Frustrating pharmacy visit - watch your pens!

[DeusXM]

So, because I am a hyper-cautious individual who is also forgetful, I try to make sure I always have two Novopen 4s- one for regular use, and a spare in case I lose/break/leave my other one somewhere.

The other week, I managed to stupidly leave my regular Novopen in work on a Friday - not a huge problem, as I have my spare one for the weekend. Unfortunately, it was during that weekend that I found my spare pen had an interesting problem. If you squeeze the trigger too fast, or if there's too much resistance as you inject, or if you're trying to inject anything less than 6u, the plunger screws up and seems to retract on itself. As you can imagine, this led to a weekend of never really knowing how much I'd injected and the consequential blood sugar all over the place.

So it was with some relief that I retrieved my pen on the Monday and thought "I'll be smarter. Maybe I should order a new Novopen as a backup so this doesn't happen again." My GP lets you order prescriptions online and as you type in 'Novopen', it comes up with a list of pens, including the 4 and the Echo. So I chose the 4, because that's what I've got.

You can imagine my frustration when, after handing in my script at the pharmacy, the chemist said "We can't give you this because it's discontinued. It's now been replaced with the Novopen 5."

"Ok, well obviously I want one of those then."

"I can't give you one of those."

"Why not?"

"Because this prescription is for a Novopen 4, not a Novopen 5."

"Yes, I get that. But if the 4 has been continued and replaced with the 5, then surely the obvious thing to do is give me the 5?"

"No, you'll need to speak to your GP and get another prescription."

"And bearing in mind this is for injecting insulin and I die without insulin, do you not think that maybe that might add something of an unnecessary and slightly fatal delay for the sake of there being a wrong number?"

"Your GP should have known not to write a script for the 4. You'll just have to come back with another prescription."

So I've now filed another prescription and had to fill in manually the option for a 5 since the system doesn't seem to have it on it. Let's see if I get this issued, eh? On the plus side, at least this validates my extravagant approach of having more than one pen. Imagine what would have happened if I was trying to replace the only pen I had?

 

[Robin]

Last time I needed a new novo pen, my GP ordered me the wrong one, ( I asked for a half unit one) and after my very helpful pharmacist had spoken to the surgery to get it corrected and still got an incorrect prescription, he said, don't worry, I'll just get you the right one, I'm allowed to substitute a prescription. So he got me the echo, (which I find useful because it tells you if you've injected) no problem and I didn't have to be involved at all.

When I needed a new Lantus pen recently, and decided I wanted a half unit one, I bypassed the surgery altogether and rang up Sanofi myself, and they sent me a Junior star free of charge.

 

[Amberzak]

That's outrageous.

 

[eggyg]

When Abbott stopped producing the 40k Creon they were replaced by the 10k ones by my pharmacy even though they do a 25k one. I asked the pharmacy if I could have the 25s as having just the 10s meant I was taking up to 20 at a time! Not pleasant. They said they couldn't as 40 wasn't divisable (sp?) by 25! So I would have to get my GP to change my prescription to the 25ks. Easier said than done, they did change it but not the amounts so I was short at the end of each month and the pharmacy wouldn't re order as it was too early! So I called again, explained it perfectly well (I thought) picked my Creon up and the dosage was still the same as was for the 40s! GRRR!!! Common sense, where are you?

 

[Amigo]

It's like a scene from Little Britain with David Walliams as the surly receptionist... 'The computer says No!' 🙄

It's one of the reasons I darent update my meter because it took 4 visits to the GP and surgery to get a meter and strips that matched up when I was diagnosed!

Common sense is in such short supply these days it seems.

 

[grovesy]

I suspect it is more down to inflexible systems!

 

[Northerner]

It took me 3 visits/prescriptions to get a single-unit Autopen - there are only 4 options and I'd specified EXACTLY the one I needed, even providing the PIP code. 😡 The last pen I ordered was a red Echo, they gave me a blue one. Clearly, issuing the appropriate, requested, insulin pens is a task beyond the wit of muggle-man 🙄

Out of interest, why didn't you get an Echo?

 

[mikeyB]

I suspect it is more down to inflexible systems!

