State Laws - Do I need a prescription for Syringes and insulin? (needles, buy)
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Do I need a prescription to get insulin or syringes?
In all states new, insulin analogs DO require a prescription. These include Humalog, Novolog, or Apidra, as well as Lantus.
Note 1 for chart below: Older insulins such as regular (R) do not need a prescription except in Alaska. The chart below only specifies if older insulins require a prescription.
Do I need a prescription to get insulin or syringes?
In all states new, insulin analogs DO require a prescription. These include Humalog, Novolog, or Apidra, as well as Lantus.
Note 1 for chart below: Older insulins such as regular (R) do not need a prescription except in Alaska. The chart below only specifies if older insulins require a prescription.
John, it's been that way for a long time. If I remember correctly, I didn't need prescriptions to get insulin vials, or syringes, at least here in Arizona, up until sometime in the mid 1990s.
This is one of those "a few bad apples ruin it for the rest of us" situations. They started requiring prescriptions for syringes because too many people, who did not have diabetes, were getting them to use for illegal drugs.
I have found that Wal-Mart sells the cheapest insulin w/o a prescription. They have their own brand, Relion, of Novalin that they sell for $24.+ per vial. With a prescription, the brand Novalin sells for $45 per vial. So, I always go to Wal-Mart.
I was on all the new stuff at $85/vial until I hit the Medicare donut hole. I spend $250/mo as it is on insulin. I can't afford $800-900/mo on just insulin, so my doctor called around for me to find the cheapest.
I have found that Wal-Mart sells the cheapest insulin w/o a prescription. They have their own brand, Relion, of Novalin that they sell for $24.+ per vial. With a prescription, the brand Novalin sells for $45 per vial. So, I always go to Wal-Mart.
I was on all the new stuff at $85/vial until I hit the Medicare donut hole. I spend $250/mo as it is on insulin. I can't afford $800-900/mo on just insulin, so my doctor called around for me to find the cheapest.
No, I get them at my regular pharmacy b/c I have Medicare and a prescription. I think it counts as med equipment and doesn't cost much if anything. I have so many pills I don't remember all the details. The insulin was so extorbitant that I could not buy the newest versions.
The funny thing is, I got much better control on the Novalin instead of Lantus, Novolog, and Levemir!
Last edited by SouthernBelleInUtah; 11-22-2009 at 12:35 PM..
Reason: typo
No, I get them at my regular pharmacy b/c I have Medicare and a prescription. I think it counts as med equipment and doesn't cost much if anything. I have so many pills I don't remember all the details. The insulin was so extorbitant that I could not buy the newest versions.
The funny thing is, I got much better control on the Novalin instead of Lantus, Novolog, and Levemir!
I'm glad you found a much less expensive insulin. That is a lot of money!
Me, too, thanks! The Novolin with a prescription is the same price at Wal-Mart or my pharmacy, $45 more or less. It's just the Wal-Mart relion brand that is about 1/2 of that.
So, I just got a new box of 100 syringes, 10 packs of 10, w/Medicare it was just under $25. Of course, like most older folks, I re-use needles even though STRONGLY warned not to do that.
In NH the pharmacy can see packs of ten syringes with no prescription and no record keeping at all. Some pharamacies choose to do this some do not. I am glad to say that my pharmacy does choose to sell needles since although I in NO WAY advocate drug use I would rather see clean needle usage. We sell a pack of ten needles for $2.99. When people come in and as for a pack of "half halfs" I know they arn't using the needles for insulin
My dr said I should first try otc insulin novolin and he only wote a rx for syringes becuse you need a rx for them in my state
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