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In reply to the discussion: New Pharma Bros Strike: This time it's the EpiPen. . . Up 450%, from $50 to $600 for a 2-pack. [View all]REP
(21,691 posts)Tolinase is an old, inexpensive oral diabetes drug, perfect for people like me, who have steroid-induced diabetes with non-diabetic kidney disease. Metformin, a newer and more expensive drug, is very harmful to the kidneys and I can't take it.
So what happened when the one oral medicine I could take was unavailable? Well, first I could started on another oral agent that gave me pancreatitis. What was left? Insulin.
The cheapest, low-tech insulin is about $120/vial. The one that is right for me, Lantus, is over $200/vial.
Actually this ended up being to my advantage; the Tolinase was causing very mild pancreatitis as well, and I feel much better on insulin ... and though the shortage ended up being a good thing for me, I wonder how many people are paying for insulin when Tolinase is still a good choice for them.