No, its lack of common sense. Only dimwits follow inflexible systems.

 

[Robin]

No, its lack of common sense. Only dimwits follow inflexible systems.

I think my good experience with the local pharmacy has something to do with the fact that the regular pharmacist is an Aussie with a Can-Do attitude.

 

[Amigo]

My pharmacy is run by Asians who value the business. Even when my doc forgets to sign prescriptions (he's not good at multi-tasking), they send someone down to the surgery to get his signature to avoid inconveniencing me. I like that attitude 🙂

 

[Hazel]

I once picked up my Dad's meds and was transferring them to weekly pill boxes. I was nearing the end with only 8 weeks of diuretics to put in boxes - when I noticed the name was different, ok that can happen, but feeling uneasy, I read the leaflet. No they were not diuretics, they were anti psychotic pills.

Dad then 88, I doubt would have noticed, but what would they have done to him.

Obviously I complained. 2 people are supposed to check. Their excuse, they were next to each other in the drawer.

WTF.......

 

[DeusXM]

Out of interest, why didn't you get an Echo?

To be honest, it didn't even occur to me. I don't need half-unit dosing (I'm not that sensitive to insulin) and I don't really need the dosing memory feature (although the 5 does actually have this anyway).

 

[Rosiecarmel]

When I asked at the hospital if I could have a reusable pen, the diabetic nurse asked what colour I wanted then said to pick another colour because I should ideally have two pens.

I'm considering asking to change my basal to Lantus instead of Toujeo as they're exactly the same (1 unit Toujeo = 1 unit lantus. Toujeo is just more concentrated in case you need to inject large amounts which I don't anyway) but Toujeo is disposable only... And more expensive

 

[stephknits]

Same as Northerner, I ordered a back up blue echo for my NovoRapid, I have the red ones for my Levemir, and got another red one, so had to start again. Ho hum. I agree though, Deus, does show you the importance of having back up ready and waiting

 

[Copepod]

When I asked at the hospital if I could have a reusable pen, the diabetic nurse asked what colour I wanted then said to pick another colour because I should ideally have two pens.

I'm considering asking to change my basal to Lantus instead of Toujeo as they're exactly the same (1 unit Toujeo = 1 unit lantus. Toujeo is just more concentrated in case you need to inject large amounts which I don't anyway) but Toujeo is disposable only... And more expensive

In Jan 2016, I refused offer of changing from Humalin I to Toujeo - was willing to try until I asked consultant who suggested change if I could use existing pens, and he said it only came in disposable pens. I guessed it was more expensive, too. Very glad I refused, as it would mean far more bulk of insuoin kit for my 4 weeks mainly camping in southern Africa soon.

 

[Rosiecarmel]

In Jan 2016, I refused offer of changing from Humalin I to Toujeo - was willing to try until I asked consultant who suggested change if I could use existing pens, and he said it only came in disposable pens. I guessed it was more expensive, too. Very glad I refused, as it would mean far more bulk of insuoin kit for my 4 weeks mainly camping in southern Africa soon.

My DSN said Lantus is about £40 for 5 disposable pens whereas Toujeo is £35 for 3. Not much but it adds up

 

[Austin Mini]

I have three spare Huma pens. I kept the old 1987 pens when I was given the new style fountain pen looking model Huma Luxura pen when my DSN said they were so out of date. But they still work so I kept them safe and sound.

 

[trophywench]

I'm sure I read recently something which said that Toujeo is NOT the same strength as all the usual u100 insulins, so you can't just convert one to the other?

Are you positive? - I thought T was 300u/ml - hence why you can use less of it!

 

[Rosiecarmel]

My DSN explained it slightly different. She said 1 unit of Toujeo is 1 unit of lantus but a lot more concentrated. It's why I couldn't inject 26u lantus as it wouldn't be the same as Toujeo. It's the same strength but more concentrated so it's less liquid. One drop of lantus is three times bigger than one drop of Toujeo. It took me a while to get my head round it and maybe I don't actually get it all ha ha

 

[Rosiecarmel]

I've entirely confused myself trying to think of this. Either way, I don't need high strength lantus so could probably switch to the cheaper version