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Canadian Mail Order Insulin?

16K views 25 replies 12 participants last post by  j2048b 
#1 ·
Since I don't have insurance that cover drugs, I need to pay for insulin on my own. I actually have been receiving Humalog samples from my Dr, but he does not get samples of the very long-acting type, such as Lantus.

While I could switch to NPH insulin, I have gastrointestinal issues which cause me to avoid eating sometimes. The typical NPH twice-a-day dosing normally needs a noon and bedtime snack, which I can't depend on. I might go to a 3x/day dosing, but before I do that, I have been seeking a cheaper source of Lantus, or an equivalent.

As many have noted, the cost of the long-acting insulins in the U.S. is skyrocketing. So, I am looking into the possibility of ordering from another country, such as Canada. However, several of the ones I called, said they cannot ship to the U.S. because of concerns over temperature control.

I did find one, Canada-eDrugs.to and actually just ordered from them. Though, I am a little nervous about it, because of the ".to" extension. When I look that up I see that .to is associated

Tonga (Often used unofficially for Torrent, Turin, Toronto, Tokyo, or Tocantins)

I did call their customer service, and they said they have a company called, "Can-American Pharmacy" do the order, and they ship a refrigerated box from Canada. I asked if there are any other equivalent insulins to Lantus, that might be cheaper, but they said they don't have a pharmacist on staff. I also called the "Can-American Pharmacy" and got the same answer. It is also noteworthy that the Can-American Pharmacy does not show any insulin if you search their web site.

If the source does not work out, I know I can go to VISA for a complaint, and perhaps a refund.

I live about a 7hr drive from Canada, but that is a long drive, especially if I try to do an immediate turn around, and come back the next day, so that I can avoid any hotel stays. I looked into a bus or train, but those options take over 24 hours for one way. Years ago, some retirement communities would charter a bus to go to Canada, but perhaps when the US started permitting people to use mail-order, the need dried up... at least for drugs other than insulin.

Any other advice for someone seeking a cheaper source for Lantus or equivalent drugs. Are there other, cheaper, brands I should be seeking?

Thanks for any advice,
-Joe
 
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#2 ·
Hi Dcad, welcome to the forum. Can't help you with the insulin questions, but have you investigated other ways to lower your costs by reducing the carbs you eat. Dr. Richard Bernstein, a type 1 himself, has coined a phrase called the "law of small numbers", which basically says you eat less carbs you use less insulin, AND you have less chance for hypos. Not sure what you do now and you may already be eating reduced carbs. Here is a link to how to eat reduced carbs. Others will be along and can provide other valuable links and advice.
 
#3 ·
Thanks for the idea. However, my main issue is the cost of the very long-acting type of insulin. For me, it is primarily used as the base dose of insulin, rather than for covering carbs.

I deliberately wanted to keep the base dose of Lantus at a level where I had the option of not eating for a day or so, because of the diabetic gastroparesis. Also, it seems that simple carbs do actually agree with my digestion better. The high protein foods also tends to be high-fat, which seems to create acid reflux for me. For some reason the simple carbs don't do that nearly as much.

-Joe
 
#4 ·
The LCHF is high fat not high protein. Don't do high protein, figure 1-1.5 grams of protein per kg (2.2 lbs) of lean body weight. Have you by chance had your gall bladder removed where the fats may cause problems? There is a work around to that, taking ox bile salts, but then that adds more expense.
 
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#5 ·
I think we're all well aware that basal insulin (Lantus) is not and cannot be used to cover carbs. Even if you wanted it to, it is not formulated to do that. It is BASAL insulin - created to cover basic bodily needs - not food intake. The choice is not yours - it is the created purpose of the product.
 
#9 ·
Before diagnosis and LCHF, I'd given up on a lot of old fatty food favorites, because I'd get awful gastro-results every time.

A couple of months into LCHF, I found myself unable to resist chorizo (a yummy Mexican sausage). The restaurant offered chorizo in an omelet. I had the omelet, no tortillas, no beans, and -- no gastric yuk!

No yuk from chorizo, ever since.

For me, it was never about the chorizo, or the bacon, or whatever fat food. Mixing carbs with those foods was the real culprit.
 
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#11 ·
My experience is the same as Shalynne's. I was diagnosed with gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD) way back in the early 90s. In 2009 after being diagnosed with diabetes, I embarked on the LCHF WoE, and a few months later I realized all symptoms of GERD had disappeared as if by magic. And LCHF was that 'magic'!
 
#14 ·
I just took a call from the place where I ordered the Lantus 3 days ago. They say they cannot use a credit card for the order, and I must use an E-check.

I said, since this is a Canadian pharmacy, why can't I use my VISA. She only repeated the statement that any orders coming through India or Canada cannot use a credit card. Nor would she refer me to any place that would permit me to mail order Lantus from Canada.

Needless to say, I was not confident enough with the security of the transaction to go ahead. I figured if there was a problem, I could go through the VISA folks to get a refund. But, I take this recent development as a sign that this is not a good company to use.

Does anyone know of any Canadian pharmacy that I can use to mail-order the Lantus?

-Joe
 
#17 ·
I have a good update. I found an actual Canadian pharmacy that would ship insulin to me in the U.S. Canadian Pharmacy | Canada Pharmacy | Online Pharmacy | Canada RX

The LEVEMIR FLEX TOUCH 5pack was $195USD for a single pack + $30 shipping.

