looks as if it would come from Winnipeg, very close to me since I live in ND. We should check out any Canadian pharmacy before ordering - it may not be Canadian after all.

I guess 5 pens for $110 was just too good to be true. :sad: (I only hope Sam's Club and our other U.S. pharmacies don't also get it warm from Turkey!!)
 
Shirley and Ragnar said:
Natalia & Enana said:
I bought a box of 5x3ml pens from Canadadrugsonline for $128 plus $10 S&H. It took 16 days to get them.

They were shipped from Turkey. Came in a cooler, the ice packs were melted and the insulin box was hot. I hope it didn't spoil. I will call tomorrow and complain. :evil:
The insulin I had ordered from pharmacyrxworld.com would have come from Turkey, too. I became suspicious when I got an email saying it would be up to 21 days in transit, used their live chat, found this out in time to cancel the order about 15 minutes ago, and came to the Board to tell everyone. The friend who was going to split the box of 5 pens didn't want it either. In the unlikely event that Ragnar goes back on Lantus (he has been having wide swings, and Dr. is switching him to Prozinc), the friend will pick up hers and mine at Sam's Club in Fargo.

From the address on the website, it looks as if it would come from Winnipeg, very close to me since I live in ND. We should check out any Canadian pharmacy before ordering - it may not be Canadian after all.

I guess 5 pens for $110 was just too good to be true. :sad: (I only hope Sam's Club and our other U.S. pharmacies don't also get it warm from Turkey!!)

I can't speak for the insulin from CanadaDrugsOnline, but I ordered from pharmacyrxworld, and my insulin originated from Turkey, but was shipped from Canada. The insulin is just fine, there is no problem with it. In fact, it is superior to the previous Lantus pens I had, which were US pens.

Just because it originates in Turkey, that does not mean that there is anything wrong with it. I used the first pen for 30 days with no sign of it losing potency...the only reason I opened a new pen is that Tinkles is doing very well and I didn't want to risk losing momentum.
 
Hi,

My name is Myrna and my cat, Sebastian, was diagnosed with diabetes a week ago. Could someone help me with understanding the nomenclature for the quantities? Sebastian is getting 2cc of Lantus twice a day (from Costco, a small vial was $120!). I am confused about - what are - "Pens,?" cartridges ?, ml vs cc, cc vs units, etc! etc! I'd like to order from Canada as soon as I understand the terminology. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
 
hi myrna - i'm going to give you the link to the info about lantus that addresses this question and probably more than everything else you want to know about lantus! but specifically, lantus comes in 2 ways now - a larger vial that lasts most cats for several months, or a set of 5 pens. the cartridges have been phased out in the US - i don't know if they're available elsewhere or not.

see if this helps. and if you want regular help with sebastian, many of us who use lantus post daily on the Lantus Insulin Support forum. It's complicated enough that it really helps to have someone experienced walk a new person through it.

you're welcome to post if you would like more help.

This page: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewforum.php?f=9 includes a lot of "starred stickies" with good information about all aspects of insulin, feline diabetes and this board.

Specifically this link is on getting started:

http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=18139
 
Hi Myrna,
Insulin is dosed in units not cc. Lantus is a U100 insulin, that means there are 100 units of insulin per cc (or ml, cc and ml are the same amount). The vial you bought has 10cc of insulin = 1000 units. Make sure that you are using the U100 syringes, U 100 syringes have orange caps. There are other are insulins that are U40 (40 units per cc) they have a red cap.

Pens are just a different packaging, ignore the cartridges, they have been discontinued. The purpose of the pens is for human diabetics to have a convenient way to carry their insulin with them. They are packaged in boxes of 5 pens each holding 3ml. For humans there is a disposable needle that screws on and the dose can be dialed in easily. Cats usually need fractions of units so we do not use the needles. We use the pens like small vials and draw the dose w/ a syringe. The advantage is in the shelf life. Once a container is first used the clock starts counting down. The mfg. recommends 28 days, but it may last longer. With the vial that is all your insulin at once and if you are using small doses you may end up throwing a lot away. Each pen is a separate container though and you have the 28 days or more for each of them. That's at least 140 days of insulin for about $200 as opposed to 28 days for $120.

Do come over to the Lantus forum, there are lots of informational posts on the top of the page to get you started. It is a much more active forum than the Supply closet and there is nearly always someone around to answer questions.
 
the lifespan of the lantus has just been revised and they're now saying that it can go for 6 months or more if you keep it refrigerated and don't let it get contaminated with anything, including the lubricant inside the syringes. so you never draw insulin into the syringe, then squirt any of it back into the vial or pen. one way trip out of the vial/pen only! :lol:
 
cinwillie said:
Hi,

My name is Myrna and my cat, Sebastian, was diagnosed with diabetes a week ago. Could someone help me with understanding the nomenclature for the quantities? Sebastian is getting 2cc of Lantus twice a day (from Costco, a small vial was $120!). I am confused about - what are - "Pens,?" cartridges ?, ml vs cc, cc vs units, etc! etc! I'd like to order from Canada as soon as I understand the terminology. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

1cc=mL

If you are using Lantus you need to use 3/10cc U-100 Syringes. Buy the ones that have 1/2 units.

1 vial has 100 units/10 ml so for every one ml there are 10 u. You usually inject very small number of units into your cat, so most of us buy pens for being more cost effective.

1 vial is about 130 dollars, but most of the time you wont have time to use the entire vial before it goes bad. (i used a vial for 3 months and I threw 1/2 of the bottle away)

1 pen is about 45 dollars. 1 pen has 3ml and it usually last 30 days, maybe more.

Here is a coupon for a pen https://mprsetrial.mckesson.com/lantus5 ... ponReq.jsp
 
Lantus is available in 2 containers -- a vial, which is what it sounds like you have -- that contains 10 ml of insulin. It also comes in Solostar pens. These are like mini-vials. Each pen contains 3 ml of insulin and they are packaged with 5 pens to a box. The pens tend to be more economical than the vials.
 
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I have just developed a listing of the Canadian Mail Order Pharmacies mention in this thread, and priced their Lantus and Levemir pens this morning.

The listing is here.

I will update that list on occasion, if someone else doesn't beat me to it.

I will go back and eliminate any posts in this thread that speak to price only.
 
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