Insulin Prices Skyrocket, Putting Many Diabetics In A Bind
Insulin, a life-saving medication used to treat diabetes, was discovered nearly 100 years ago, yet the price of the drug has now spiked by 700 percent in just two decades. In early November, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, pointed out that certain insulins had risen from $21 a vial in 1996 to $255 a vial in 2016. Some have likened the insulin price boosts to the recent price hikes for EpiPen — the lifesaving medication needed when someone has a serious allergic reaction. Edith Prentiss, 64, of New York City, knows all too well what the rising cost of insulin means. She needs insulin to treat her diabetes and stay alive, yet living on a fixed income has forced her to make tough choices on which drug she can afford. "I have other medications I've been on for years, and as they became generic, they got cheaper. Insulin has never gotten any cheaper," she said. Others have taken notice of these increases too. In mid-November, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) issued a call for Congress to investigate insulin pricing and come up with solutions so that people with diabetes aren't facing financial hardship when purchasing the medication they need to stay alive. The ADA said that in many areas in Europe, insulin costs one-sixth of what it does in the United States. "Insulin is not a luxury," said Dr. Desmond Schatz, president of medicine and science for the ADA. "The current situation is unacceptable. We have to make sure there is access for everyone, and that's why we're calling on Congress to hold hearings to identify why there's been such a dramatic increase in insulin prices." Insulin is a naturally occurring hormone that's necessary for the body to use the sugars found in foods as fuel. People with Type 1 diabetes don't make enough insulin to surv Continue reading >>
How To Get Insulin At A Cheaper Price
Insulin can be expensive. If you’re one of the 6 million Americans with diabetes relying on this main-stay treatment, you could be paying out-of-pocket costs anywhere from $120 to $400 per month, according to a 2015 New England Journal of Medicine commentary. Drugs such as Lantus (insulin glargine) and Levemir (insulin detemir) have seen significant cost increases, according to a recent trend report by pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts. One reason for the high prices is the lack of generic options for insulin. So for now, you’re stuck having to search around to find affordable options. Where do you shop for more affordable insulin? For some people though, high drug costs can mean making difficult financial choices. Our national polls show people might cut back on groceries and paying bills to pay for their medications. To minimize your costs, consider these options: Prescription Assistance Programs If you don’t have health insurance or are without drug coverage, look into applying for a patient assistance program (PAP). Through the nonprofit NeedyMeds, you can find some programs that offer free or low-cost insulin as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. Those are usually based on your insurance status, income, and diagnosis. You might also qualify for a diagnosis-specific program that can help you save on syringes, pumps, and other diabetes supplies. Pharmacists are also a great resource and can help you find a PAP that meets your financial needs. Switch Drugs Another way to save is by asking your doctor whether there’s a lower-priced insulin that’s right for you. While “long-acting” is a more popular type of insulin, it's also more expensive, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it works better. “It’s mostly a marketing ploy,” says M Continue reading >>
(insulin Glargine Injection) 100 Units/ml
Do not take Lantus® during episodes of low blood sugar or if you are allergic to insulin or any of the inactive ingredients in Lantus®. Do not share needles, insulin pens, or syringes with others. Do NOT reuse needles. Before starting Lantus®, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you have liver or kidney problems, if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or if you are breast-feeding or planning to breast-feed. Heart failure can occur if you are taking insulin together with certain medicines called TZDs (thiazolidinediones), even if you have never had heart failure or other heart problems. If you already have heart failure, it may get worse while you take TZDs with Lantus®. Your treatment with TZDs and Lantus® may need to be changed or stopped by your doctor if you have new or worsening heart failure. Tell your doctor if you have any new or worsening symptoms of heart failure, including: Sudden weight gain Tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including OTC medicines, vitamins, and supplements, including herbal supplements. Lantus® should be taken once a day at the same time every day. Test your blood sugar levels while using insulin, such as Lantus®. Do not make any changes to your dose or type of insulin without talking to your healthcare provider. Any change of insulin should be made cautiously and only under medical supervision. Do NOT dilute or mix Lantus® with any other insulin or solution. It will not work as intended and you may lose blood sugar control, which could be serious. Lantus® must only be used if the solution is clear and colorless with no particles visible. Always make sure you have the correct insulin before each injection. While using Lantus®, do not drive or operate heavy machinery until Continue reading >>
