[Stuboy]

Who said you can't use Lantus in a novopen?

[Funnygrl]

And you have absolutely no studies showing this is safe or accurate. I wouldn't do it. Medical devices are things meant to be used as directed.

[DeusXM]

I'd be careful - the plunger might not be calibrated correctly.

How did you manage to screw the needle on?

[Stuboy]

why would it not be calibrated properly? Surely if it's calibrated well enough to dose novorapid, it's calibrated properly?

Oh well, guess i'll carry on using the crappy autopen!

[Funnygrl]

Originally Posted by Stuboy

why would it not be calibrated properly? Surely if it's calibrated well enough to dose novorapid, it's calibrated properly?

Oh well, guess i'll carry on using the crappy autopen!

If the lantus cartridge isn't exactly the same as the lantus cartridge, it will dose inaccurately. If you want to use your novo pen for lantus, get Levemir.

[BlueSky]

The problem is the design. Lantus cartridges don't fit in a Novopen. With Lantus, the needle screws onto the pen (like with a Humalog pen). With Novo, the needle screws ont the cartridges, which are made with a thread on them.

Lantus works fine with a Humalog pen. Because I have been using one ever scince I switched to Lantus two years ago, calibration differences are irrelevant. The calibration may well be a bit dfferent, but as long as you don't switch between different pens, you will get consistent dosing.

[Funnygrl]

The needle on my lantus cartridge screws onto the cartridge, not the pen.

[Stuboy]

but you can screw the needle to a lantus cartridge! clearly you can... because i did it...

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by Stuboy

but you can screw the needle to a lantus cartridge! clearly you can... because i did it...

Well the Lantus cartridges must be different here (New Zealand). I use Novopens for Actrapid and Novorapid. And I would use one for Lantus too if I could. If you want to try switching to the Novopen, it is probably a good idea to reduce the number of units to start with and titrate the dosage upwards to the level that works best for you.

[Stuboy]

it's only a plastic bit that pulls off a novorapid cartridge, the cartridges themselves are identical. novo nordisk just put plastic attatchments on them to screw a needle on! It clips right onto a lantus cartridge.

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by Stuboy

..... novo nordisk just put plastic attatchments on them to screw a needle on! It clips right onto a lantus cartridge.

Hmmm .... I hadn't thought of that! When I have finished my current Novorapid cartridge, I will try taking the thread off and putting it on a Lantus cartridge. I would like to be able to use Lantus with an Innovo pen, which displays the number of units of the last shot on a digital screen. It will help with dosage titration.

[Stuboy]

ok, welll my disclaimer is it's not my fault if your dosage goes wrong :P at your own risk! but do let me know if it's all good! lol

[SueM]

Dumb question but if you don't like the pen why not use a syringe for the lantus?

[Stuboy]

ummm... nah, i'd rather avoid using a syringe!!

[JJeenn]

Originally Posted by Stuboy

why would it not be calibrated properly? Surely if it's calibrated well enough to dose novorapid, it's calibrated properly?

Oh well, guess i'll carry on using the crappy autopen!

I just got my Lantus Autopen yesterday and it sucks. I'm pretty sure it shorted me five units on my dose last night (the dial was pointing to five after I pulled it out but then clicked back as soon as I touched it), and the side slider thing is just awkward to use.

'Course my Humalog pen isn't much better quality, but at least it's more ergonomically designed.

Wish I could just use both types of insulin in the Novopens, those things are nice!