price of needles
Someone mentioned a couple of days ago that their needles cost like $6/100.
Just wondering where you get them for that amount. My co-pay for 3 pkg. of 100
ea. is $35!!
Thanks,
24 Responses to “price of needles”
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January 16th, 2007 at 7:22 am
Guess it all depends on the coverage you have. I have BC/BS and they do not
charge for the pen needles since I can’t use the Byetta pen without the.
However, I pay $25 for each pen.
January 16th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
"Guess it all depends on the coverage you have. I have BC/BS and they do not
charge for the pen needles since I can’t use the Byetta pen without the.
However, I pay $25 for each pen."
I, too, have BCBS Federal which usually never gives a problem with anything but
I’m using Caremark mail order for 3 mo. of prescription. They also charged ME
$35 per pen as well. I’m starting to get the feeling they’re ripping me off.
Oh, and however mentioned the Crystal Light white tea, blueberry flavored…MAN,
that stuff is GOOD!! THANKS!
Sherrill
January 16th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
On 5/7/07, Sherrill wrote:
<< Oh, and however mentioned the Crystal Light white tea, blueberry
flavored…MAN, that stuff is GOOD!! THANKS! >>
That was me
Yes - it is really, really good.
January 17th, 2007 at 4:20 am
This was probably answered by now — but, I get three Byetta pens for
$35 through Caremark. Something isn’t right, and it’s probably the way
the doctor wrote the rx. I too find needles cheaper at the drug or
grocery store than through Caremark.
Gail
January 18th, 2007 at 6:17 am
I only pay 12.95 retail for 100 needles at Kroger. I have no insurance
so find the cheapest place. I get my syringes for insulin online at 12
per 100. The pen needles are Kroger brand, but they are short 31 gage
and I have never had a problem with them.
January 19th, 2007 at 12:53 am
I also do BC/BS federal plan. I ordered from Carmark today, and it cost me $35
for a 3 month supply (or 3 pens). That works out to what, $11.667 a pen?
6 drugs, 3 of which cost $35 each for a 3 month supply, cost me $135 total.
I used to have a GEHA, and Byetta used to cost a lot more. My premiums
dropped, and my drug co-pay was cut in half.
Paul
I, too, have BCBS Federal which usually never gives a problem with anything but
I’m using Caremark mail order for 3 mo. of prescription. They also charged ME
$35 per pen as well. I’m starting to get the feeling they’re ripping me off.
Oh, and however mentioned the Crystal Light white tea, blueberry flavored…MAN,
that stuff is GOOD!! THANKS!
Sherrill
.
January 20th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
My Doctor said that the needles come in packs of 60 or packs of 100 and
that the 100’s are cheaper per needle, however when I went to get them
at the local pharmacy, they had to override the price, and call it a 30
day supply, for the box of 100, since my insurance, will only cover a 30
day supply at the local pharmacy, however, the pharmacy would not open
the package so I got all 100 needles anyway!
January 21st, 2007 at 7:44 am
I just had the same problem with my test strips. The doc wants tighter
control which means more testing per day. I had him write a script for 200
strips/month and they wanted to charge me double because the pharmacist
decided that 6/day x 30=180 even though they can’t split a box of strips.
It only took a simple call to BCBS customer service to have this resolved.
January 22nd, 2007 at 9:36 pm
I have been using both Lantus and Byetta for 16 months now. No problems, but
lots of benifits. Last 3 A1c’s, 6.0, 5.8, and 5.5. Weight loss 42 pounds and
counting. Love the Lizard.
January 24th, 2007 at 12:47 am
I am Fed BCBS as well and new to Byetta. Has anyone odered their pen
needles from Caremark mail order? What is the needle brand and size?
Does Caremark consider them as generic or name brand?
I started Byetta a week ago and the starter kit came with BD brand 31g
x 3/16"(5mm) pen needles. My doctor’s office call in a script for more
needles to my retail pharmacy at Wal-Mart and since they only
prescribed a box of needles, the script was filled with a generic brand
(Reli-On) 31g x 5/16" (8mm). Since this is the first time I have given
myself injections, I really notice the difference between the two. The
Reli-On seems to cause some site discomfort and the BD does not. I
need to figure out a way to best obtain the shorter BD brand at a good
price.
January 24th, 2007 at 9:42 am
Jim,
For what it is worth…My Endo says the shorter needles (3/16) are for kids
and very skinny adults without a lot of fat to shoot into. The 5/16 is (it
has a blue label) is the one that most adults should use. Where are you
injecting? That sometimes has a lot to do with the amount of discomfort.
Usually the abdomen is the least painful. I have tried the arm and leg as
well, but I find them more uncomfortable. I would assume that you could
just ask your Dr. for a script for the smaller ones if you feel that you
need them. But your insurance probably won’t cover it until it is time for
a refill. Reli-on is Walmarts brand if i’m not mistaken. I know there
brand of lancet’s are more painful to me it seems like. Novalog also has a
short pen needle (it’s the one that i use), and i like it very well.
demetria-beth
_____
I am Fed BCBS as well and new to Byetta. Has anyone odered their pen
needles from Caremark mail order? What is the needle brand and size?
Does Caremark consider them as generic or name brand?
I started Byetta a week ago and the starter kit came with BD brand 31g
x 3/16"(5mm) pen needles. My doctor’s office call in a script for more
needles to my retail pharmacy at Wal-Mart and since they only
prescribed a box of needles, the script was filled with a generic brand
(Reli-On) 31g x 5/16" (8mm). Since this is the first time I have given
myself injections, I really notice the difference between the two. The
Reli-On seems to cause some site discomfort and the BD does not. I
need to figure out a way to best obtain the shorter BD brand at a good
price.