Insulin Prices Skyrocketing
America’s getting plenty angry about the rising cost of insulin—and no wonder. Between 2002 and 2013, the average price for this life-saving, injectable drug used by nearly 10 million Americans with diabetes has tripled, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). “No one who relies on insulin should have to wonder if they’ll be able to afford it,” the ADA asserts in an online petition for its Stand Up for Affordable Insulin campaign.1 The ADA’s action doesn’t stand alone. In November, Vermont senator and former contender for the Democratic presidential nomination Bernie Sanders fired off a letter calling on the U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission asking for an investigation of pharmaceutical makers Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi for possibly colluding on insulin price increases.2 “Not only have these pharmaceutical companies raised insulin prices significantly—sometimes by double digits overnight—in many instances the prices have apparently increased in tandem,” noted the letter, co-signed by Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD). “We have…heard from our constituents that the life-saving insulin they need is increasingly unaffordable,” And in early January 2017, the New York law firm Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann sued Novo Nordisk on behalf of the Lehigh County (PA) Employees' Retirement System alleging the company “reported materially false and misleading earnings and forecasts” that were “inflated” by price fixing. That’s not all. In a rapidly-changing insulin market, the recent introduction in the U.S. of the generic “biosimilar insulin” called Basaglar, which won FDA approval in December 2015, has put a lower-priced type on the market. This development reportedly prompted two major manufactu Continue reading >>
How Do I Get Lantus Insulin Less Expensively?
November 2, 2013-- How do I get Lantus Insulin Less Expensively? DCIN receives this question a few times a week from US caregivers of diabetic cats. I am often amazed by the question because of the “good” insulins for diabetic cats, Lantus can be the least expensive per unit. The problem often lies in knowing how to find the insulin inexpensively. (The hints I give also apply to Levemir, another human insulin often used by diabetic cats.) Your vet gave you a prescription that probably read “U100 Glargine/Lantus 10ml vial.” Lantus is the brand name for the generic insulin Glargine. Lantus is an insulin for humans and is only available from a human pharmacy (although some vets do hold some in stock). The company Sanofi makes Lantus, and no other companies currently make a generic Glargine because Sanofi still has an international patent on the insulin. That may change in 2014, and by then Sanofi may have developed a “second-generation” Lantus that is patent protected. Lantus is a U100 insulin, which describes the concentration of the insulin in the liquid suspension. A 10ml vial is the insulin’s containment device. It is a small glass bottle with a rubber stopper at the end that you pierce with a syringe. At a US retail pharmacy, a 10ml vial of Lantus can cost about $180 to $200. WOWZA! That does seem cause for sticker shock. A 10ml vial of U100 insulin holds 1000 units of insulin. At $200/vial, that is a price of $.20/unit. If your cat gets 2 units of insulin twice a day, that is $.80/day for its insulin (if you could completely use a vial of Lantus insulin). It would cost less each day to give your cat its life-saving medicine that to buy a soda from a vending machine. However, the problem with buying Lantus in a 10ml vial is that, properly handled, Lantus Continue reading >>
How To Find A Lantus Coupon
It looks like this page may be out of date. Please visit NerdWallet’s health hub for our latest content. Diabetics don’t have much of a choice when it comes to taking their insulin, and the costs can be very high, so a Lantus coupon can be invaluable. Paired with diabetic supplies like syringes and blood glucose testing equipment, diabetes is an expensive disease. But with a little bit of information and some resourcefulness, you may be able to save on your monthly prescriptions. Lantus is a long-acting insulin made by Sanofi-Aventis and prescribed to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. Diabetics are unable to naturally produce or use insulin like most people, so they take injections of synthetic insulin to help regulate their blood sugar. Generic Lantus At this time, there is no generic form of Lantus available. However, that may soon change. The patents protecting Lantus from cheaper generic alternatives expired in February 2015, so less expensive forms of the drug may be coming. When this happens, opting for generic will likely be the best way to save on Lantus, and because of FDA requirements, you don’t have to worry about the generic version being less effective or less safe. Although some people avoid buying generics because they are afraid they won’t work as well as the name brands, those fears are largely unfounded. Lantus coupons from the manufacturer One carton of Lantus can cost close to $400 without insurance, according to GoodRx.com, though Lantus may very well be part of your insurance formulary. Currently, the maker of the drug offers a Lantus Savings Card. According to its website, the card can reduce your prescription cost to no more than $25. However, it also says there is a maximum benefit of $100 off each prescription for the duration of the pr Continue reading >>
