What To Know About Insulin Jet Injectors
Introduction Insulin jet injectors can allow people with diabetes to inject insulin without using a needle. However, many people shy away from these small devices because they can be expensive and complex to use. Read on to learn how they work and their pros and cons. Using a jet injector Insulin jet injectors typically contain three parts: the delivery device (shaped like a pen) a disposable injector nozzle a disposable insulin vial adapter The tiny opening at the end of the disposable injector nozzle usually measures less than 0.009 inches in diameter. This is the same measurement as the 32-gauge needle used in current insulin syringes. How you use it You load the pen by filling the insulin adapter with insulin. Once the device is loaded, you set the gauge to your prescribed insulin dose. Then, you place the device against your skin, typically in an area with some fatty tissue. A good spot could be your stomach, the front or side of your thigh, or the upper, outer section of your buttocks. When you press the button, the jet forces a high-pressure stream of insulin through the very tiny hole at the end of the disposable injector nozzle. The insulin turns into a vapor that passes through the outer layer of your skin. It then moves through the lower layers of your skin and into your bloodstream. How it works Insulin jet injectors use a compressed spring or a compressed gas cartridge to create the pressure to send the insulin through the pen into your skin. Compressed springs are used more often. They’re lightweight, small, durable, and inexpensive. Compressed gas cartridges typically contain either nitrogen or carbon dioxide. They can produce more pressure than compressed springs, but they cost quite a bit more, weigh more, and need to be replaced more often. Are there Continue reading >>
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority
F. NO. 8 (7)/2007/DP/NPPA-Div.II GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS NATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL PRICING AUTHORITY NEW DELHI, DATED THE 14/02/2007 ORDER In exercise of the powers, conferred by sub-paragraph (1)/(2)/(4) of paragraph 8 of the Drugs (Price Control) Order, 1995, read with No. S.O. 637(E) dated the 4th September, 1997 issued by the Government of India in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority hereby fixes/revises the prices as specified in column (5) of the Table hereto annexed as the retail price/revised retail price, exclusive of excise duty, sales taxes/VAT and local taxes, if any, in relation to each of the formulations specified in the corresponding entry in column (2) of the said Table with pack size specified in the corresponding entries in column (3) thereof; TABLE Sl. No. Name of the Formulation Pack Size Existing Retail Price (Rs.) Retail Price without Excise Duty, Sales Tax/VAT and Local Tax, if any (Rs.) 1 Monocomponent Insulin Humalog 100 IU/ml (Insulin Lispro ) Each ml of Insulin Lispro contains 100 IU (3.5mg) Insulin Lispro ( r- DNA origin) as active ingredient, Batch No. A263524, Qty.26770 cartridges 3ml Cartridge 419.25 414.46 2 Monocomponent Insulin Humalog Mix 50 - 100 IU/ml 50% Insulin Lispro and 50% Insulin Lispro Protamine suspension, r - DNA origin Batch No. - A257892 / Qty. 11,225 cartridges 3ml Cartridge 455.35 441.10 3 Monocomponent Insulin Huminsulin Regular 100 IU/ml (Insulin Human Injection) Batch No. - A257871 / Qty. 7500 Cartridge 3ml Cartridge 208.94 221.85 4 Monocomponent Insulin Humalog Pen 100 IU/ml (Insulin Lispro ) Each ml of Insulin Lispro contains : 100 IU (3.5mg) Insulin Lispro ( r- DNA origin) as active ingredient, Batch No. A253908, Qty. 9620 Disposa Continue reading >>
Insulin Pen
Two types of modern, pre-filled insulin syringes. An insulin pen is used to inject insulin for the treatment of diabetes. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It is composed of an insulin cartridge (integrated or bought separately) and a dial to measure the dose, and is used with disposable pen needles to deliver the dose. It was introduced and marketed as NovoPen by the Danish company Novo Nordisk in 1985. Types of pens[edit] A number of companies make insulin pens including Novo Nordisk, Aventis, Eli Lilly and Biocon. These companies produce pens for most of their insulins, including NovoLog/NovoRapid, Humalog, Levemir and Lantus. There are two pen systems: durable and prefilled: A durable pen uses a replaceable insulin cartridge. When the insulin cartridge is empty, the empty cartridge is disposed of and a new one is inserted in the pen. A prefilled pen is entirely disposable. The pen comes pre-filled with insulin, and when the insulin cartridge or reservoir is empty, the entire unit is discarded. Most brands of insulin are now available for use in pens, these include: NovoMix, NovoRapid and Levemir by Novo Nordisk Lantus and Apidra by Sanofi-Aventis Humulin and Humalog by Eli Lilly and Company INSUGEN and BASALOG by Biocon Global Patient Uptake[edit] Insulin pens are used by 95% of insulin-treated patients in Europe, Asia, Australia and Scandinavia with excellent results.