Libre 2 availability

[JohnS]

Has anyone else had problems getting their Libre 2’s?
I went to collect my normal 4 pack prescription yesterday and was told that because of supply problems they were only supplying one pack at a time. Just wondering if it has anything to do with the phasing out of Libre 2 and introduction of Libre 2+.

 

[Lucyr]

Everyone should be requesting to change over to 2+ anyway but no problems here other than the pharmacy keep giving me 2s instead of the 2+ I’m prescribed

 

[JohnS]

@Lucyr Yes, I agree, I have done that and was told in no uncertain terms that the 2+ had not been authorised by the local NHS authority so couldn’t be prescribed. I am sure rural East Sussex will catch up with the rest of the world eventually! I will message my hospital consultant.

 

[Robin]

@Lucyr Yes, I agree, I have done that and was told in no uncertain terms that the 2+ had not been authorised by the local NHS authority so couldn’t be prescribed. I am sure rural East Sussex will catch up with the rest of the world eventually! I will message my hospital consultant.

According to the Sussex Formulary, new people should be started on the Libre 2+ straight off, and current users should be swapped to the Libre 2+ at their next appointment. See here.

 

[rebrascora]

I will almost certainly remain on Libre 2 for several more months and not experiencing any problems with supply although I am only allocated 2 at a time ie a month's worth. I fully expect that I will be automatically transferred to Libre 2+ at some point. My latest 2 boxes said that the Libre 2 will be available until August this year and to scan the QR code on the box to upgrade to Libre 2+ .
I think it is more likely that your pharmacy is just low on stock and likely a warehouse ordering issue, rather than an issue at Abbott's end of things.

 

[Satan’s little helper]

Has anyone else had problems getting their Libre 2’s?
I went to collect my normal 4 pack prescription yesterday and was told that because of supply problems they were only supplying one pack at a time. Just wondering if it has anything to do with the phasing out of Libre 2 and introduction of Libre 2+.

I had a text from the surgery the other week. Notifying of changing to the 2 plus. I didn’t even ask for the plus. Put in my order. (Only get 2 at a time.) & had a text from chemist saying mine is ready for pick up, yesterday. (Only 48 hours completion.)

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I didn’t even ask for the plus.

I had the same a while back. I guess surgeries just have different IT systems and some can make this kind of change semi-automatically more easily than others.

 

[Satan’s little helper]

Everyone should be requesting to change over to 2+ anyway but no problems here other than the pharmacy keep giving me 2s instead of the 2+ I’m prescribed

Does that really matter? I can appreciate pharmacy protocol should give exactly what’s on the prescription when it comes to actual meds & or the delivery system. But it’s just a day’s discrepancy on the use of a Libre2 & the plus. It’s still said to work with the same app. I couldn’t pick my prescription up yesterday. My working day exceeded the opening time of the chemist. But it’s no big deal if they’ve bagged up the vanilla 2. 🙂

 

[Satan’s little helper]

I had the same a while back. I guess surgeries just have different IT systems and some can make this kind of change semi-automatically more easily than others.

lol, as I mentioned above. I’ve no issue if they run the “vanilla 2” stock down first in my area. I was quite happy with what I already had? Prefered it if the plus gave another 7 days, if anything. 😉

 

[mashedupmatt]

I've been on the Libre 2+ since it came out, in May/June last year if I remember rightly (after Abbott sent me a 2+ after a 2 failure, I asked the GP/DSN to change my prescription straight away and they did so immediately) - never had any problems with availability of these (and they gave me two Libre 2's at the same time too so I have these in reserve as well!) - I only get two at a time, not four, so well done for getting that prescription!

 

[Lucyr]

Does that really matter? I can appreciate pharmacy protocol should give exactly what’s on the prescription when it comes to actual meds & or the delivery system. But it’s just a day’s discrepancy on the use of a Libre2 & the plus. It’s still said to work with the same app. I couldn’t pick my prescription up yesterday. My working day exceeded the opening time of the chemist. But it’s no big deal if they’ve bagged up the vanilla 2. 🙂

Well it’s 2 days a month I have no option to wear a sensor when I get 2 instead of 2+ so it matters to me

 

[Satan’s little helper]

Well it’s 2 days a month I have no option to wear a sensor when I get 2 instead of 2+ so it matters to me

I get what I’m given, too. I had a challenge getting the 1st version. It was a surprise when I got the mark II. Providing any sort of funding lets me crack on uninterrupted, I’m thankful.

 

[Lucyr]

I get what I’m given, too. I had a challenge getting the 1st version. It was a surprise when I got the mark II. Providing any sort of funding lets me crack on uninterrupted, I’m thankful.

No need to lecture me about being thankful I paid for my own testing equipment for 15 years. Given my prescription is intended to provide full time coverage and was changed from being allowed to request after 28 days to 30 days on the basis that the 2+ lasts a day longer I’d rather just receive what I’m prescribed.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

lol, as I mentioned above. I’ve no issue if they run the “vanilla 2” stock down first in my area. I was quite happy with what I already had? Prefered it if the plus gave another 7 days, if anything. 😉

I don't care much either. It does feel like the 2+ doesn't have so much variation towards its last day or two, but that may just be chance and I didn't collect enough data on Libre 2 to be confident.

