Insulin must be prescribed by brand name only

[Amity Island]

Just came across this...some kind if incident happened (not sure what) and an alert sent out to pharmacists.

From memory, I've always had my prescriptions written for the pen/vial I was using as brand name. e,g at the moment Tresiba Degludec and Humalog.

Insulin biosimilar brand safety reminder

Reminder: Prescribe all insulins by brand Following an incident, please be reminded of the guidelines below regarding insulin prescriptions. A number of new insulins have been launched in the UK including biosimilar insulins e.g. insulin glargine (brands include Abasaglar®, Lantus®, Semglee®, Tou

www.warwickshirelpc.co.uk

 

[Sally71]

Whenever I collect my daughter's prescriptions they always show me the insulin and ask me if it is the correct one, is this why perhaps? Do they do that for everyone?

Shame they aren’t so fussy with everything else, more than once they have given me the wrong test strips, and once they gave my husband his regular pills in the wrong strength! They were most apologetic when I pointed out the error, and said there would be an investigation! So I usually check everything before I leave now anyway, just in case, then if I do have to give anything back they can use it for someone else.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Do they do that for everyone?

They always do for me.

 

[Robin]

My pharmacy always show me the insulin and ask if it’s what I was expecting. It’s always in a labelled clear plastic bag when they take it out of the fridge.

 

[Flower]

I had a mixture of insulin types given to me in a prescription last year, 1 vial of Humalog and 2 of Admelog which is the Lispro biosimilar to Humalog. I had no idea there was a biosimilar insulin for Humalog. When I questioned why I'd been given a different insulin the pharmacist said the two insulins were the same and interchangeable. My clinic told me they weren't identical and should not be interchanged and to stay on the insulin I was used to, my GP then named my insulin by brand. Up until recently there wasn't a biosimilar insulin to Humalog but now I am aware.

Sanofi Insulin Aspart is a biosimilar for Novorapid that has recently been approved in the EU.

It is very important to have the insulin you use named by brand on the prescription.

 

[trophywench]

Mine have always said what they were eg Insulin Aspart/Degludec etc followed by brand name eg Novorapid/Levemir etc.

I had no idea whatever there was a Sanofi biosimilar for Novorapid. I'm afraid my body (and my brain has been guided by that) has never yet got on at all well with insulins not manufactured by Novo Nordisk, whether Sanofi or Lilly. Call me a stick in the mud, but somehow after 48 years and age 70 - I wouldn't want to change, really thanks. It's OK at the mo, cos I use pumpcarts and as far as I know that means only Novorapid. However I'm toying with changing my pump so with refillable cartridges and therefore 10ml vials of insulin, I wouldn't put it past them trying to sneak in an alternative if it happens to save them a few pence.

Are there any other manufacturers than the 3 above?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

My clinic told me they weren't identical and should not be interchanged and to stay on the insulin I was used to, my GP then named my insulin by brand.

I remember that happening to you @Flower and how worrying it was for you