Ping Dennis R/Canadian insulin

I asked the person I know where she gets her insulin in Canada? She is not
store loyal and said "Any grocery store. You don't need a prescription."
She also said she often gets it at Costco. Said the prices were about the
same everywhere.

On May 15, 12:28*am, "Julie Bove" <julieb...@verizon.net> wrote:
> I asked the person I know where she gets her insulin in Canada? *She is not
> store loyal and said "Any grocery store. *You don't need a prescription."
> She also said she often gets it at Costco. *Said the prices were about the
> same everywhere.

The last time I was in Canada (2005), Lantus was completely
unavailable there. When I asked about it I was told "You have to drive
to the US to get it".

Regular and NPH were available OTC in Canada, at about the same price
as in the US.

Tim.

Tim Shoppa wrote:
> On May 15, 12:28 am, "Julie Bove" <julieb...@verizon.net> wrote:
>> I asked the person I know where she gets her insulin in Canada? She is not
>> store loyal and said "Any grocery store. You don't need a prescription."
>> She also said she often gets it at Costco. Said the prices were about the
>> same everywhere.
>
> The last time I was in Canada (2005), Lantus was completely
> unavailable there. When I asked about it I was told "You have to drive
> to the US to get it".
>
> Regular and NPH were available OTC in Canada, at about the same price
> as in the US.
>
> Tim.

It's approved now. Levemir is also available, but I'm not sure about Apidra.

All insulins are available in Canada without a prescription.

Vicki

Julie Bove wrote:
> I asked the person I know where she gets her insulin in Canada? She is not
> store loyal and said "Any grocery store. You don't need a prescription."
> She also said she often gets it at Costco. Said the prices were about the
> same everywhere.
>
>
you don't need a CostCo membership card to access their pharmacy

and their prices are about the lowest prices for meds that i have found

--
kate
type 1 since 1987
www.diabetic-talk.org
http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/n...diagnosed.html

Tim Shoppa wrote:
> On May 15, 12:28 am, "Julie Bove" <julieb...@verizon.net> wrote:
>> I asked the person I know where she gets her insulin in Canada? She is not
>> store loyal and said "Any grocery store. You don't need a prescription."
>> She also said she often gets it at Costco. Said the prices were about the
>> same everywhere.
>
> The last time I was in Canada (2005), Lantus was completely
> unavailable there. When I asked about it I was told "You have to drive
> to the US to get it".
>
> Regular and NPH were available OTC in Canada, at about the same price
> as in the US.
>
> Tim.
Lantus and Levemir are available in Canada now

Januvia, Symlin, Byetta are not available yet

--
kate
type 1 since 1987
www.diabetic-talk.org
http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/n...diagnosed.html

In article <6931p6F2uhjifU2@mid.individual.net>, me@privacy.net says...
> Tim Shoppa wrote:
> > On May 15, 12:28 am, "Julie Bove" <julieb...@verizon.net> wrote:
> >> I asked the person I know where she gets her insulin in Canada? She is not
> >> store loyal and said "Any grocery store. You don't need a prescription."
> >> She also said she often gets it at Costco. Said the prices were about the
> >> same everywhere.
> >
> > The last time I was in Canada (2005), Lantus was completely
> > unavailable there. When I asked about it I was told "You have to drive
> > to the US to get it".
> >
> > Regular and NPH were available OTC in Canada, at about the same price
> > as in the US.
> >
> > Tim.
> Lantus and Levemir are available in Canada now
>
> Januvia, Symlin, Byetta are not available yet
>
>
Kate would know better Julie. I take NPH at night time to knock down my
wake up numbers, but I use the Novo 3 ml Pen. Since I am on a drug plan,
I never checked if NPH was OTC. My cost at Shoppers' Drug Mart
(Ontario), including an $11 dispensing fee, is about $56 CAN for a 5 x
3ml pack of penfills. In other words, the NPH cost $45.

I know that is expensive compared to vials and syringes, but I pay less
than $10 co-pay per script, and they encouraged pens at the Diabetes
Clinic in town when I was diagnosed.

Dennis (Type 2)