[1] They are currently underutilized but growing in use in the United States. Insulin pens offer several significant advantages over insulin syringes: ease of handling, accuracy, and they are more discreet to use and easier to transport. To use an insulin pen[edit] How to prime an insulin pen. Screw or click on a new pen needle. If necessary, prime the pen to remove any air from the needle Continue reading >>
Incompatibility Of Insulin Pens And Cartridges
Sir Frits Holleman and colleagues' (Nov 29, p 1601)1 recommendation that insulin cartridges are safely inter-changeable between insulin injector systems is misguided and could lead to serious adverse incidents. The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has published a report dealing with insulin pens.2 Our experience is that generally insulin cartridges are not interchangeable, although there could be a few exceptions. However, drawing attention to these exceptions causes confusion among diabetic patients, which can result in accidents. Manufacturers may, without notice, change cartridge specifications without regard to compatibility with other manufacturers' devices. The internal diameter of Humulin (Eli Lilly) and Actrapid (Novo Nordisk) 1·5 mL cartridges are nominally the same (6·70 mm). Therefore, the doses given with a specific pen system with either cartridge would also be expected to be nominally the same. However, the inside diameter is not the only factor that determines cartridge interchange-ability. For instance, if a 1·5 mL Humalog (Eli Lilly) or Humulin, cartridge is inserted into a NovoPen I, the device cannot be assembled properly, because the Lilly cartridges are longer than Novo cartridges. This can lead to malfunction. The choice of pen is initially determined by the brand of insulin prescribed. However, difficulties might arise when an individual patient has a preference for a pen from a different manufacturer and attempts to use an incompatible pen/cartridge combination. For example, in August, 1997, our laboratory received a report of an incident in which a woman had lost control of her diabetes. A faulty device was suspected as the cause. Closer investigation revealed that the user had been modifying Lilly cartridges so that they cou Continue reading >>
Insulin Vials Vs. Insulin Cartridges: Further Cost Considerations
Go to: 1. Introduction Diabetes is difficult to control and treatment involves several approaches which are associated with different costs. In the Royal Medical Services (RMS), after diagnosis of the disease and by excluding the regular visits to the clinics, the core costs incurred by the RMS in diabetes treatment can be confined to the cost of medications dispensed to patients and hospitalization due to diabetes complications. Many patients need insulin in the regimen of diabetes treatment. For outpatients, insulin can be administered by two main approaches: traditional vials and cartridges. In the RMS, both approaches are available; however, it is believed that adopting one of these approaches could be more cost-effective from the RMS perspective. Both types of insulin packages contain 100 IU/ml of biphasic insulin aspart. The vial contains 10 ml (1000 IU), while the cartridge used to refill the pen contains 3 ml (300 IU). Although, it is assumed that both approaches produce the same pharmacological outcomes, the ease of use and patient adherence have been compared widely in the literature (Baser et al., 2010; Bohannon, 1999; Rakel, 2009). The comparison between these approaches strongly favors the use of cartridges due to many reasons, for example, pens provide more accurate dosing, less pain due to smaller needle gauge, increased social acceptability and better quality of life (Bohannon, 1999); moreover, patient adherence was improved by using pens without significant increase in the cost (Baser et al., 2010). A study conducted in Mayo Clinic found that converting patients to insulin pens provided an overall cost savings (Ward and Aton, 2011). Another study, in the USA, found that overall annual health care costs were significantly decreased by starting or convert Continue reading >>
What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Insulin Glargine (lantus, Lantus Opticlik Cartridge, Lantus Solostar Pen)?