Jim
January 24th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Quick and dirty calculations:
Same needles you listed, 5 mm. Caremark calls them name brand, not generic.
$6.58 to pick up a box of 100 at Rite Aid. (Closest pharmacy to me, and I
wouldn’t be cought dead or alive in wally world.) Caremark as a savings
calculator on the website, and using it I determine that it costs $35 for a 3
month supply. They indicate that a 3 month (90 day) supply is 300 needles.
$35/90 day is $140/yr. 730 needles in a year, round up to 800. 8 boxes, $52.64
a year. Buying a 3 month supply means I would have to buy 9 months worth, or
900 needles, or 9 boxes. Those 9 boxes are $105. If you travel past the
pharmacy often enough then fuel isn’t an issue, and you save $52/yr by not
participating in mail order for this item.
You can have your doc write it out for the BD needles, and have hime check the
box or write on the script to "dispense as written".
I currently take provigil, and it costs me +/- $50/mo. It I extend the script
beyond my "trial period", I will do mail order, and it will cost $35/90 day.
"Sometimes you bite the bear …."
Paul
I started Byetta a week ago and the starter kit came with BD brand 31g
x 3/16"(5mm) pen needles. My doctor’s office call in a script for more
needles to my retail pharmacy at Wal-Mart and since they only
prescribed a box of needles, the script was filled with a generic brand
(Reli-On) 31g x 5/16" (8mm). Since this is the first time I have given
myself injections, I really notice the difference between the two. The
Reli-On seems to cause some site discomfort and the BD does not. I
need to figure out a way to best obtain the shorter BD brand at a good
price.
.
January 24th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
<< I started Byetta a week ago and the starter kit came with BD brand 31g
x 3/16"(5mm) pen needles. My doctor’s office call in a script for more
needles to my retail pharmacy at Wal-Mart and since they only
prescribed a box of needles, the script was filled with a generic brand
(Reli-On) 31g x 5/16" (8mm). >>
*Jim - My doctor wrote my refills for 31G x 5/16", too. I will request it
be changed to 3/16" next time I go. There is not a lot of difference, but
just enough that I would prefer it. If for any reason she won’t do it or
the insurance will not cover it, I’m okay with the ones I have. She
prescribed "BD Ultra-Fine III Short Pen Needles/Short Inner Shield). They
come in a box of 100 and my script is only for 3 additional refills within a
year. The box of 100 costs me $35.00 co-pay - I have Aetna HMO - and I pick
it up at Walgreens.*
**
*She said for me to use every needle twice, one per day. I can’t tell any
difference in the pain sensation in the second injection and the first and
that has worked fine for me.*
January 24th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Yes, I use both, but am still new to it and will be
adjusting my dose till I find the right balance. Did
the doctor tell your hubby why he could not use both?
-Melanie
January 25th, 2007 at 2:56 am
I also use Lantus and Novolog. I have cut my units in half though and hope
to make further cuts.
Right now I take 18 units of Lantus twice a day , 5 units of Novolog twice a
day and Byetta 10
twice a day.
The Byetta was prescribed for me by an internist who felt it would work
wonderfully for me and thus far, it has.
Jo in MN
January 25th, 2007 at 5:47 am
How ironic, remember me…my insurance won’t cover Byetta. Yet when i
put the prescription in for needles….it was FREE!!! I start my 1o
dose next week but still hesitant about spending over $200
January 25th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
<< I started Byetta a week ago and the starter kit came with BD brand 31g
x 3/16"(5mm) pen needles. My doctor’s office call in a script for more
needles to my retail pharmacy at Wal-Mart and since they only
prescribed a box of needles, the script was filled with a generic brand
(Reli-On) 31g x 5/16" (8mm). >>
*Jim - My doctor wrote my refills for 31G x 5/16", too. I will request it
be changed to 3/16" next time I go. There is not a lot of difference, but
just enough that I would prefer it. If for any reason she won’t do it or
the insurance will not cover it, I’m okay with the ones I have. She
prescribed "BD Ultra-Fine III Short Pen Needles/Short Inner Shield). They
come in a box of 100 and my script is only for 3 additional refills within a
year. The box of 100 costs me $35.00 co-pay - I have Aetna HMO - and I pick
it up at Walgreens.*
**
*She said for me to use every needle twice, one per day. I can’t tell any
difference in the pain sensation in the second injection and the first and
that has worked fine for me.*
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January 26th, 2007 at 3:17 am
i thought byetta was not approved for people on
insulin………………………..baz
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January 26th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Hi Baz…
That is the "official" report. However, there are a lot of Dr.s who are
prescribing it to people who are also on insulin. One reason is the study
that shows that byetta maybe regenerating beta cells. If i were on insulin,
i would definitely ask my Dr. for byetta too. But some of the more
conservative Dr. still won’t prescribe both at the same time.
Demetria-Beth
_____
i thought byetta was not approved for people on
insulin………………………..baz
— Gail Crissinger <pokeydog@bellsouth. <mailto:pokeydog%40bellsouth.net>
net> wrote:
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January 29th, 2007 at 12:13 am
Using Byetta with insulin is "off label" it is to be used with orals
only according to the company.
It is being used successfully with insulin, with insulin and orals, and
by itself, but some docs wont use a drug "off label"
January 29th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
CAN’T DRS. GET IN TROUBLE FOR PRESCribing a drug not approved for that
use?…..baz
Ruby
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January 29th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
While wikipedia is not always a source for correct information, it is a good
jumping off point for searches.
Paul
Ruby
February 2nd, 2007 at 3:50 pm
thanks for the info, paul……………………baz
Paul
Ruby
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February 3rd, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Latest issue of Consumer Reports has a one page article on Off-Label use as
well. It’s in the back half of the magazine.
Paul
Paul
Ruby
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