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Cost of drugs/insulin

tigger

tigger

Well-Known Member
Messages
569
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
registrars asking silly questions
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.
 
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)
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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 ?
 
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