Cost of drugs/insulin

[tigger]

Can anyone get a list of the true costs of different insulins to the NHS? I remember someone very helpfully getting me this list for blood test strips (Cugila maybe?).

I would like to know the true cost on a comparison basis to see how much at risk I am of budgetary constraint. My insulin is hypurin isophane and neutral (porcine) which I've always understood to be much cheaper than the analogues.

 

[sugarless sue]

Hypurin® Bovine Neutral
Injection, soluble insulin (bovine, highly purified) 100 units/mL. Net price 10-mL vial = £18.48; cartridges (for Autopen® Classic) 5 × 3 mL = £27.72

Hypurin® Porcine Neutral
Injection, soluble insulin (porcine, highly purified) 100 units/mL. Net price 10-mL vial = £16.80; cartridges (for Autopen® Classic) 5 × 3 mL = £25.20

Actrapid®
Injection, soluble insulin (human, pyr) 100 units/mL. Net price 10-mL vial = £7.48

Humulin S®
Injection, soluble insulin (human, prb) 100 units/mL. Net price 10-mL vial = £15.68; 5 × 3-mL cartridge (for most Autopen® Classic or HumaPen®) = £19.08

Insuman® Rapid
Injection, soluble insulin (human, crb) 100 units/mL, net price 5 × 3-mL cartridge (for ClikSTAR® and OptiPen® Pro 1) = £17.50; 5 × 3-mL Insuman® Rapid OptiSet® prefilled disposable injection devices (range 2–40 units, allowing 2-unit dosage adjustment) = £17.50


Levemir®
Injection, insulin detemir (recombinant human insulin analogue) 100 units/mL, net price 5 × 3-mL cartridge (for NovoPen® devices) = £42.00; 5 × 3-mL FlexPen® prefilled disposable injection device (range 1–60 units, allowing 1-unit dosage adjustment) = £42.00; 5 × 3-mL Levemir InnoLet® prefilled disposable injection devices (range 1–50 units, allowing 1-unit dosage adjustment) = £44.85

Lantus®
Injection, insulin glargine (recombinant human insulin analogue) 100 units/mL, net price 10-mL vial = £26.00; 5 × 3-mL cartridge (for ClikSTAR®, OptiPen® Pro 1, and Autopen® 24) = £39.00; 5 × 3-mL OptiClik® cartridge (for OptiClik® Pen) = £40.36; 5 × 3-mL Lantus® OptiSet® prefilled disposable injection devices (range 2–40 units, allowing 2-unit dosage adjustment) = £39.00; 5 × 3-mL Lantus® SoloStar® prefilled disposable injection devices (range 1–80 units, allowing 1-unit dosage adjustment) = £40.36

(Source: BNF61)

 

[tigger]

Thanks a lot Sue. It's ridiculous that the NHS weren't prepared to do more to preserve mixtard given its buying power. I bet the price was more similar to actrapid than lantus.

 

[dbs672012]

This is a great list for comparison. However, you might want to look at what your insurance costs would be. They might be different based on different types of coverage.

 

[Osidge]

As Tigger is enquiring about the NHS, dbs, insurance is not really an issue. I am guessing that you are not from the UK. Perhaps you might like to introduce yourself in the appropriate section of the forum.

Regards

Doug

 

[fruim]

My Gp has been suggesting i go back on tablets after years on Levimir. Now I know why! Seriously can I pay for Levimir my self ?