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Shortage of Tresiba pens

G

Gloucestergirl

Well-Known Member
Messages
93
Location
Gloucester
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Nightclubs!!
I have been on Tresiba for just over a year and the advice was to throw the pen away when it was empty. The trouble with throwing things away is that sometimes this can lead to a shortage, which is what has happened with Tresiba pens. I heard about a scheme called PenCycle by Novo Nordisk a few weeks ago and have been putting my empty pens into a box and when there are twelve pens in it I can take it to Boots or can post it with a pre-paid label. I recently had some Tresiba on order but when I went to collect it I was told that they didn't have any in because of the pen shortage. Luckily I ordered them when I had three pens left so have a little time before I run out. I know that you can also get Tresiba to go into reusable pens like my Novorapid so could probably change to that if I can't get the pens so this is a warning to anyone on Tresiba not to leave it too late before ordering some more pens and look out for the PenCycle boxes in Boots.
 
The pen recycling scheme is good but I always think that recycle should be the last resort. I try to follow the “reduce, reuse, recycle” philosophy in that order. Reducing insulin is not really possible but reusing is.
As you are aware of the NovoPens you use for NovoRapid, you probably know how much better they are. They are more robust, have the reminder on the end, are available in half units, take up lessspace in the fridge (and luggage when you travel) as well as being better for the environment.
I would encourage everyone using single use insulin pens to push for the reusable type regardless of Tresiba pen shortages.
Unless you have dexterity issues, reusable pens are so so much better.
Even if you use the PenCycle boxes.
 
Have just got myself a swanky new NovoPen as the last one broke. It was 5 years old. This one attaches to the app.
What I will point out is the trouble the chemist had getting me one. They only come in blue and red and of course the blue one which I wanted was nigh on impossible to get. I was about to plump for another red one and put stickers on it, when the chemist had success. I wonder if the lack of availability of the disposable pens has created a rush on the change to NovoPens.
 
When I was on Lantus I had the cartridges and still have the pen but in their wisdom the surgery changed me on to Tresiba disposable pens. The NHS Drug Tariff shows that the prices for the cartridges and disposable pens are exacty the same (£46.60 for 5) so it's not as if they would save money. The Lantus price for cartridges and disposable pens is £37.77.
 
Gloucestergirl said:
When I was on Lantus I had the cartridges and still have the pen but in their wisdom the surgery changed me on to Tresiba disposable pens. The NHS Drug Tariff shows that the prices for the cartridges and disposable pens are exacty the same (£46.60 for 5) so it's not as if they would save money. The Lantus price for cartridges and disposable pens is £37.77.
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Tresiba and Lantus are not the same thing.
Lantus lasts for about 22 hours with a bit of a bump after 5 hours whereas Tresiba lasts about 73 hours and has a very flat profile. Therefore, it is considered a superior insulin by many.
The Tresiba profile is less ideal if your basal needs vary from day to day or daytime to night time. Regardless, it makes little sense to consider Tresiba to be an equivalent to Lantus.
 
Yes I know that Tresiba works differently, what I meant was that if Tresiba cartridges are available and I had always been prescribed cartridges for Lantus so already had the pen, why did they decide to use disposable pens that are now getting hard to get? Disposable pens are no more convenient than pens with separate cartridges as it only takes seconds to change them and cartridges take up less room in the fridge.
 
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