"Dennis" <ds_rekuta@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:MPG.22967f2a6610103a989683@news.cogeco.ca...
> In article <6931p6F2uhjifU2@mid.individual.net>, me@privacy.net says...
>> Tim Shoppa wrote:
>> > On May 15, 12:28 am, "Julie Bove" <julieb...@verizon.net> wrote:
>> >> I asked the person I know where she gets her insulin in Canada? She
>> >> is not
>> >> store loyal and said "Any grocery store. You don't need a
>> >> prescription."
>> >> She also said she often gets it at Costco. Said the prices were about
>> >> the
>> >> same everywhere.
>> >
>> > The last time I was in Canada (2005), Lantus was completely
>> > unavailable there. When I asked about it I was told "You have to drive
>> > to the US to get it".
>> >
>> > Regular and NPH were available OTC in Canada, at about the same price
>> > as in the US.
>> >
>> > Tim.
>> Lantus and Levemir are available in Canada now
>>
>> Januvia, Symlin, Byetta are not available yet
>>
>>
> Kate would know better Julie. I take NPH at night time to knock down my
> wake up numbers, but I use the Novo 3 ml Pen. Since I am on a drug plan,
> I never checked if NPH was OTC. My cost at Shoppers' Drug Mart
> (Ontario), including an $11 dispensing fee, is about $56 CAN for a 5 x
> 3ml pack of penfills. In other words, the NPH cost $45.
>
> I know that is expensive compared to vials and syringes, but I pay less
> than $10 co-pay per script, and they encouraged pens at the Diabetes
> Clinic in town when I was diagnosed.
>
> Dennis (Type 2)

Sorry. Maybe I addressed the wrong person. I thought it was you who was
asking the question, but it wouldn't be you since you are Canadian. Now I
don't know WHO asked! Oops!

On Thu, 15 May 2008 18:15:06 -0400, Dennis <ds_rekuta@yahoo.ca> wrote:

>Since I am on a drug plan,
>I never checked if NPH was OTC. My cost at Shoppers' Drug Mart
>(Ontario), including an $11 dispensing fee, is about $56 CAN for a 5 x
>3ml pack of penfills. In other words, the NPH cost $45.


A dispensing fee? Is this a mail prescription program -- I was
assuming that this was through a store. I don't think I've ever heard
of a fee for dispensing medication. I'm not from Canada, so this is a
brand new concept to me. Or is it possibly a membership club that
allows non-members to purchase items, but then they tack on a
"non-member surcharge".

<Laura@notmy.com> wrote in message
news:1jop241l8ibesvupjmauqb7d6ku43jgveu@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 15 May 2008 18:15:06 -0400, Dennis <ds_rekuta@yahoo.ca> wrote:
>
>>Since I am on a drug plan,
>>I never checked if NPH was OTC. My cost at Shoppers' Drug Mart
>>(Ontario), including an $11 dispensing fee, is about $56 CAN for a 5 x
>>3ml pack of penfills. In other words, the NPH cost $45.
>
>
> A dispensing fee? Is this a mail prescription program -- I was
> assuming that this was through a store. I don't think I've ever heard
> of a fee for dispensing medication. I'm not from Canada, so this is a
> brand new concept to me. Or is it possibly a membership club that
> allows non-members to purchase items, but then they tack on a
> "non-member surcharge".

We used to have Shopper's Drugmart here, but it wasn't a member place. Just
a regular drugstore with really good prices and good variety.

On 5/15/08 7:23 PM, in article oe6Xj.16312$6D1.8071@trndny02, "Julie Bove"
<juliebove@verizon.net> wrote:

>
> <Laura@notmy.com> wrote in message
> news:1jop241l8ibesvupjmauqb7d6ku43jgveu@4ax.com...
>> On Thu, 15 May 2008 18:15:06 -0400, Dennis <ds_rekuta@yahoo.ca> wrote:
>>
>>> Since I am on a drug plan,
>>> I never checked if NPH was OTC. My cost at Shoppers' Drug Mart
>>> (Ontario), including an $11 dispensing fee, is about $56 CAN for a 5 x
>>> 3ml pack of penfills. In other words, the NPH cost $45.
>>
>>
>> A dispensing fee? Is this a mail prescription program -- I was
>> assuming that this was through a store. I don't think I've ever heard
>> of a fee for dispensing medication. I'm not from Canada, so this is a
>> brand new concept to me. Or is it possibly a membership club that
>> allows non-members to purchase items, but then they tack on a
>> "non-member surcharge".
>
> We used to have Shopper's Drugmart here, but it wasn't a member place. Just
> a regular drugstore with really good prices and good variety.
>
>
I don't think it is the same chain. This is a national firm and I don't
think they are in the US. I could be wrong.

--
Martha T2 Canada
1500mg. Metformin, 4mg. Avandia

On 5/15/08 6:27 PM, in article 1jop241l8ibesvupjmauqb7d6ku43jgveu@4ax.com,
"Laura@notmy.com" <Laura@notmy.com> wrote:

> On Thu, 15 May 2008 18:15:06 -0400, Dennis <ds_rekuta@yahoo.ca> wrote:
>
>> Since I am on a drug plan,
>> I never checked if NPH was OTC. My cost at Shoppers' Drug Mart
>> (Ontario), including an $11 dispensing fee, is about $56 CAN for a 5 x
>> 3ml pack of penfills. In other words, the NPH cost $45.
>
>
> A dispensing fee? Is this a mail prescription program -- I was
> assuming that this was through a store. I don't think I've ever heard
> of a fee for dispensing medication. I'm not from Canada, so this is a
> brand new concept to me. Or is it possibly a membership club that
> allows non-members to purchase items, but then they tack on a
> "non-member surcharge".

