Needle Manufacturing Issues?

[CivicFreak]

A week ago I requested a repeat prescription of insulin pen needles. Normally my pharmacy is pretty quick and has it sorted within a couple of days, but I heard nothing so I rang them today and they said they can't get hold of any due to manufacturing issues, so basically I am left trying to source an alternative. My doctors are going to prescribe an alternative and send the prescription across today.

Luckily I am one of those people that orders quite early, so I have enough needles to last me another couple of weeks but what really makes me angry is that Boots didn't think to let me know they couldn't get hold of the needles. But what if I only had a few days' worth left? I would then be at risk of running out thanks to Boots sitting on my prescription for a week and not contacting me.

This is actually quite concerning that there are manufacturing issues and therefore shortages of needles. Has anyone else had this problem?

The needles I use are Owen Mumford TriCare screw-on insulin pen needles, 4mm/32g so hopefully an alternative should be relatively easy to come by.

 

[DaveB]

Those needles you use seem a unusual brand? Most seem to use BD/Microfine and the ones I use and cheaper are GlucoRX. May be get your surgery to list one of the popular brands or just a generic '4mm/32g screw-on needle'?

 

[CivicFreak]

Those needles you use seem a unusual brand? Most seem to use BD/Microfine and the ones I use and cheaper are GlucoRX. May be get your surgery to list one of the popular brands or just a generic '4mm/32g screw-on needle'?

Thanks good to know - it was my DSN that prescribed the TriCare needles, but I have definitely heard of the BD and GlucoRx needles, so if I continue to have issues I'll ask them to switch my repeat over to one of those.

I did see a thread on another diabetes forum that there were supply issues back in June for the GlucoRx needles too, but it seemed like this was resolved relatively quickly.