The shipping took a week to get to my house in SE Pennsylvania. It was insulated and with a freeze pack. I was a little concerned initially that they put the freeze pack directly in contact with the box of insulin. My concern was that this may cause freezing of the insulin, which the packaging warns against. But, I called them and they said that they have shipped this way for many years, and that it comes from the manufacturer this way and the insulin should be fine.

My only lingering concern is the time it took to get an answer from them. Calls to their number normally results in getting an answering machine, and in spite of them saying they would return the call within 48 hours, they did not. Today, I did however get through, and they were helpful in answering my concerns.
 
#19 ·
I have a good update. I found an actual Canadian pharmacy that would ship insulin to me in the U.S. Canadian Pharmacy | Canada Pharmacy | Online Pharmacy | Canada RX

The LEVEMIR FLEX TOUCH 5pack was $195USD for a single pack + $30 shipping.

The shipping took a week to get to my house in SE Pennsylvania. It was insulated and with a freeze pack. I was a little concerned initially that they put the freeze pack directly in contact with the box of insulin. My concern was that this may cause freezing of the insulin, which the packaging warns against. But, I called them and they said that they have shipped this way for many years, and that it comes from the manufacturer this way and the insulin should be fine.

My only lingering concern is the time it took to get an answer from them. Calls to their number normally results in getting an answering machine, and in spite of them saying they would return the call within 48 hours, they did not. Today, I did however get through, and they were helpful in answering my concerns.
Good find. My friend has recently been diagnosed with diabetes, so I've been looking up all sorts of information.

I found a pretty straight forward site for ordering insulin online from Canada that a mutual friend of ours vouched for: CanadianInsulin.com They seem to be on the ball at around the same prices you mentioned.
 
#21 ·
Reasonably priced insulin

Walmart and Sam's Club sell the following 10 ML vials of insulin for $25.00 each. I have been using the Novolin 70/30 for many years with excellent results. I see an Endocrinologist regularly and she has no problem with this insulin.


Novolin R is used for:
Novolin R is a fast-acting form of the hormone insulin. It works by helping your body to use sugar properly. This lowers the amount of glucose in the blood, which helps to treat diabetes.

Novolin 70/30 (insulin isophane and insulin regular)?
Insulin is a hormone that works by lowering levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Insulin isophane is a intermediate-acting insulin. Insulin regular is an short-acting insulin. This combination insulin starts to work within 10 to 20 minutes after injection, peaks in 2 hours, and keeps working for up to 24 hours.

Novolin N (insulin isophane)?
Insulin is a hormone that works by lowering levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Insulin isophane is an intermediate-acting insulin that starts to work within 2 to 4 hours after injection, peaks in 4 to 12 hours, and keeps working for 12 to 18 hours.

You can purchase any of these insulins WITHOUT a prescription or health insurance. If you are on Medicare I strongly recommend you DO NOT use your health insurance, if you do they will bill your insurance provider $130.00 a vial. This will only be another step toword the Donut Hole.

Hope this helps.


Gregg
 
#22 ·
I think the whole situation in the US with insulin is utterly bonkers to put it mildly and you're all mad to put up with it. If I lived there I would be camped outside of the HQs of the drug makers complaining about it.

On the Medicaid website, if you search for: "NADAC" it gives you the National Average Daily Drug Cost for all of the approved drugs in the US. Just to make it harder they do it by the ml so you have to multiply.

Anyway, a 10ml of Novolog goes for an average of $264 in the US. At my local drug store it is CAD $35. I worked out a box of Toujeo pens costs $323 in the US, at my local store, CAD $85. Also you don't need a prescription to buy ANY type of insulin in Canada. I've ordered some Novorapid from canadarxconnection when I was in the US and for six vials they charged me the equivalent of CAD $70 each plus S&H, so in other words, they're working on a 100% markup and still massively less than the US price.

I've sat at a Canadian POE and watched a chartered busload of seniors enter, they were all going to get their prescriptions filled so it definitely can be done and there's no particular reason you can't go to Mexico either. CBP don't care about personal use medications, they might care if you import a load of stuff in bulk for resale but they literally sit there and watch busloads of people do it.

Anyway I'm just about to chuck all my Lantus away because I use Toujeo now, in Canada it's trash, in the US apparently it's worth thousands.

I can literally buy a 10ml vial of Fiasp, a state-of-the-art medication, for what a 10ml vial of Humulin R goes for in the US. If that doesn't get you writing to your members of Congress I don't know what will.
 
#23 ·
Anyway I'm just about to chuck all my Lantus away because I use Toujeo now, in Canada it's trash, in the US apparently it's worth thousands.

I can literally buy a 10ml vial of Fiasp, a state-of-the-art medication, for what a 10ml vial of Humulin R goes for in the US. If that doesn't get you writing to your members of Congress I don't know what will.
It sucks but we are stuck with it until politicians start thinking more of citizens than their portfolios. Anyway, I wanted to add that instead of chucking unopened Lantus away, check with local vets. Many people put down their diabetic cat or dog because they don't have the money for the insulin and they use the same insulin as people. At the very least, a humane society or rescue could use it. There is a diabetic cat group on Facebook if you need some direction.
 
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