A A A Medications and Drugs Brand Names: Lantus, Lantus OptiClik Cartridge, Lantus Solostar Pen Generic Name: insulin glargine (Pronunciation: IN su lin AS part, IN su lin AS part PRO ta meen) What is the most important information I should know about insulin glargine (Lantus, Lantus OptiClik Cartridge, Lantus Solostar Pen)? What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using insulin glargine (Lantus, Lantus OptiClik Cartridge, Lantus Solostar Pen)? What is insulin glargine (Lantus, Lantus OptiClik Cartridge, Lantus Solostar Pen)? Insulin glargine is a man-made form of a hormone that is produced in the body. It works by lowering levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Insulin glargine is a long-acting form of insulin that is slightly different from other forms of insulin that are not man-made. Insulin glargine is used to treat type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Insulin glargine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. What are the possible side effects of insulin glargine (Lantus, Lantus OptiClik Cartridge, Lantus Solostar Pen)? Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of insulin allergy: itching skin rash over the entire body, wheezing, trouble breathing, fast heart rate, sweating, or feeling like you might pass out. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is the most common side effect of insulin glargine. Symptoms include headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, tremors, irritability, trouble concentrating, rapid breathing, fast heartbeat, fainting, or seizure (severe hypoglycemia can be fatal). Carry hard candy or glucose tablets with you in case you have low blood sugar. Tell your doctor if you have itching, swelling, redness, or thickening of the skin where you inject insulin glargine. This is not a complete list of side effect Continue reading >>
The Insulin Pen Query: Which One Is Right For You?
3 0 Over the last decade or so, we’ve seen a tremendous growth in insulin pen usage compared to other insulin delivery devices. It’s no wonder, given that the pens are easier to use than traditional methods, and come with a whole range of benefits for people with diabetes. With that growth has come tremendous competition in the insulin pen market, with many different options and devices available for many different uses. We’re quickly getting to the point where no matter what your specific need may be, someone manufactures a pen to fit it precisely. In fact, usually it’s several someones, giving people with diabetes an unprecedented choice in insulin pen delivery mechanisms. So, which insulin pen should you use? While you should always make the final decision together with your diabetes care physician, it’s always good to start that discussion by looking at your options and doing some preliminary research. That’s the point of today’s blog post – getting you the information you need to have an informed and productive conversation with your doctor. You should not use this article to make up your mind; instead, use it to give you some starting points for a more in-depth conversation. Refillable vs. Prefilled One of the first things to consider is whether you’re looking for a refillable pen or a prefilled pen. A refillable pen uses cartridges that can, obviously, be refilled (either by replacing the cartridge or by filling the insulin cartridges). Prefilled pens come with sealed insulin compartments and need to be disposed of after using. Which one you pick is largely a matter of preference and availability. While refillable pens represent a larger initial cost (refillable pens tend to be significantly more expensive than prefilled ones), they are comparab Continue reading >>
How Much Do Diabetes Supplies/medications Cost In The U.s.?