I can only speak for British Columbia. Here the pharmacies are required to
sell the prescription at their cost. To this they add a dispensing fee which
covers overhead and profit. My pharmacy charges $8.95.
--
Martha T2 Canada
1500mg. Metformin, 4mg. Avandia

"MI" <quilchenapark@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:C4524822.29C1D%quilchenapark@shaw.ca...
>
>
>
> On 5/15/08 7:23 PM, in article oe6Xj.16312$6D1.8071@trndny02, "Julie Bove"
> <juliebove@verizon.net> wrote:
>
>>
>> <Laura@notmy.com> wrote in message
>> news:1jop241l8ibesvupjmauqb7d6ku43jgveu@4ax.com...
>>> On Thu, 15 May 2008 18:15:06 -0400, Dennis <ds_rekuta@yahoo.ca> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Since I am on a drug plan,
>>>> I never checked if NPH was OTC. My cost at Shoppers' Drug Mart
>>>> (Ontario), including an $11 dispensing fee, is about $56 CAN for a 5 x
>>>> 3ml pack of penfills. In other words, the NPH cost $45.
>>>
>>>
>>> A dispensing fee? Is this a mail prescription program -- I was
>>> assuming that this was through a store. I don't think I've ever heard
>>> of a fee for dispensing medication. I'm not from Canada, so this is a
>>> brand new concept to me. Or is it possibly a membership club that
>>> allows non-members to purchase items, but then they tack on a
>>> "non-member surcharge".
>>
>> We used to have Shopper's Drugmart here, but it wasn't a member place.
>> Just
>> a regular drugstore with really good prices and good variety.
>>
>>
> I don't think it is the same chain. This is a national firm and I don't
> think they are in the US. I could be wrong.

There aren't any here any more. They used to advertise "Savings so much
you'll need a shopping cart!"

Laura@notmy.com wrote:
> On Thu, 15 May 2008 18:15:06 -0400, Dennis <ds_rekuta@yahoo.ca> wrote:
>
>> Since I am on a drug plan,
>> I never checked if NPH was OTC. My cost at Shoppers' Drug Mart
>> (Ontario), including an $11 dispensing fee, is about $56 CAN for a 5 x
>> 3ml pack of penfills. In other words, the NPH cost $45.
>
>
> A dispensing fee? Is this a mail prescription program -- I was
> assuming that this was through a store. I don't think I've ever heard
> of a fee for dispensing medication. I'm not from Canada, so this is a
> brand new concept to me. Or is it possibly a membership club that
> allows non-members to purchase items, but then they tack on a
> "non-member surcharge".
nope

in Canada, all pharmacies add on a 'service charge' or 'dispensing fee'
that is a % of the total drug cost

my insurance pays for the med but not the dispensing fee

this means my meds cost anywhere from $10.22 (min) to $45.XX

thank goodness i don't have more expensive meds

--
kate
type 1 since 1987
www.diabetic-talk.org
http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/n...diagnosed.html

Dennis wrote:
> In article <6931p6F2uhjifU2@mid.individual.net>, me@privacy.net says...
>> Tim Shoppa wrote:
>>> On May 15, 12:28 am, "Julie Bove" <julieb...@verizon.net> wrote:
>>>> I asked the person I know where she gets her insulin in Canada? She is not
>>>> store loyal and said "Any grocery store. You don't need a prescription."
>>>> She also said she often gets it at Costco. Said the prices were about the
>>>> same everywhere.
>>> The last time I was in Canada (2005), Lantus was completely
>>> unavailable there. When I asked about it I was told "You have to drive
>>> to the US to get it".
>>>
>>> Regular and NPH were available OTC in Canada, at about the same price
>>> as in the US.
>>>
>>> Tim.
>> Lantus and Levemir are available in Canada now
>>
>> Januvia, Symlin, Byetta are not available yet
>>
>>
> Kate would know better Julie. I take NPH at night time to knock down my
> wake up numbers, but I use the Novo 3 ml Pen. Since I am on a drug plan,
> I never checked if NPH was OTC. My cost at Shoppers' Drug Mart
> (Ontario), including an $11 dispensing fee, is about $56 CAN for a 5 x
> 3ml pack of penfills. In other words, the NPH cost $45.
>
> I know that is expensive compared to vials and syringes, but I pay less
> than $10 co-pay per script, and they encouraged pens at the Diabetes
> Clinic in town when I was diagnosed.
>
> Dennis (Type 2)
my co-pay for levemir OR humalog is more than your co-pay is

i trust you are using insurance to get your insulin?

