Lantus vs other insulins

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In the prison where I work, inmates are required to have their own bottles of Lantus (nurses still keep and administer it), but we use stock bottles for regular, 70/30, N, etc. I asked why and was told it was because Lantus requires a prescription and the others are over the counter. Is this true? Anyone can walk in off the street and buy regular insulin at a pharmacy? If not, what is the reasoning here? Thanks.

at least in the state i trained, 30+ years ago, regular was OTC, it was getting the needles that would present the problem...

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Specializes in Oncology.
My providers routinely write Rx for regular insulin, it may be an insurance coverage issue.

That it is- and convenience. Glucometer test strips are OTC, but you need a script for insurance to pay. It's also far more convenient to have your doctor send over the digital script then go through the pharmacy drive thru on your way home, then to go to the pharmacy, walk in, wait in line, ask for a vial, wait for the untrained tech to get the pharmacist, etc.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
at least in the state i trained, 30+ years ago, regular was OTC, it was getting the needles that would present the problem...
When my diabetic parents experienced a long stretch of time without insurance, they simply reused their SQ needles as much as possible. This is not ideal for reasons of which we're all aware, but the uninsured must do what they've gotta do.
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When my diabetic parents experienced a long stretch of time without insurance, they simply reused their SQ needles as much as possible. This is not ideal for reasons of which we're all aware, but the uninsured must do what they've gotta do.

it is entirely practical in the home setting. they actually studied it years ago.. don't really need the alcohol wipes either. keep the needles in the fridge with the insulin.

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.
Providers write scripts for regular insulin here, too. However, uninsured patients who lack access to a provider cannot obtain the Rx since paying full-price to see a doctor is expensive, so they've got to obtain their insulin somehow...OTC insulin comes to the rescue for these people.

They need to be frugal or well-off uninsured people, though, as a vial of humulin R runs about $130-160. Which is pretty cheap compared to Novolog, which ran me $230 the last time I had to buy a single vial without insurance (long story).

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Specializes in Oncology.
at least in the state i trained, 30+ years ago, regular was OTC, it was getting the needles that would present the problem...

In most states you can buy syringes OTC, too, albeit with quantity limits.

Insulin Syringes|DiabetesAsk a Pharmacist | Health Info | Walgreens

Since being on a pump I don't regularly keep syringes on hand, but have had to go buy them when I had problems with my pump. For something like $2 I was given 10 syringes and a brochure on how to find help getting off heroin.

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.
Since being on a pump I don't regularly keep syringes on hand, but have had to go buy them when I had problems with my pump. For something like $2 I was given 10 syringes and a brochure on how to find help getting off heroin.

Heroin and insulin do kind of sound the same. Maybe they thought you asked for 10 heroin syringes. Or did you swing by the pharmacy at the end of a shift that was a little too long? I've had shifts that left me looking strung out.

Target here requires a prescription to sell insulin syringes... so I just never buy them there (who has time for that?).

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Specializes in Oncology.
They need to be frugal or well-off uninsured people, though, as a vial of humulin R runs about $130-160. Which is pretty cheap compared to Novolog, which ran me $230 the last time I had to buy a single vial without insurance (long story).

Walmart sells Relion branded insulin in R, N, and 70/30 varieties for 25 a vial. It's made by Novolin.

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

I don't/didn't know the answer to the question, but am surprised to see some responders saying that you can buy (some?) insulins in some states w/o a prescription. I've given thousands of insulin shots, but am surprised re: the Rx angle because as we know, you don't want to mess around with BGC levels and insulins. People doing it at home should (in my opinion) have a prescription and be told exactly how/when to use it.

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

Why are suicidal people not buying insulin to kill themselves?

Uhhh....I may have been in psych too long...

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Why are suicidal people not buying insulin to kill themselves?
Perhaps because it is not widely known by the public that several types of insulin can be purchased without a prescription.
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Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.

According to these articles, you can buy insulin over-the-counter. BUT, they are the older insulins which work differently than the ones usually prescribed today. One of the article states to talk with your physician about which one you should purchase and how much to use should you find yourself in the position of needing to purchase OTC.

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