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Tresiba Flexpen Availability UK

Paulaah

Paulaah

Well-Known Member
Messages
92
Good afternoon all,

Has anyone had problems in having their usual Tresiba flexpen prescription fulfilled?

My chemist today said it was out of stock for the foreseeable future so I’ve googled and Diabetes.org.uk are saying it’s not available from august 2023 until January 2024 but 3ml cartridges are still available. Does that mean you can use a cartridge in a different delivery device (like I do with my novorapid half unit pen?)

Your advice would be really appreciated as I’ve just got myself on an even keel after a lot of struggles and don’t want to have to change basal.

Many thanks
Paula
 
Paulaah said:
Good afternoon all,

Has anyone had problems in having their usual Tresiba flexpen prescription fulfilled?

My chemist today said it was out of stock for the foreseeable future so I’ve googled and Diabetes.org.uk are saying it’s not available from august 2023 until January 2024 but 3ml cartridges are still available. Does that mean you can use a cartridge in a different delivery device (like I do with my novorapid half unit pen?)

Your advice would be really appreciated as I’ve just got myself on an even keel after a lot of struggles and don’t want to have to change basal.

Many thanks
Paula
Click to expand...
The cartriges fit all Novopens, so if you have a spare one for your Fiasp, you can use it for Tresiba.
 
I would definitely encourage you to use reusable pens for all insulin (where possible).
The NovoPens should support cartridges of all NovoNordisk insulin including NovoRapid, Tresiba, Levemir and Fiasp.
Sanofi produce reusable ens for their insulins including Lantus.

Unless you have dexterity problems making it difficult to change cartridges, I do not understand why single use pens are the default.
Reusable pens are more robust, more likely to have half units, the cartridges take up less space in your fridge (and luggage when you go away) and produce less waste.
 
Thank you both for your speedy replies. I really didn’t know I could opt for Tresiba in a cartridge form until today. I will definitely make the change by getting in touch with my gp.

I’ve realised the added benefit to me is the half unit measure in the echo pen, as I’m so sensitive sometimes 14 units of Tresiba isn’t enough but 15 units is too much! So it might even assist my control.

Unfortunately the chemist explained none of this and suggested changing insulin completely. Not that straightforward in the case of background insulin, I protested! I’ve since rung them back to check that the 3ml cartridges are available and they’ve confirmed that they are.

Hopefully they will be able to reassure their next Tresiba flexpen - seeking patient. By suggesting cartridges and a novopen instead.

Thanks again.
 
In Response said:
I would definitely encourage you to use reusable pens for all insulin (where possible).
The NovoPens should support cartridges of all NovoNordisk insulin including NovoRapid, Tresiba, Levemir and Fiasp.
Sanofi produce reusable ens for their insulins including Lantus.

Unless you have dexterity problems making it difficult to change cartridges, I do not understand why single use pens are the default.
Reusable pens are more robust, more likely to have half units, the cartridges take up less space in your fridge (and luggage when you go away) and produce less waste.
Click to expand...
Hi, I see what you are saying but in my experience the Tresiba Flexpen has a feature not present on the re-loadable pens. When the dose has almost been delivered the device pushes the last part in with more force - so it all gets delivered. Novopens (and similar) do not do this and to avoid loss of insulin on needle withdrawal I have to count to 20 before pulling out, which is sometimes inconvenient. I have also had unexpected hypers which were probably caused by loss of insulin, which I hadn't noticed.
 
I’ve made the switch to the cartridges in the novopen and I haven’t noticed any issues with dose delivery. Although my original DSN always told me to count to ten with every injection, which I duly do.

Being insulin sensitive and perimenopausal (so insulin needs change regularly), I’m loving the flexibility of the half unit pen.

I wouldn’t go back to pre-filled pens now.
 
The chemist said that they’d been discontinued
 
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