--
kate
type 1 since 1987
www.diabetic-talk.org
http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/n...diagnosed.html

On Fri, 16 May 2008 01:27:53 GMT, Laura@notmy.com posted:

>On Thu, 15 May 2008 18:15:06 -0400, Dennis <ds_rekuta@yahoo.ca> wrote:
>
>>Since I am on a drug plan,
>>I never checked if NPH was OTC. My cost at Shoppers' Drug Mart
>>(Ontario), including an $11 dispensing fee, is about $56 CAN for a 5 x
>>3ml pack of penfills. In other words, the NPH cost $45.
>
>
>A dispensing fee?

All Canadian pharmacies charge a dispensing fee. In some provinces,
they are required to itemize it separately on the bottle or box label,
while in other provinces, it is not shown separately, In Saskatchewan,
it is not shown separately, and in fact, the price is not on the label
itself, but is on the receipt.


--
roses are #FF0000
violets are #0000FF
all my base
are belong to you

On Thu, 15 May 2008 04:28:23 GMT, "Julie Bove" <juliebove@verizon.net>
wrote:

>I asked the person I know where she gets her insulin in Canada? She is not
>store loyal and said "Any grocery store. You don't need a prescription."
>She also said she often gets it at Costco. Said the prices were about the
>same everywhere.
>
While there is no prescription needed they will question you if you
are buying insulin...actually no prescription needed is a
misunderstanding because it is the pharmacist that prescribes it.

Wallywogs
email me at NOSPAM-wallywogs@gmail.com

T2 since 2002

Lantus 30 units Started March 11, 2008
NovoRapid 10 units before meals Started April 22, 2008
Diamicron MR 30 mg (Gliclazide) 2 am/2 pm
Metformin 500mg 2 am/1 lunch/1 supper

"Wally" <wallywogs@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:d0kv24h6u8b20814on9k74rflo83kradvf@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 15 May 2008 04:28:23 GMT, "Julie Bove" <juliebove@verizon.net>
> wrote:
>
>>I asked the person I know where she gets her insulin in Canada? She is
>>not
>>store loyal and said "Any grocery store. You don't need a prescription."
>>She also said she often gets it at Costco. Said the prices were about the
>>same everywhere.
>>
> While there is no prescription needed they will question you if you
> are buying insulin...actually no prescription needed is a
> misunderstanding because it is the pharmacist that prescribes it.

Huh? Here, only a Dr. can prescribe.

On Sun, 18 May 2008 06:53:21 GMT, Julie Bove posted:

>
>"Wally" <wallywogs@shaw.ca> wrote in message
>news:d0kv24h6u8b20814on9k74rflo83kradvf@4ax.com.. .
>> On Thu, 15 May 2008 04:28:23 GMT, "Julie Bove" <juliebove@verizon.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>I asked the person I know where she gets her insulin in Canada? She is
>>>not
>>>store loyal and said "Any grocery store. You don't need a prescription."
>>>She also said she often gets it at Costco. Said the prices were about the
>>>same everywhere.
>>>
>> While there is no prescription needed they will question you if you
>> are buying insulin...actually no prescription needed is a
>> misunderstanding because it is the pharmacist that prescribes it.
>
>Huh? Here, only a Dr. can prescribe.
>

Different country, different laws and customs. I mentioned before that
I was told by a pharmacist that I could buy strips without a
prescription. When I mentioned I would need the prescription for
insurance purposes, She said she could write the prescription.

It's for certain things only, though. My doctor made a mistake on the
prescription he wrote for ramipril. He was supposed to increase the
dosage. When I went to get it filled, I caught the error and asked the
pharmacist to double-check the size. She had filled it according to
what the doctor wrote, but had to contact the doc to get it changed.

--
roses are #FF0000
violets are #0000FF
all my base
are belong to you

On 5/17/08 11:53 PM, in article BnQXj.1154$pk1.280@trndny07, "Julie Bove"
<juliebove@verizon.net> wrote:

>
> "Wally" <wallywogs@shaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:d0kv24h6u8b20814on9k74rflo83kradvf@4ax.com...
>> On Thu, 15 May 2008 04:28:23 GMT, "Julie Bove" <juliebove@verizon.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I asked the person I know where she gets her insulin in Canada? She is
>>> not
>>> store loyal and said "Any grocery store. You don't need a prescription."
>>> She also said she often gets it at Costco. Said the prices were about the
>>> same everywhere.
>>>
>> While there is no prescription needed they will question you if you
>> are buying insulin...actually no prescription needed is a
>> misunderstanding because it is the pharmacist that prescribes it.
>
> Huh? Here, only a Dr. can prescribe.
>
>
Very limited. They can prescribe test strips too.

--
Martha T2 Canada
1500mg. Metformin, 4mg. Avandia