Opticlick Pen Possible Dosage Problem
in [Diabetes]
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From: Owlyn on 17 Feb 2006 06:39 I just got the Opticlick/Lantus combination. I am an experienced pen user, having used Humalog, Humulin, and Novopen 1.5 pens for many years. I know that 10 units of insulin should fill the needle tip cap up to the top of the thin, straight part (resevoir). This has been a stnadard test. Although there is no such test indicated for the Opticlick, I did one anyway. Actually, I did two. Both filled the needle tip resevoir only about half way. This was after a 1 unit safety check and holding the button down for the required 10 seconds. Anyone have any information to share on this? I called Opticlick tech support and was REQUIRED to leave a message with the promise that someone would get back to me within an hour. That was 32 minutes ago.
From: Ma?k on 17 Feb 2006 07:05 On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 11:39:17 GMT, "Owlyn" <not.me(a)uhuh.rcn.com> Huffed and Puffed the following into the madness of usenet: >I just got the Opticlick/Lantus combination. I am an experienced pen user, >having used Humalog, Humulin, and Novopen 1.5 pens for many years. I know >that 10 units of insulin should fill the needle tip cap up to the top of the >thin, straight part (resevoir). This has been a stnadard test. Although >there is no such test indicated for the Opticlick, I did one anyway. >Actually, I did two. Both filled the needle tip resevoir only about half >way. This was after a 1 unit safety check and holding the button down for >the required 10 seconds. > >Anyone have any information to share on this? I called Opticlick tech >support and was REQUIRED to leave a message with the promise that someone >would get back to me within an hour. That was 32 minutes ago. > I've only ever used syringes with lantus. are the pen needles the same ones regardless of the pen used? or are you using different sizes for the opiticlick and the other pen/s? -- M?ck?? Deltec CoZmore Pumper Type 1 since 1975 http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org http://www.diabetic-talk.org http://www.insulin-pumpers.org "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." ....Theodore Roosevelt (o ?) --ooO-(_)-Ooo-------------------- "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." ....Bilbo Baggins Jesus never hated anyone.
From: Owlyn on 17 Feb 2006 09:10 They are the same.
From: Owlyn on 17 Feb 2006 13:10 So far, I can prove that my Opticlick pen dispenses roughy 50% of the amount of insulin that my Humalog and Humulin pens dispense. I conducted three tests (2 at 10 units and one at 20 units), following manufacturers' instructions regarding air shot/safety tests, etc. In each test, the Opticlick pen dispensed 50% of the amount of insulin that the Lilly pen dispensed. Optliclick support says that they are familar with this issue, and that it is not a problem. They say that others have called in explaining that they dispensed x units into a syringe, and the syringe shows y units. Here is their crock of s**t explanation: The Opticlick pen dispenses insulin based on weight/density (or some other method not based on volume) rather than volume. Okay, I say, then how come your literature says that in case the pen stops functioning, you can use a syringe to withdraw the insulin from the cartridge? The nurse in their support department basically agreed with me. A U100 unit is a U100 unit no matter how you measure it. I called my endo, and he was surprised to hear about this. We both agreed that unless I will one day switch to some other injection method (syringe), it doesn't really matter, as long as I ultimately inject the amount of insulin I need, and having just started Lantus, I will need to adjust the dose anyway. Then, the number on the pen is just a reference number. We also agreed that this is no excuse, and it should be right. I am in the process of obtaining a replacement pen in the hope that I just happen to have a bad one. BTW, Opticlick said that they will be making some changes to the pen. They did not elaborate. If anyone else cares to test, and needs to know how to compare, let me know. And please do not respond with, "why not just use a syringe".
From: Tere on 17 Feb 2006 16:26
Owlyn wrote: > So far, I can prove that my Opticlick pen dispenses roughy 50% of the > amount of insulin that my Humalog and Humulin pens dispense. I > conducted three tests (2 at 10 units and one at 20 units), following > manufacturers' instructions regarding air shot/safety tests, etc. In > each test, the Opticlick pen dispensed 50% of the amount of insulin > that the Lilly pen dispensed. Optliclick support says that they are > familar with this issue, and that it is not a problem. They say that > others have called in explaining that they dispensed x units into a > syringe, and the syringe shows y units. Here is their crock of s**t > explanation: The Opticlick pen dispenses insulin based on > weight/density (or some other method not based on volume) rather than > volume. Okay, I say, then how come your literature says that in case > the pen stops functioning, you can use a syringe to withdraw the > insulin from the cartridge? The nurse in their support department > basically agreed with me. A U100 unit is a U100 unit no matter how you > measure it. Not a probelm?!! You're getting half the dose and they say it's not a probelm?!! Their explaination IS a crock. Insulin is perscribed, measured and dosed by volume, not weight or density. Does their user manual explain this? I don't even know how a pen could measure the weight or density of the insulin. So what exactly does the number you dial up on the pen mean? Is it Units? Grams? mmol? mg/dl? Unless that supply instructions or a tool to convert from the standard measurement (volume) to their measurement, there is not way for to be sure you are giving the correct dose. Does this ratio differ with different kind of insulin? > I called my endo, and he was surprised to hear about this. We both > agreed that unless I will one day switch to some other injection method > (syringe), it doesn't really matter, as long as I ultimately inject the > amount of insulin I need, and having just started Lantus, I will need > to adjust the dose anyway. Then, the number on the pen is just a > reference number. We also agreed that this is no excuse, and it should > be right. Except 3, 4, 5, years from now when you get new pen and have forgotten all about this, you could take twice as much insulin as you need. Since Lantus is a long acting insluin, you'll be dealing with that for up to 24 hours. More it if take more than one does to figure out what the problem is. > I am in the process of obtaining a replacement pen in the hope that I > just happen to have a bad one. > > BTW, Opticlick said that they will be making some changes to the pen. > They did not elaborate. This sounds like a lawsuit wait to happen. They are knowingly distributing a product that either dispense the worng dose or uses a non-standard unit of measure. The instruction (presumibly) don't mention this. And their customer service respose is that it's not a problem! If you're replacement pen behaves correctly, i.e. dispenses Units, then that strengthens the case the this is a flaw, not a feature. That makes their reposnse even more reprehensible. > If anyone else cares to test, and needs to know how to compare, let me > know. > > And please do not respond with, "why not just use a syringe". Why not just use a different brand pen? |