A Cheaper Version Of The Lifesaving Diabetes Medication Just Launched In The Us
A Type 1 diabetes patient holds up bottles of insulin.Reuters/Lucy Nicholson A new form of insulin just hit American markets. It's called Basaglar, and it is 15% less than the list price of Lantus and Toujeo, two long-acting insulins made by Sanofi Aventis, 21% less than the list price of Levemir, and 28% less than Tresiba, two long-acting insulins made by Novo Nordisk. Basaglar was approved in December 2015, but had to wait a year before launching on Thursday. A spokeswoman for Eli Lilly, the company that makes Basaglar and other insulins, told Business Insider that the list price for a pack of 5 pens is $316.85 — that's before any discounts, or factoring in what insurance might cover. It is part of a group of medications called "follow-on biologics" and together, they are expected to save the US billions of dollars over the next decade. Why there's no generic form of insulin For people living with Type 1 diabetes and some who live with Type 2, injections of insulin — a hormone that helps people absorb and process the sugar in food — are a necessary part of daily life. And insulin, in one form or another, has been around since the 1920s. But because it's made of living cells, it’s what doctors call a biologic product, and it's more complicated and difficult to manufacture than the medicines most often produced generically. That's why Basaglar isn't considered a generic, it's called a "follow-on biologic." Others taking this approach have gotten approved as biosimilars, and like Basaglar have come in at a slight discount — roughly 15% — off the list price of the original drug. To become a follow-on biologic, Basaglar had to show that its version of the drug was "sufficiently similar to Lantus to scientifically justify reliance," and the drug had to be tested Continue reading >>
Rising Insulin Prices Have Diabetics Crying Foul
Insulin prices are only getting more painful. Drugmakers Eli Lilly (LLY) and Novo Nordisk recently boosted their insulin list prices by almost 8 percent each, adding to concerns that treating diabetes is unaffordable for some patients. The average price of insulin almost tripled between 2002 and 2013, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Even before the most recent price hike, some diabetics were cutting back or even going without the drug because of its expense. The price hikes come at a sensitive time for the drugmakers as Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and rival Sanofi-Aventis are facing a class-action lawsuit alleging they conspired to raise their prices in lockstep. Almost one in 10 Americans has diabetes, a group of conditions where the body fails to properly regulate blood sugar. People with Type 1 diabetes, often referred to as juvenile diabetes, need to take insulin daily to stay alive. "We were really disappointed in this announcement," said Dr. William Cefalu, the chief scientific, medical and mission officer for the ADA, who noted that his organization has partnerships for research with the drugmakers. "This is really going in the wrong direction." In early May, Eli Lilly raised its list price for Humalog by 7.8 percent, to $274.70, for a 10-milliliter bottle, while Novo Nordisk tacked on a 7.9 percent increase on its Novolog drug, to $275.58. "There's concern and anger in the diabetes community," said Allison Bailey, who has Type 1 diabetes and is a student at Iowa State University. She also volunteers with a diabetes advocacy group called T1International. She called the most recent price hike "a slap in the face." Such price hikes may be absorbed by diabetics' insurance plans, but other people may struggle if they lack insurance or have high-dedu Continue reading >>
Insulin Prices Have Skyrocketed, Putting Drug Makers On The Defensive