While everyone’s diabetes treatment plan, medications, and technology may be different, there is one thing we can all agree on: diabetes is expensive. In two previous posts at The Perfect D, I gave some sense of what the bare minimum of care for a U.S. adult with Type 1 diabetes would be and also financial resources and programs to help with the financial burden of living with diabetes. However, this post is about how much it could cost an adult with Type 1 diabetes if they used the technology and medications that are currently out on the market (and thought of as “the latest and greatest”) and paid out of pocket with no insurance. Research on this topic has shown me that: 1) prices can fluctuate wildly, so it pays to shop around and 2) there is a very big gap (financially, medically, and technologically) between the bare minimum and “surviving” and actually utilizing the tools and latest technology that is out there. So, the hypothetical person for this exercise is a Type 1 adult in the United States who weighs 60kg, just like the other calculation post I did. Ground Rules These prices are accurate on the websites I have referenced for December 1, 2014. They may change, they may add shipping, they may not offer the services, technology, or drugs on their website after this is posted. These prices are not a guarantee. They are to be used as a reference. The listing of prices/websites on this post does not mean that I endorse the company or product or service. I have not listed all the products available on the market for people with Type 1 diabetes. I have listed major ones to give you an idea of major manufacturers’ costs for the products that are available for general public viewing. I did not call any companies and ask for pricing. Why? Because I believe Continue reading >>
Lilly Doubles Down On Insulin Plant, Expands Api Capacity
Lilly doubles down on insulin plant, expands API capacity Eli Lilly ($LLY) has a slate of insulin products under development that it hopes will rejuvenate its fortunes. But it also gets 15% of its revenues from existing insulin products, which may come under price pressures as biosimilars hit the market. So just 5 months after kicking off construction of a new insulin cartridge plant, the company has decided to more than double its investment in the project and expand its API capacity as it prepares for the future and looks to scratch out lower costs. Lilly today said it will bump its initial $140 million investment to $320 million and add another 84,000 square feet of space to the new Indianapolis facility it started in November. It initially planned an 80,000-square-foot, single-line plant where it would make insulin and fill cartridges for pens. Now it will have two lines with the first expected to open in 2016 and the second in 2017.Lilly also said it will put about $40 million into expanding capacity at a nearby API plant so it will be able to increase insulin production without having the expense of a new plant. This is Lilly's first insulin cartridge plant in the U.S. It has plants that fill pens in Italy and France. Lilly's president of global manufacturing, Maria Crowe, tells the Indianapolis Star that its goal is to use common manufacturing platforms where possible but the Indianapolis plant will employ some new technology not used in the European operations. "We hope it's faster and we get a bit more output from it," she said. Besides its current insulin products, Lilly has a slate of four diabetes products in development that are showing positive results. But experts say that price pressures from biosimilars will force companies to find manufacturing effici Continue reading >>
Eli Lilly Announces New Program To Lower Cost Of Lilly Insulin
Eli Lilly announces new program to lower cost of Lilly insulin Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) FILE - This Tuesday, July 17, 2012, photo shows the Eli Lilly corporate headquarters in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) Eli Lilly announced on Tuesday that people who use Lilly insulin will be able to purchase the discounted prices starting Jan. 1, 2017 through mobile and web platforms hosted by Blink Health. According to a release from Eli Lilly, the discounts are made possible by Lilly through a partnership with Express Scripts (NASDAQ: ESRX). The partnership may decrease the cost for people who pay full retail prices at the pharmacy, those who have no insurance or are in in the high-deductible part of their insurance plans. Blink Health platforms may help people who pay full price for most Lilly insulin save 40 percent. We understand the burden people face when paying full price for insulin, said