
Do You Need A Prescription To Buy Insulin – The cost of insulin is a major concern for many people living with insulin-dependent diabetes in the United States.
In this article, we’ll discuss what types of insulin are available from Walmart’s “ReliOn” brand, what they cost, how they work, and whether they’re a good choice for you.
Do You Need A Prescription To Buy Insulin
We have added a list of promotions and new products to the end of this article. Please read the full article before jumping to the end as it is important to understand the different types of insulin available from Walmart before choosing one.
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Over-the-counter insulin from Walmart that costs about $25 per vial is limited to two types of insulin:
Both of these insulins are what is called “synthetic human insulin”. It is different from newer insulins called insulin analogs.
Both require a very strict eating schedule. In the “old days” of type 1 diabetes treatment, a patient using Regular and NPH insulin had to eat a specific amount of carbohydrates every 2 to 3 hours.
If you don’t stick to a consistent eating schedule with plenty of carbohydrates, you’ll experience low blood sugar from time to time.
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For example, as a child with type 1 diabetes in the 90s, I followed a regimen like this:
Your life is run by the clock when you use these types of insulin compared to the flexibility and freedom that comes with today’s insulin options.
Patients who use these insulins without the guidance of a healthcare professional may not know that these insulins are not as effective in the body as the newer insulin they were using before. This can cause severe changes in blood sugar and can lead to death.
It used to be the only option for controlling your blood sugar around meals, but compared to today’s “rapid” and “rapid” insulins, regular insulin works very slowly because it stays in your system for a long time, up to 8 hours. , and peaks around 4 hours after injection.
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If you don’t eat every 2 to 3 hours while you are taking large daily doses of Regular insulin, you will experience many low blood sugars.
The most modern insulin works in your bloodstream within 15 minutes and out of your bloodstream within 4 hours. This means you don’t have to worry about tapering off or feeding that insulin dose after 2 to 3 hours. after taking it.
In the hospital, patients will find that when receiving insulin through an IV, short-acting insulin is still commonly used according to traditional “sliding” insulin dosing protocols.
NPH insulin is also known as “intermediate-acting” insulin. It used to be the only “primary” insulin option, but like Regular insulin, it doesn’t change compared to today’s other options.
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NPH only stays in your system for anywhere from 10 to 16 hours and has to be taken twice a day to meet your 24-hour basal insulin needs.
It also takes several hours to become active in your bloodstream, and peaks about 4 to 6 hours after taking it. Today’s long-acting insulin options – Basalgar, Lantus, Levemir, Tresiba, Toujeo – generally do not have a peak at all.
The peak in NPH contributes to the strict eating schedule that a person must follow if they are using these older insulins to control their blood sugar.

In short, no, you do not need a prescription to buy Walmart Generic or NPH insulin. However, you won’t find it sitting on the counter next to Tylenol either.
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You will have to go to a Walmart store and ask the pharmacist for a bottle to buy it.
Although it is considered an “over the counter” drug now, it is still managed very carefully by the pharmacy because it needs to be refrigerated and is still a high value drug despite being only $25 a bottle.
Considering that the most modern insulin options cost at least $300 per vial, the affordability of Walmart insulin is impressive. Unfortunately, the difficult schedule and limitations of these insulins make them the “last” option.
It is especially challenging for young children who have unpredictable eating habits and little understanding of how important it is to eat a specific amount of food at a specific time of day.
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These insulins will help you stay alive if you really can’t afford more modern insulin. If it’s the only type of insulin you have access to, then yes, it’s a good choice for you.
If you can get more advanced insulin through your health insurance or one of the many financial assistance programs available today, you’d be better off going that route.
Sure, it’s good that these old insulins are readily available but they are not the solution to a long, healthy and complete life for a person with diabetes. They are the last resort.
July 6, 2021 – Walmart today announced that it will begin selling its private label, fast-acting, analog insulin called ReliOn NovoLog. The new insulin is now available at Walmart pharmacies and is expected to be available at Sam’s Club stores in mid-July. You need a prescription to buy this insulin.
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It will be available in two different forms: either $73 for a vial (10 mL each, or 1,000 units) or $86 for a package of five pre-filled insulin pens (FlexPens, each containing 3 mL, or 300 units).
Walmart’s private label insulin will be manufactured by Novo Nordisk and is similar to Novo Nordisk’s NovoLog brand. With automatic savings from coupons, eligible customers can get insulin for as low as $35 a month with free delivery.
About one in 10 Americans has diabetes, and about 8 million use insulin to help manage their condition.
Insulin, though, can be expensive, and is a financial burden for more than 14% of people who use it in the U.S.
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Now, Amazon Pharmacy is introducing automatic coupons , offering instant savings on more than 15 insulin and diabetes brands. Consumers can save time and money on top-order products from Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Dexcom, and Insulet—such as insulin vials, pens, glucose monitors, and pumps. With auto-applied and manufacturer-sponsored coupons, many brands of insulin are available to eligible customers starting at $35 per month. And, because it’s an Amazon pharmacy, customers get free shipping and 24/7 access to Amazon’s pharmacy team.
We believe finding the medicine you need should be as easy as shopping on Amazon. Learn how Amazon Pharmacy makes it easy to order and receive all your orders.
“The availability of cheap diabetes drugs and technology can help people living with diabetes to have better health and avoid problems. “Sadly, some of the more than 37 million Americans living with diabetes cannot afford the treatment they need to survive,” said Charles “Chuck” Henderson, chief executive officer of the American Diabetes Association. “The ADA has been a leading voice in advocating for affordable technology of insulin and diabetes. “
While prescription coupons aren’t new, finding and redeeming them isn’t always easy. In fact, an estimated 85% of manufacturer sponsored coupons are not used.
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To solve this, Amazon developed technology that automatically applies eligible coupons at checkout, so customers won’t have to do any extra work to get the savings. Whether eligible customers are insured, underinsured, or uninsured, they’ll be able to view the price of each item directly on Amazon and never worry about missing out on potential savings.
“Imagine not knowing the price of food or other essential items before being asked to pay at the cash register – that would be a bad experience,” said John Love, vice president of Amazon Pharmacy. “The lack of advance pricing at the pharmacy is a pain point for customers that Amazon Pharmacy can help solve. Just like how customers shop for the products they need on Amazon, we make it easier to find essential medications. We’re excited to help customers find and afford their insulin better.”
“While the upfront pricing seems obvious, it’s a sea change in healthcare. As a physician, it’s reassuring to know that patients will have visibility into the cost of their insulin before they stand in line or wait to speak with a pharmacist. And, if the cost isn’t what they expect , we can find other options more quickly that are cheaper and suitable for their care,” said Dr. Vin Gupta, chief medical officer of Amazon Pharmacy. “Automating coupons allows patients to get quality drugs that are effective and affordable, and this combination can improve adherence and support better care.”
“It’s exciting to know that patients will now receive instant discounts on many of the most commonly prescribed insulin brands and diabetes care products available,” said Andrew Vo, pharmacist at Amazon Pharmacy. “In addition, we offer a broad selection that will support the needs of a large number of patients.”
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Manufacturer-sponsored coupons at Amazon Pharmacy are available for insulin and diabetes care products, as well as other brand-name treatments for COPD, obesity, and more. In addition to automatic coupons, Amazon Pharmacy