Switching from Novorapid to Trurapi

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Kel3 said:
Same! It does say to let my GP know if I use a pen with a memory function so am going to do that - not sure what they can do though.
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Hopefully keep you on Novorapid! Good luck!
 
rebrascora said:
You won't regret changing to reuseable pens.... at least not the Novopen Echo which is really nice quality and like @Robin I would be lost without the last dose feature as I inject so automatically.

@Kel3 I was under the impression that they couldn't change our brand of insulin without discussion/consultation because of slight variations in how some people respond. I have seen this money saving brand swapping with test strips and lancets but not with insulin as yet. I hope you get on well with the new insulin. I hadn't heard of Trurapi at all, so please let us know how you find it. Are you pumping or on MDI and if MDI and it is cartridges, you will need a new pen (plus a spare in case of breakage) to dispense it which rather takes some of the savings out of the swap I would have thought.... Reusable pens are not cheap.
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I haven't had any consultation at all, just a letter yesterday. I hadn't heard of it at all either. I am MDI and the letter does say I will be prescribed with 2 new pens and obviously the Trurapi cartridges. Hopefully I won't have any effects and it will work as well. I've only recently regained control, months after having Covid, so am quite concerned about this change.
 
Bruce Stephens said:
But returning to the original question. Personally I wouldn't be too worried by the switch: give it a go.

But certainly complain if it really isn't working as well as Novorapid for you (whether you think it's the insulin or the pens). I presume they're expecting most people to be OK (so they'll save a bit of money) but I'm sure they'll expect to have to keep some people on Novorapid.
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Thanks, I will give it a go and see what happens.
 
helli said:
I have no experience of Trurapi but have tried a few different fast acting insulins to see which suits me best over the last 3 or 4 years. My DSN is happy to give me a vial to try one out (with my pump). I do not need a consultation appointment - I just give it a go and feedback my experience.
If Trurapi is supposed to be biosimilar to NovoRapid, I would be happy to give it a go, keep an extra close eye on my levels (which is easy if you have a Libre) and report back if it doesn't suit.
If it worked the same for me, I would more than happy to help the cash-strapped NHS some money and wouldn't want to waste money just because it's different to what I have done in the past.
As it is, I use Fiasp now which has no biosimilar because the patent is still valid.
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I am happy to give it a go, and am all for saving the NHS money, but I do wish I had been consulted first. I have never tried any other fast acting so am concerned about it but willing to give it a go, who knows, it may even be better! I asked to be changed to Fiasp a couple of years ago and was told no because it would apparently cause more hypos!
 
Robin said:
I’d certainly resist a change, I just googled the Timesulin pen cap, which you can fit to some pens to tell you when you last injected, and they only do one for the disposable Sanofi pens. That would mean using a disposable pen, with all the extra plastic waste, AND the disposables only come in whole units, and I need a half unit pen (I used a Junior star when I was on Lantus). They also cost £20 online, and state that they only last one year. That would eat into any savings made by switching insulin.

It’s a biosimilar insulin that’s been brought out by Sanofi, to rival Novorapid (made by their rivals, NovoNordisk) and undercut the price.
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I definitely don't want to be using disposable pens.
 
Flower said:
Hi @Kel3

This is from Diabetes UK site on the use of biosimilar insulins

Key points​

  • The decision of which insulin is most appropriate should always be made jointly between the person with diabetes and their healthcare professional.
  • People who are already established on an insulin and well-controlled should continue with that treatment and not be made to change to a biosimilar
  • As with all insulins, biosimilar insulins should be prescribed by their trade name rather than the generic insulin name to ensure that the correct insulin is dispensed
  • If people with diabetes choose to switch to a biosimilar insulin, they should be encouraged and supported to monitor their blood glucose more closely to ensure that good control is achieved
This is the full page - https://www.diabetes.org.uk/profess...ing-management-monitoring/biosimilar-insulins

Click on the position statement in the link to read more.

If you are getting on well with Novorapid and do not want to change then you do not have to. Ask your GP to prescribe Novorapid by name rather than generic insulin aspart. I had a biosimilar to Humalog dispensed from the pharmacy without any discussion, I spoke to my DSN and was told not to change as I'd used Humalog for a long time and was used to its action and how my body reacted to it.
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Thank you, this is really helpful! My DSN, who was amazing, has recently left unfortunately. I will try to give the new DSN a call to discuss too.
 
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