Mike Mason, vice president, Lilly Diabetes. This platform will effectively allow Lilly to lower our insulin retail prices for users of this platform while not affecting the reimbursement system for other people living with diabetes. Enrique Conterno, president of Lilly Diabetes announced Tuesday their actions will hopefully lead others in the health care system to drive additional change to those who use insulin. The health care system is incredibly complex, and we hope this program is a first step that will drive more thinking and innovative solutions for people with diabetes, Conterno said. A more extensive solution will require leadership and cooperation across many stakeholders, including manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, insurers and patients. Were committed to seeking additional solutions so that everyone who uses insulin Continue reading >>
Buy Humalog Cartridges Online
Humalog Cartridges (Insulin Lispro) 5 x 3 mL Pack QTY TYPE PRICE PER UNIT COST 1 5 X 3ML PK $127.52 $127.52 2 5 X 3ML PK $216.72 $108.36 3 5 X 3ML PK $305.94 $101.98 4 5 X 3ML PK $395.12 $98.78 5 5 X 3ML PK $484.30 $96.86 6 5 X 3ML PK $573.48 $95.58 VIEW ALL INSULIN PRODUCTS PLACE A NEW INSULIN ORDER What are Humalog Cartridges? Humalog cartridges are filled with Insulin Lispro which is a fast acting man-made insulin. Insulin analogs are man-made used for the treatment of diabetes. Insulin Lispro is a fast acting insulin which is sometimes called a mealtime, or bolus insulin. This is because it is designed for use just prior to eating a meal to help prevent the fluctuations in your blood sugar levels that occur during and after a meal. Compared to naturally occurring human insulin, Insulin Lispro has a shorter onset of action so you have a shorter waiting period after injection before starting your meal. How does it work? Humalog Insulin Lispro is a man-made fast-acting insulin analog created using genetic engineering. It is very similar in structure to naturally occurring human insulin. The minor modifications in structure give Insulin Lispro a rapid absorption and shorter delay of onset compared to naturally occurring insulin. It starts to work about 15 minutes after subcutaneous (under the skin) injection, achieving peak blood levels 30-70 minutes after, and lasts about two to five hours. It should be taken 15 minutes before your meal and, if necessary may be taken right after a meal within 20 minutes of the beginning of the meal). Insulin Lispro’s mode of action is very similar to that of naturally occurring insulin. It is a hormone that controls your blood sugar levels by regulating the breakdown of food (sugars, fats and proteins) and promotes the absorption of Continue reading >>
(pdf) Insulin Vials Vs. Insulin Cartridges: Further Cost Considerations
Abstract Scope: Many studies have provided evidence that favor the use of insulin pens over tra- ditional insulin vials due to lower overall costs. The cost of insulin in the Royal Medical Services in Jordan is subject to other considerations due to the favorable tender prices and the process of dis- pensing of insulin within the Royal Medical Services. Objective: To highlight further cost considerations associated with the wastage in the use of insu- lin vials and cartridges in the Jordanian Royal Medical Services. Methods: Two random samples were selected from prescriptions dispensed for diabetic patients using insulin in January 2012 from the outpatient pharmacy in Al-Hussein Hospital, King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan. First sample was selected from prescriptions of patients using vials; second sample was selected from prescriptions of patients using pens and cartridges. Average costs for insulin and wastage were calculated per patient from the Royal Medical Services perspective. Results: The average direct cost per patient using vials was JD 5.197 and for those using cartridges was JD 22.135. The average wasted quantity per patient in the rst sample was more than ten times that of the second sample. The cost of the average wasted quantity per patient in the rst sample (1.022 JD) was more than the double that in the second sample (0.441 JD). Conclusion: Although, the direct cost of insulin per patient by using vials was lower than car- tridges, there was a substantial reduction in the cost of wastage by using the cartridges in the Jorda- 2012 King Saud University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Diabetes is difcult to control and treatment involves several approaches which are associated with different costs. In the Royal Medic Continue reading >>
How Long Should Insulin Be Used Once A Vial Is Started?
