NOVO NON-DISPOSABLE PENS

[JackoBlaster]

I’ve been insulin-dependent since 1966 and have been using non-disposable insulin pens (NovoRapid and Levemir) for 12+ years.

Recently my NovoRapid Pen started to malfunction (after approximately seven years of use) and I requested from my GP’s Diabetes Practice Nurse a replacement pen. She issued a prescription for NovoRapid FlexTouch. Is the NovoRapid non-disposable pen now no longer available?

When I recently attended my pharmacy to collect a prescription for Levemir insulin (my Levemir non-disposable pen is still ok) I was amazed at what I was handed – five Innolet Levemir dispensers. My vision and finger dexterity are fine. Are there other reasons for being dispensed the Innolet?

 

[Northerner]

Hi JackoBlaster, welcome to the forum 🙂 It sounds to me like they've selected the wrong items when creating your prescription I use a Novopen Echo non-disposable pen, having got a new one just a couple of months ago. I've had problems in the past when I was on lantus - I needed a 1-unit pen, they gave me: first a 2 unit levemir pen, next a 1 unit levemir pen, and finally a 1-unit lantus pen! I had to keep going back and explaining which particular item I wanted from their list, so I suggest you do this - maybe get them to do it whilst you are there so you are sure they are getting the right ones (which is what I ended up doing! 🙄) The pharmacist has to give you whatever is on the prescription so it's the surgery making the mistakes.

Good luck! 🙂

 

[Robin]

I had a bit of a song and dance getting the correct pen out of my surgery. I wanted a half unit pen for my Novorapid, and the surgery kept sending the pharmacy a prescription for a whole unit one! I looked up the PIP code for them and everything, but their response was 'that's irrelevant, if it's not on our computer, we can't prescribe it!' In the end, the pharmacist said that he's allowed to substitute items if necessary, so he'd just substitute a half unit pen for the whole unit one on the prescription.

 

[Flutterby]

Hello and welcome, I have also been given the pack of innolet dispensers by mistake. It's happened a few times. I stand and check my script items before leaving the pharmacy now.

 

[DaveB]

Hi. I had a new half-unit Novo Pen two months ago with no problems. I've also always had the correct penfill cartridges. Sounds like your surgery/pharmacy aren't the best.

 

[Ljc]

Oh nooooo this horrid thing . I started out with one, well 5 really 😱 they’re fine if you need them but when you don’t ....

I hope you get it sorted soon.
I heartily recommend the Novo Echo pen . If all else fails try contacting
Novonordisk, they might send you a free one.

 

[trophywench]

After such mistakes - I always stand at the counter, open every bag and check every item before I move ! We have to go out of our way to go there in the first place (because it's attached to the surgery we use, and there aren't any more convenient pharmacies or GP surgeries) so a right ruddy PITA to go back.

 

[khskel]

Novo Pen echo is pretty good as far as I'm concerned. The memory function can be a reassurance at times.

Always best to check your bag of goodies before you leave the pharmacy. They had once made my order up and not stored the insulin in the fridge.

 

[Northerner]

Novo Pen echo is pretty good as far as I'm concerned. The memory function can be a reassurance at times.

Always best to check your bag of goodies before you leave the pharmacy. They had once made my order up and not stored the insulin in the fridge.

I've never understood why they seal the bags before handing them to you in the pharmacy, it should be standard practice to get you to check the contents (as well as checking that the correct items are on the prescription - not easy if you are using the system where the surgery automatically send the scripts to the pharmacy, and a reason why I quickly stopped using that service).