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IT'S ALL GONE!!

F

Fallenstar

Well-Known Member
Messages
546
I know it was mentioned earlier about Apidra running out.....well it's all gone now ,none ,zilch, the well has runneth dry! Here in the UK.
I have had to be changed onto Novo-rapid and it looks like there won't be a chance to go back to the Apidra.
Has anyone else had to change??? I did just pick up a script for some solar star pens ,due to a cross wire with the Dr's and it taking so long to come...So I've both now but my DSN wants me to stick with the Novo from now.
 
Hi Fallenstar!

That's so worrying! I'm on Apidra and am doing really well with it and I don't want to change. Luckily for me, the doctor made a mistake with my prescription 2 weeks ago - I asked for my Insuman Basal and they accidentally sent me Apidra, so I kept the Apidra in the fridge and got them to do a new prescription for the Insuman. I wasn't very happy with the mess around at the time, but now I'm very pleased that happened as I have about 6 months supply of Apidra! (Maybe I should keep that quiet in case desperate diabetics raid my fridge :lol: )

Would you mind letting us know how you get on with the NovoRapid once you've tried it for a short while? Why won't they let you go back to Apidra when it's available again? The consultant told me last week that they like prescribing Apidra because it's much cheaper than the other brands.

Smidge
 
Hey Smidge!

I will certainly let you know how I go on on the NovoRapid...I was told by one nurse it had a longer action than Apidra and another they are very similar, again it will be trial and error at first.
My Nurses and team I have now are fantastic and really do work towards getting you the best care. My nurse just said to stay on the Novo once on it and even though I have a little stock of Apidra (don't tell anyone, otherwise I may be in for a fridge raid :lol: ) I think I will go for the Novo in case it may be a long running thing with supplies, can't be doing with the hassle...I got the idea that this is what she was indicating but I never asked her to clarify, should have.
I'm also going onto Levimir from Lantus...so it is changes all round for me...If you like the Apidra, I would buy a Rottweiler and chain it to the fridge :wink: I'll just use the Mother in Law.
 
Yikes!

Hadn't realised this was a permanent issue. There was a bit of messing around at my chemists at the beginning of the month and they said they had a bit of difficulty sourcing it. They didn't say that I wouldn't be able to get it in future.

Think I had better ring my DSN on Monday....

Scared of changing as only been using since June.
 
Hi Fallenstar!

I've heard that NovoRapid has a longer 'tail' and a slower onset. Humalog(?) is supposed to be a closer match to Apidra. My DSN was tempted to swap me off Apidra as there is no half unit pen for it, but luckily the Lilly pen works pretty well with it so I managed to stick with it I'd be really interested to hear how you get on with your change in insulins, because the thought terrifies me!

Good luck with it!

Smidge
 
The problem with Apridra isn't the insulin it's self but the cartridges, so it's still available in a vial... All you need to do is get your dsn/surgery to prescribe the vial and syringes,

Apridra is a very short lived insulin, burning out of the system a lot quicker than NovoRapid or Humalog.. And NovoRapid and Humalog of very similar in profile action but made by different manufacuters...
 
Hey Smidge

I changed from Humalog to Apidra because they thought it would be better for all the running I did. To be honest I thought Apidra was a bit "keen" at first and did find a later spike when I was eating plenty of carbs...Now I'm thinking Novo rapid might have too much of a long acting action for me :? being lower carb.
Mmmmm, I will maybe think about going back to the Humalog which to be honest I got on with, but I'm all down for a bit of experimentation :wink: So time will tell and I will certainly let you know how it goes.
Good news then about the Apidra, you will have to see if you can get the vials ,have a word with your DSN Smidge if you are happy as you are, no point in changing...if it ain't broke why fix it eh!
 
Fallenstar

If you are extreme low carbing, then you will probably find Animal Insulin has a lot better profile, slower hitting it's peak action generally it's injected 30 min's before you eat..

