I have a number of questions regarding Novopens, how to get them and what PenFill cartridges are available for use in them. Each of these might be a separate thread but since they are all so closely related let me group them together if I may.
(1) Do Novopens ever wear out? I’ve been using my Novopen 3’s for over 10 years to inject Novolog and Novolin N. They’ve given me great service and I love them but I’m wondering if and/or when they should be replaced? They are a mechanical device and probably have a defined life span but I’ve searched for such info and asked a number of pharmacists and have not found any statement about this. Surprisingly I can’t find anything relating to this on the Novo Nordisk website.
(2) If I do replace the pens I would like to replace them with Novopen 4’s. But I can’t find a source for them in the United States. Curious that. They’ve been available for a number of years now so one would think they should be readily available. It seems sometimes Novo Nordisk selectively distributes some products to specific parts of the world but not to others. Does anybody know where I can acquire Novopen 4’s in the U.S.?
(3) My medical plan will cover my insulin (PenFill cartridges) but not the delivery system (Novopens). Go figure. So the expense of acquiring 3-4 new Novopens pens is a bit dear. One would kinda hope Novo Nordisk would replace my old pens for new pens but I’ve been unable to make that happen. Any suggestions?
(4) I am following a new insulin strategy which includes Novolog, Novolin N, Leximir and Symlin. Yeah, I’m beginning to feel a bit like a pin cushion. I’ve been using Novolog and Novolin N in PenFill cartridges & Novopens for years. The Leximir and Symlin are new and I would very much like to use them in PenFill/Novopen form too. I’ve seen some net citations indicating Leximir is available in PenFill cartridges but my pharmacy says it is only available in a FlexPen. Does anybody know whether Leximir is available in PenFill cartridges and will these cartridges fit in a standard Novopen? Similarly, Symlin seems only available as a FlexPen. Is this so?
Thanking you all in advance for any help or guidance you might be able to provide.
I don’t know if this helps but,I have been using the disposable flex pens and I like them.
I copied this from the Novo Nordisk site
Contact us
General Information:
Novo Nordisk Inc.
100 College Road West
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 987-5800
If you wish to make product inquires, you can call the following numbers:
Diabetes:
1-800-727-6500
They have always been helpful about answering any questions I had.
Hope this helps.
Ron
Hi Ron. And thank you. I like the FlexPens too. They are a really great insulin delivery system light years beyond anything we had not too many years ago. And I recommend them for almost anybody still taking injections. Still, the refillable Novopens (and other similar PenFill products from other vendors) are my preference. I’m a newbie on this forum/website so I’m guessing this topic has already been covered on a previous thread somewhere in the archives. But just in case this is why I prefer a refillable PenFill cartridge system over the FlexPens.
I do a good amount of traveling. And even though I used to do a lot more adventure travel than I do now I still like to be prepared to go any time I get the chance. I find it much easier to manage my insulin in PenFill cartridges while traveling than it is to lug around the larger boxes of FlexPens. The PenFill cartridges are a much smaller package so they are much much easier to pack away, keep cool (or warm if necessary) and protect while traveling. I can take many multiples of cartridges of the different types of insulin I take in the same space as just one or two boxes of FlexPens. And the cartridges are each individually foil wrapped so I can keep them cool almost anywhere. I’ve kept them cool in rivers & lakes, in common area refrigerators, and in small carry-around cool-packs where FlexPens wouldn’t have worked nearly as well. I’ve also carried the PenFill cartridges inside my clothes next to my body to keep them from freezing in harsh cold environments. Also, the Novopens are made of metal and are quite durable compared to the light-weight plastic FlexPens so they can take a lot more abuse. Read: Being dropped and being carried in the side pocket of pack or on a belt pack which might take some hits. Plus, if anything happens to one of my pens I can dispense any of my insulins through whichever pen(s) are still functioning. In a total pinch I would need only one working pen to dispense any and all of my insulins. The FlexPens - being a complete integrated package - are a one shot deal. No swapping possible. Simply put, the 3ml PenFill cartridges and insulin pens (i.e., NovoPen) are much preferable for my lifestyle. If I wasn’t traveling and spending time way off the grid I would probably prefer the FlexPens too.