Here’s a sticking point for diabetics: the cost of insulin more than tripled — from $231 to $736 a year per patient — between 2002 and 2013, according to a new analysis. The increase reflected rising prices for a milliliter of insulin, which climbed 197 percent from $4.34 per to $12.92 during the same period. Meanwhile, the amount of money spent by each patient on other diabetes medications fell 16 percent, to $502 from $600, according to a research letter published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “Insulin is a life-saving medication,” said Dr. William Herman, a coauthor of the analysis and a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. “There are people with type 1 diabetes who will die without insulin. And while there have been incremental benefits in insulin products, prices have been rising. So there are people who can’t afford them. It’s a real problem.” The analysis also found that the cost of various widely used oral diabetes drugs either dropped in price or did not rise nearly as significantly as insulin. Metformin, for instance, which is available as a generic, fell to 31 cents in 2013 from $1.24 per tablet in 2002. And the newer class of diabetes drugs known as DPP-4 inhibitors rose 34 percent since becoming available in 2006. The researchers analyzed data from nearly 28,000 diabetes patients found in the Medical Expenditure Panel, a database on health care costs maintained by the US Department of Health and Human Services. About 1 in 4 people used insulin and two-thirds took a pill. Toward the end of the study period, a small percentage began taking new injectable medicines that are designed to complement pills. There have been previous efforts to track insulin pric Continue reading >>
Relion Insulin And Other Products At Walmart
Having diabetes can be very expensive, which is why the most recent announcement from Walmart will come as welcome news: In an effort to save people with diabetes up to $60 million a year, the retailer has just introduced the low-cost ReliOn Prime meter and test strips to its ReliOn family of products. The meter will cost $16.24, while the strips will cost $9 for a 50-count package, coming out to 18 cents a test. Additional ReliOn products, such as lancets, syringes, and gloves, will see price reductions, while insulin products will be offered at the price of $24.88 a bottle. “We’ve worked closely with our suppliers and found a way to significantly reduce the cost of diabetes products for all of our customers, whether they have insurance or not, so they can better manage their disease,” noted John Agwunobi, MD, president of Walmart US Health and Wellness. For more information, click here. This blog entry was written by Web Editor Diane Fennell. Continue reading >>
The Skyrocketing Price Of Diabetes Medications For Cats
Petful readers make great, well-informed pet caretakers. One way I know this is by the feedback I get from readers on my articles. For example, in July 2012, I wrote about feline diabetes and mentioned that one bottle of Lantus insulin — considered by many veterinarians to be the first insulin choice for diabetic cats — runs about $100. Well, an avid Petful reader wrote in to tell me he cannot find Lantus for under $185 a bottle for his diabetic kitty. He was correct. In the course of about a year and a half, the cost of Lantus has just about doubled! I had always advised my clients that Lantus was going to be expensive, but $20 a month is a lot different from $50. Clearly, I had some catching up to do. Like humans without very good prescription plans (me, for example), pet parents are at the mercy of greedy Big Pharma when it comes to filling human scripts such as insulin for their pets. Here are some simple facts about the cost of treating a feline diabetic today: Lantus (glargine) is, according to most specialists, the best choice for kitty diabetics. Newly diagnosed diabetic cats given Lantus as the first insulin have the best chance of remission. This means they may return to being a normal, non-diabetic cat. Lantus means easier control of diabetes, which translates to fewer trips to the vet, which translates to less money spent. Lantus is expensive, no matter how you cut it. The product will probably not be available as a generic for several more years. How Can I Get Lantus as Cheaply as Possible? A 10ml vial is good for at least 3 to 4 months, maybe longer if handled properly. Most cats require very little insulin, so some of the insulin will go to waste, even if it lasts for 6 months. Pharmacists may tell you that you can use the bottle only for one month. T Continue reading >>
Lantus Coupon
Use this FREE Lantus pharmacy coupon to get the lowest price on your pet's Lantus prescription. Our discount coupons are pre-activated and can be used at over 68,000 pharmacies nationwide to save up to 75% off your prescription medication. Print your coupon, it's pre-activated and ready for use. If you do not have a printer you can save or text the coupon to your phone. Present your pet drug coupon to the pharmacist when paying for your prescription. Lantus is the brand name for insulin glargine, an insulin analog made by Aventis. Lantus is a very long-acting insulin (lasting up to 24 hours in humans) that uses pH reactions to form micro-precipitates under the skin, which create a time-release action. Continue reading >>
Nogales Pharmacy Prices – Injectable Insulin