Read up on Bernstien
 
I will take a look at that Jopar. To be honest my insulin regime has not really altered at all...I need the same amount of Bolus as I did when I was eating more carbs per meal, it's been a surprise. It's just I find I have steadier control.
I don't think I will ever be really really low carb as I like, and eat ALL the fruits and veg I like...and yoghurts. It's just the obvious starchy ones and grains that made me feel yuck and gave me the roller coaster sugars.
I will give these new insulins a try and see how I fair on them for a bit, but will keep in mind your suggestions, thanks.
 
I've been on Apidra since March (diagnosed in Feb but on Novomix first), and switched to Humalog last Thursday because of the production problem. I too have a little stock of Apidra in my fridge, but welcomed trying something different. I'm a low carber too.

I've found that the Humalog gets me where I want to be, but for me there's no definite peak. It seems to steadily wheedle away at the sugars. With Apidra, I used to get what I would call a "whoosh" at the 2 hr mark. The most awful sensation, like being on a runaway train of insulin - horrendous hunger, dizziness and nausea.I could time my watch by it!!! I just thought I had to get used to living with it. But it was quite invasive because it meant I couldn't ever really have peace of mind. I was ALWAYS wary of a hypo, even if I knew I'd got my ratio right. I had problems in some instances with low GI foods where I would go very low when it peaked and then a little while later start to climb as the sugar hit the system, but by this time the Apidra had run out of steam.

I've felt much more "normal" on Humalog with no great feelings of swings, no hypos. But having said that, my ratios have slightly changed and I'm still trying to get to grips with it. I'm going to stick with it, though, because for me it seems a little gentler in terms of how it gets to the fasting readings I want, and I've got a bit more confidence that I can get on with what I'm doing inbetween meals without fear of crashing.

I wondered if anyone else had any thoughts.
 
Wow Paula, I hear ya Hun!!! I found it just the same as you with the Apidra. I did ask to go back onto the Humalog which was a bit better for me, this was with my GP though not my Diabetic team and I was sort of fobbed off and told it was taking a step back for me...So I tried all sorts of adjustments but it never really worked for me.
I will let you know if I have more success with the Novo rapid, I was told this is the closest to Apidra which to be honest if it starts to rock my control I will ask to go back on to the Humalog, which was OK,but I remember it still had it's draw backs.Don't they all :roll:

I think the Low carb is helping me the most, I don't get the peaks later on that you speak of. Yes , you are so right about Apidra, in the feeling you are living with a Hypo always shadowing you.

What size needles do you use? I found changing to a much shorter needle helped me a lot, as the longer one went into my muscle which uses the insulin up much quicker.
You could also try different body places to inject...it seems to have a lot smoother profile in my butt cheek, faster in my arm. You could see if this helps, if you have not tried already...butt cheeks are not the out and about injections though :lol:
Glad to hear the Humalog is working for you, I found it a good Bolus so if I were you just keep tweaking and stick with it.
Glad to hear you also have success with the low carb, I think there are a few of us Type 1's out there doing it with good success so good to talk with you
 
Hi Fallenstar!

I've only ever injected into muscle once, but it scared me to death - very painful and hypo city shortly afterwards as it was in my leg. Couldn't really avoid using my legs!!!!! It put me off injecting into my thighs and I got a bit of a complex about it. It was when I was diagnosed at first and I had nearly no fat on them. The DSN assured me 4 mm needles would avoid the muscle, but I must have gone in in the wrong place. Fortunately never again. It's safe to say my thighs are a bit fatter now!!!! :lol:

Anyhow, as I was offered Novorapid or Humalog, I'd love to hear how you get on with Novorapid, as there was no real science to why I chose Humalog. Mainly because my diabetic DSN uses it.

Look forward to hearing how you are getting on.

Paula
 
FWIW, my pharmacist told me that the Apidra supply problem probably wouldn't be fixed until late December / early January, although they still had stock at the moment and I picked up a box of pens last week. I'm going to speak to my DSN though about what I do. Unfortunately my Apidra requirements seem to have shot up recently, and I'm going through the stuff much more quickly than usual. The pharmacist said he expected people to just swap to Novo.

My advice is a) don't panic, b) speak to your GP, DSN or consultant and c) don't leave it too late when looking to reorder.
 
so is the problem still just with cartridges and NOT vials?

I am a pumper so use vials.

I didnt like Novo (too slow) or Humalog (stings too much).
thanks
 
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