But, I’m Scot. (Read: Cheap) And I try to recycle whenever I can. I find the FlexPens kinda wasteful. Every time I empty one and toss it out only to start another whole pen which will meet a similar fate as soon as it is empty I’m tinged with a little ecological guilt. Not a lot mind you. I’d rather live to recycle than not. And in the total scope of things I figure insulin delivery systems aren’t the worst affront to the environment. But still, why not if there is another - and better, at least for me - alternative?
Hope that explains my preference for PenFill cartridges even though I admire and appreciate FlexPens
Most pen manufacturers expect you to get the actual pen from your endo (via their product rep for that company)… i know lilly occasionally has a free coupon offer for theirs… but ask your endo… i DEFINITELY would replace those pens… and as someone suggested call the manufacturer… they may offer you a promotion or coupon to get the physical pen if you have a prescription…(I ran into this getting a reusable pen from my endo, since he does NOT get any samples or takes visits from the local sales reps)…
Thanks. You’ve given me new inspiration to chase this a little farther. I have already communicated with Novo Nordisk via a forms processor on their website and follow-up email but, curiously, have received no helpful feedback. It is as if I’m getting a canned automated boiler-plated response: Yes, Novopen 3’s are available for 3ml cartridges. But I’ve not gotten anything back regarding the lifespan of a Novopen, replacement options for Novopens, or the availability of Novopen 4’s in the US. I’m coming to the conclusion this is one those times a telephone call and direct communication with a real person might be more productive. Your post reminded me of this. Thanks. I’ll post a follow-up on this forum with anything I learn.
Yeah getting through to a live rep on the phone and not a scripted one seems to get a bit more action… The most horrid phone experience iv had is trying to reach a person calling the company that makes Lantus…
I could only get through to a scripted foriegner (or it sounded) who could sign me up for their online club and remind me im giving away a few rights to enroll…
Lillys phone people are great, also had good experience with Novartis, BD and mostly Lifescan (there was one issue i was really angry with lifescan over but in general they were nice folks)… For email support, I had very good response times with Freestyle/Abbott and Lifescan email… Havent called Freestyle in a long time… Only other company I did NOT enjoy talking to on the phone was Bayer Diagnostics…the few times I called them it was more of a blame the user and a “your bothering us” mentality…I gave up on the Dex… due to the strips going off if the wind blew BEFORE they were filled… and I got a … well its you not it plus the whole incompatible data cable thing… No deals on a new data cable after i had bought one for the Glucometer XL (which i liked but it had the mixed blessing of foil wrapped strips) and of course it wasnt compatible with any other of their meters…
Phone support is an IMPORTANT part of any d-product purchase IMHO… Defective glucose strips, dull needles, You will run into these things… (Lifescan had a batch of strips that didn’t want to go into the meter and activate unless you twiddled with them) And i know iv had some defective batches of pen needles… (Did you know most needles have a silicone lubrication layer on them… sometimes the coating doesnt get uniformly applied and a few needles will be duds)… And iv even had a Humalog prefilled pen jam up…
There are technical issues and things like this… most times its easier to pick up the phone and talk to a rep…
Heck iv even had boxes of Alcohol Swabs with an excessive amount of duds (Open the pad and surprise its DRY)… Most of these companies realize your in it for the long haul, so being nice to you means youll keep buying their product instead of jumping to the competition…
Novopens have a test you can do to check the accuracy. Its in your owners manual. You put on a novopen pen tip, remove the cap, remove the inner cap, do an air shot, put the outer cap back on and dial up 20 units of insulin. With the pen pointing down towards the floor, depress the delivery button so the shot of insulin will to right into the outer pen cap. The pen cap should be filled with insulin up to the part where it starts to flare outward. The bottom part of the cap should be full. If its not, you may need a new pen.
As long as its delivering the proper amount of insulin, I see no reason to replace it. They are finely crafted precision instruments and should last a long long time if well taken care of. They cost about $100 each to replace.
Pens can be purchased at your pharmacy, or you may be able to get one free at your local diabetes clinic if your old one no longer works and you can prove it. They don’t just give them away.
Novopens can be used for products made by the Novolin company. As far as I know, they are not used for insulins from other companies.
I have had my novopen 3 replaced 2 times with a simple phone call they sent them UPS and I had them in 2-3 days.
As for the novopen 4s I bought 2 on ebay they were brand new not opened I find that they are a little smaller and easier to use, also the cartriges for the novopen 3 will fit the novopen 4