Editor’s comment: The commentary by Dr. Grajower has such important clinical relevance that responses were invited from the three pharmaceutical companies that supply insulin in the U.S. and the American Diabetes Association, and all of these combined in this commentary. The commenting letter and individual responses were authored separately and are completely independent of each other. Diabetic patients treated with insulin, whether for type 1 or type 2 diabetes, are prone to often unexplained swings in their blood glucose. These swings can vary from dangerously low to persistently high levels. Most diabetic patients, and most physicians, will adjust insulin regimens so as to avoid hypoglycemia at the expense of hyperglycemia. Among the “textbook” reasons for variable glucose responses to any given insulin regimen are 1) site of administration, 2) exercise, 3) bottles not adequately mixed before drawing the insulin (for NPH, Lente, or Ultralente), and 4) duration of treatment with insulin (1). A new insulin was marketed by Aventis Pharmaceuticals about 1 year ago, insulin glargine (Lantus). The manufacturer seemed to stress that patients not use a started bottle of this insulin for >28 days (2). Two patients of mine highlighted this point. L.K. is a 76-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes, diagnosed at 55 years of age, and treated with insulin since age 56. Her insulin regimen was changed to Lantus at night together with Novolog before meals. She monitors her blood glucose four times a day. She used a bottle of Lantus until it ran out; therefore, a bottle lasted for 2 months. Her recent HbA1c was 7.6%. I retrospectively analyzed her home glucose readings by averaging her fasting blood glucose levels for the first 15 days of a new bottle and the last 15 days of tha Continue reading >>
Grudge Match: Pens Vs. Syringes
Taking insulin is a cornerstone of care for millions who have diabetes, and the most common method of insulin delivery in the U.S. is injection via needle and syringe. Roughly 20% of insulin users wear an insulin pump, 15% use insulin pens, and less than 1% use jet injectors. Insulin pumps can be expensive, with the average price hovering around $6,500, not including the disposable supplies that have to be replenished regularly, such as infusion sets, cartridges, and batteries. Although jet injectors may seem like a dream come true for patients who fear needles, they have been known to cause bruising and more pain than injections. The big question is why insulin pens are not more popular in the U.S., whereas in Europe and Japan, they comprise from 66% to 75% of insulin prescriptions. It’s not for lack of patient appreciation: In the November 2011 issue of the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, a review of 43 studies that compared patient- reported outcomes for insulin pen devices found that patients preferred pens over vial and syringe for myriad reasons, including ease of use, less pain, and greater perceived social acceptance. Indeed, patients are generally receptive to pen use — if their physicians bring it up. A study published in the March 2008 issue of Diabetes Care found that physician encouragement had a tremendous impact on pen use: Patients whose physicians discussed insulin pens were 100 times more likely to use an insulin pen than those whose physicians did not discuss pen use or who discouraged pen use. One reason pens have not caught on here may be payer reimbursement, says Maria J. Redondo, MD, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and co-author of the 43-study review. “Pens are more expensive Continue reading >>
Basaglar Comes In Pens And Cartridges: A Surprise
Basaglar comes in pens AND cartridges: a surprise We started on Basaglar at the beginning of the year when our insurance transitioned from Lantus. The prescription specified pre-filled, throwaway Basaglar Kwikpens . After reading the Canada insulin comparative price thread , I went on Marks Marine Pharmacy site , and checked the Basaglar listing. I noticed that they offer, for the same price ($125/5), both a cartridge and a Kwikpen version. I prefer cartridges, so I was curious about what pen the Basaglar cartridges use. I only found one document on the web that references it: the Canadian Basaglar product monograph . The pens are: Since this is a Canadian document, I am wondering if I can get the cartridges in the US. Ill find out Monday. Edit: It may be that cartridges are only available in Canada. My mail order pharmacy does not have them in its database. How has the experience switching from Lantus to basaglar been otherwise? Side story am very curious because when I was much younger I did a school project on brand power and consumer behavior and was shocked to see the result that in that particular case most people preferred to continue buying the brand name item at the higher cost (in this case ziplock bags) even after it had been literally proven (by me) before their very eyes that they were inferior to the less expensive generic Ive been amazed by the power of brand names on peoples perceptions of quality and performance ever since Of course insulin is much more complicated than a ziplock bag, but Im curious to see more reports coming on about badaglar Continue reading >>