 

[Merluza]

My problems are the opposite of most people. I started out being prescribed 2 boxes at a time, this suddenly changed to 4 per prescription so when the time came I put in my order and when I went to the pharmacy I was given 8 boxes.

There's some confusion between my surgery and the pharmacy about what is a 2 monthly standard request and what needs to be requested by me as I need it. I've talked to both of them and got nowhere, the last time I collected a prescription they gave me 2 boxes of insulin I didn't want or need and 4 boxes of test strips I don't want. The 2 monthly collection of tablets is due soon and I know I'm going to have problems, the pharmacist is a sensitive soul and takes any questioning of what he does very badly.

I'm reaching the point where I can't find the storage space for the medication they give me so this has to stop, especially as I need to request the 2+ version and by then I could have a bigger stock of the 2s than Abbott. I now that many of you probably wish you had this problem but it's real for me and I find it somewhat bizarre.

 

[Satan’s little helper]

No need to lecture me about being thankful I paid for my own testing equipment for 15 years. Given my prescription is intended to provide full time coverage and was changed from being allowed to request after 28 days to 30 days on the basis that the 2+ lasts a day longer I’d rather just receive what I’m prescribed.

Not giving you a “lecture.” You clearly don’t need one. Your previous issue is not my problem. Your logic? To be blunt is flawed. To give you a friendly tip: no “nuance.” 15 year is nothing to the 45 years under my belt till a sensor happened. Best wishes.

I don't care much either. It does feel like the 2+ doesn't have so much variation towards its last day or two, but that may just be chance and I didn't collect enough data on Libre 2 to be confident.

It gets me through the day to day without looking less like “shot away” with a hypo I don’t want every one to be board with my diabetes. But at the same time? I don’t wish to go back to the days when it was assumed I was on illicit drugs when I was low & wrestling my way back up?

 

[Satan’s little helper]

My problems are the opposite of most people. I started out being prescribed 2 boxes at a time, this suddenly changed to 4 per prescription so when the time came I put in my order and when I went to the pharmacy I was given 8 boxes.

There's some confusion between my surgery and the pharmacy about what is a 2 monthly standard request and what needs to be requested by me as I need it. I've talked to both of them and got nowhere, the last time I collected a prescription they gave me 2 boxes of insulin I didn't want or need and 4 boxes of test strips I don't want. The 2 monthly collection of tablets is due soon and I know I'm going to have problems, the pharmacist is a sensitive soul and takes any questioning of what he does very badly.

I'm reaching the point where I can't find the storage space for the medication they give me so this has to stop, especially as I need to request the 2+ version and by then I could have a bigger stock of the 2s than Abbott. I now that many of you probably wish you had this problem but it's real for me and I find it somewhat bizarre.

My insulin can last me 3 months? My test strips 2 weeks. No-one questioned me on the orders. Apart from once. A locum rang me & couldn’t understand my insulin use. Yet my recent HbA1c was spot on. After I assured what my dosage actually was, she was satisfied. They don’t always issue straight monthly requirement on the prescription orders. Not in my case, anyways. I just order what I need in advance on when I need it. (Give or take some time if there is an issue.)

 

[SB2015]

There's some confusion between my surgery and the pharmacy about what is a 2 monthly standard request and what needs to be requested by me as I need it. I've talked to both of them and got nowhere, the last time I collected a prescription they gave me 2 boxes of insulin I didn't want or need and 4 boxes of test strips I don't want. The 2 monthly collection of tablets is due soon and I know I'm going to have problems, the pharmacist is a sensitive soul and takes any questioning of what he does very badly.

I used the automated reordering of prescriptions just once. It was chaos, and they aren’t able to cope where people only need some of what is on their repeats each month. I then ordered what I needed when I needed it.

For me this is easy now as I have the NHS app and just order through that, get a message when the pharmacy have received it, and another when it is ready to collect. No stockpiling, although I can relate to storage space needed for sensors/cannulas/cartridges as I get three months stuff at a time. Worth it though for me.

 

[Merluza]

I would prefer to just use the app. It would save everybody a lot of trouble and money. I have 3 boxes of keto strips that I don't want and will never use.

 

[rebrascora]

I would prefer to just use the app. It would save everybody a lot of trouble and money. I have 3 boxes of keto strips that I don't want and will never use.

Can you talk to your nurse about it or contact the practice manager and explain the problem. It is costing the practice/NHS, so they should be made aware of it. It is just ridiculous getting everything every 2 months. I would need to move house due to all the Sharpsafe boxes if it was me as I only need 1 every 3-4 years! Let alone extra cupboards for test strips and an extra fridge for insulin. The only regular on my monthly order is my 2 Libre sensors.