Nogales Pharmacy Information – Insulin Active ingredient: Insulin Other names: Humalog insulin lispro, Humulin, Lantus, Levimir insulin detemir, Novolin, Victoza Generic or Brand Name: Brand name Type of drug: Antidiabetic, insulin, hormone Used to treat: Type 1 and type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, conditions caused by high blood sugar (glusose) levels. Lowers blood glucose levels. U.S. Prescription Required? Yes Insulin can cause dangerously low blood sugar levels, so carefully follow your physician’s dosing instructions. Nogales Injectable Insulin Price Survey Date: April 2017 Sample pricing: Humalog insulin lispro U-100 KwikPen $23.21 Humalog insulin lispro injectable suspension (100units/mL in a 10mL vial) $43.06 Humalin 70/30 injectable suspension (100units/mL in a 10mL vial) $31.18 Levimir insulin detemir 300 unit FlexPen $26.61 Lantus insulin glargine injectable suspension (100units/mL in a 10mL vial) $77.37 Lantus insulin glargine 100units/mL SoloSTAR pen $23.05 Farmacias Buena Vida on Avenida Obregon All products are available in an injectable suspension – 100units/mL in a 10mL vial, which costs $50 USD Humulin insulin human (rDNA origin) Lantus insulin glargine Novolin man-made insulin (rDNA origin) Source: Farmacias San Jorge in Plaza Pesquiera and Farmacia Buena Vida on Avenida Obregon. This is a sample price only, to confirm that the medication is sold in Nogales, Mexico and to give a spot price. Prices and availability will vary depending on the Nogales pharmacy that offers the product for sale. Purchasing this medication in Mexico: Because this product is not controlled in Mexico but is a prescription drug in the U.S., purchase of the medication will not require a prescription from a federally registered Mexican physician, but a valid prescrip Continue reading >>
Lantus Prices, Coupons And Patient Assistance Programs
Lantus (insulin glargine) is a member of the insulin drug class and is commonly used for Diabetes - Type 1 and Diabetes - Type 2. Lantus Prices This Lantus price guide is based on using the Drugs.com discount card which is accepted at most U.S. pharmacies. The cost for Lantus subcutaneous solution (100 units/mL) is around $276 for a supply of 10 milliliters, depending on the pharmacy you visit. Prices are for cash paying customers only and are not valid with insurance plans. Lantus is available as a brand name drug only, a generic version is not yet available. For more information, read about generic Lantus availability. Subcutaneous Solution Important: When there is a range of pricing, consumers should normally expect to pay the lower price. However, due to stock shortages and other unknown variables we cannot provide any guarantee. Drugs.com Printable Discount Card Print Now The free Drugs.com Discount Card works like a coupon and can save you up to 80% or more off the cost of prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs and pet prescriptions. Please note: This is a drug discount program, not an insurance plan. Valid at all major chains including Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, Target, WalMart Pharmacy, Duane Reade and 63,000 pharmacies nationwide. Lantus Coupons and Rebates Lantus offers may be in the form of a printable coupon, rebate, savings card, trial offer, or free samples. Some offers may be printed right from a website, others require registration, completing a questionnaire, or obtaining a sample from the doctor's office. Sanofi Rx Savings Card for Lantus: Eligible patients may pay $0 copay on each of up to 12 prescriptions; for additional information contact the program at 800-981-2491. Applies to: Lantus SoloSTAR Pen Number of uses: 12 times Continue reading >>
Lantus Prices Squeeze Veterinarians And Owners Of Diabetic Cats
At more than $200 a 10-ml vial, the world’s most prescribed insulin is priced at or beyond the threshold of what many cat owners are able or willing to pay. Veterinarians are fielding complaints from clients, leaving some practitioners facing the delicate and time-consuming prospect of re-regulating their feline patients on other insulins. Dr. Michael Mihlfried, of Athol, Idaho, has prescribed Sanofi's Lantus (insulin glargine) for the past four years. Licensed for use in humans, a 10-ml vial of Lantus holds 1,000 units of the long-acting insulin. Many veterinarians say it can last a cat owner for months given that a moderate dosage is 2 to 3 units twice daily. “It’s the insulin I reach for when there's a diabetic cat,” Mihlfried said. “Most of my remissions have come by using Lantus. I have one particular owner who has told me he absolutely can’t afford to use it any longer. The cat is 18 years old. We’re going to try ProZinc." Manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim, ProZinc is one of a couple of insulins licensed in the United States for use in cats. It costs about $100 for a 10-ml vial containing 400 units. Vetsulin, manufactured by Merck Animal Health, is another veterinary-specific insulin. It costs around $40 for a 400-unit, 10-ml vial. How these products compare in price to Lantus can vary depending on the patient. Diabetic cats respond differently to treatments. Some veterinarians find that Lantus, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in humans, works best in their diabetic feline patients. “All of my diabetics are on it,” said Dr. William Folger, a board-certified feline specialist in Houston. “It was $82 a bottle when it came out, roughly a decade ago. Then it went to $116 and $128. Now it’s being sold at Walgreen Continue reading >>
