New batch of Humalog

Take the insulin back to the pharmacy and explain to them about your concerns.

They should just change it and they'll return the insulin to their supplier.

It's important to find out what and how it happened. Let us know if you find anything out, moray lass?

In the past, I've had opened boxes that have been stuck down. Once it had clearly been stuck down by an 'amateur' with a bit of sellotape. I presumed this was a member of the public. But after that, I had a number that were stuck down more professionally. Yes, the issue seems to be that they're foreign, but it's still annoying that they open them. It makes it impossible to tell if the insulin has been tampered with.

With the sellotape one, a certain pharmacy told me that they'd opened it 'to check it was right' but I didn't believe them so I refused to accept it and they got quite annoyed. In that case, I firmly believe they were trying to palm off a 'used' insulin on me.

I still don't get why foreign insulins have to be opened. It's annoying. If they're that worried that it might be dodgy, they shouldn't be buying it.

No. The pharmaceutical companies are obliged to take very great care what they supply is in good condition. This is why it's so expensive. It should be the best quality.
Potentially, taking the matter up with the manufacturer, as this is a matter of quality control in their supply chain. I would DEFINITELY feel inclined to write Novo/Eli Lily an email informing them and asking them what they need to know to ensure their name is maintained (they're very keen to have a good name).

moray lass said:

Hi I took the Humalog back to the pharmacy and they wouldn't change it said I would have to get a script from the doctor.They also said that most of the suppliers were importing from abroad and this would probably be the case and I would have to get used to it. They didn't want the old one back and just to dispose of it.So maybe I just got a bad batch. Going to try Another pharmacy as always having trouble with this one.The reason for import they said is because it is cheaper surprise surprise!!

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I'd definitely try another pharmacy, never had this happen before and wouldn't be happy if I did.

This thread is bringing back bad memories which I managed to fix only a few months ago i.e. I found a great small independent pharmacy.

I'd used a major nationwide pharmacy for years then things started to go downhill.

I never could get my script dispensed in full. Always, a return visit was needed.

Regularly they said they hadn't received my script from the doctor (despite the fact that the pharmacy collected all prescriptions from local GP's). I'd then to sit around while they got in touch with the doctor who had to fax in a replacement.

Many times test strips and needles seemed to come from other countries and were covered in sticky labels (grey imports?).

The last straw was arriving to collect my insulin to be told by the pharmacist they couldn't supply it as they'd been advised none was available due to a 'production problem'. Eh? Frantic calls to doctor to try and arrange an alternative. When I got home I called the manufaturer who said there were no production problems at all, they checked their records and no order for the insulin had come in from the pharmacy's suppliers. They then contacted them direct (and complained I hope!) and I was phoned to say a supply was being couriered for me by the manufacturer, to collect the next day..

Thank god I have found a small pharmacy that can dispense everything and I've never needed to make a return visit. Also, everything so far seems to have been made/purchased in the UK. Not a sticky label in sight.

Perhaps a little too late I realised that no matter how nice and friendly the staff were at the previous chemist (which they were!), I was constantly not given even the basic service any customer should get.

Ok, rant over. Apologies.

Any problems like this should be reported to the MHRA website.

The NHS is paying for badly packaged, may be tampered, ineffective insulin and it should be reported...

@rochari -I'm getting that same run around now that my local chemist has been taken over by a big chain and everything is computerised. I can't remember the last time I picked up a complete prescription in one visit. I went in on Saturday having put my prescription into the GPs the Saturday previous to be told the computer system had been down and they had a huge backlog so I'd have to come back. I went back on Monday and was given an incomplete set of supplies with an IOU note as they hadn't placed the order for my test cassettes because of the backlog and they didn't have any in stock. When I got home I found they hadn't given me the sharps bins - so back I went for the 3rd time - they'd just forgotten those because they come through a different process and are not on the computer. Today I've received a text to say that my remaining items are now available for me to collect tomorrow. Just as well I have nothing better to do than deal with the incompetence of doctors and pharmacies!

Smidge

@smidge that is terrible customer service, like Moray Lass you want to be changing pharmacies

noblehead said:

@smidge that is terrible customer service, like Moray Lass you want to be changing pharmacies

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I know I should, but this one is within walking distance of home in the village while all the others are a car drive away. I guess I'll have to as it is getting ridiculous. When I changed over to Tresiba, the pharmacist had never heard of it, so I ended up in the middle of the shop on the phone to their suppliers explaining the strength and form factor I needed it in - I actually had to explain to the supplier the difference between pre-filled insulin pens and penfill cartridges - just as well I understand what I need or I could have been given anything.

Another time, the pharmacy left the insulin out of the fridge - luckily when it came to putting it all in the bag, the pharmacist realised what had happened and said he'd order some more - so that was another repeat visit. It's pretty shocking really.

Smidge

@smidge, some pharmacies do home deliveries to save you having to pick the prescriptions up yourself, would this not be an option for you? (obviously someone has to be at home when its delivered otherwise the prescription is returned to the pharmacy).

noblehead said:

@smidge, some pharmacies do home deliveries to save you having to pick the prescriptions up yourself, would this not be an option for you? (obviously someone has to be at home when its delivered otherwise the prescription is returned to the pharmacy).

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Yeh, it's the being at home that's the issue - I do tend to work funny hours and sometimes quite suddenly. I'll certainly have to figure something out.

Smidge

moray lass, I'm pleased you got the proper Humalog and that the independent pharmacy helped you as much as the one I am now with has helped me.

Smidge, been there and have the t-shirt. I won't name them but I bet it's the same national pharmacy that I'd to deal with. One final irony for me was a letter that I got just after I made my complaint to them. It said I'd an uncollected prescription waiting to be uplifted and I only had 5 days to do so. There shouldn't have been anything but I figured knowing how incompetent they were that one of the previous 'missing' prescriptions had actually been found and dispensed and I was unaware it was there. So, being an oldie now and not having a car it took me almost an hour to get to them to be told it was an error, there was nothing there for me!! Umm, surely I asked, the letter would only be sent if they had something physical sitting waiting for collection. Nope was the answer, it must have been the computer's fault. Smidge, I hope you can find another small independent. Mines is a one man band, one single shop and so far he has knocked the socks off the major UK supplier.