[cperciva]

One issue here which is obvious to me is that access to insulin should not be gated on paperwork. I can walk into any pharmacy in Canada and say "I'm diabetic and need insulin" and the pharmacist will sell it to me. They'll ask questions of course since this is not the usual path but my doctor's office being open will have no influence on whether I get it -- just on whether it's a 5 minute process or a 15 minute process, and potentially whether I have to pay myself or have it covered by insurance.

[darth_avocado]

Also, to people in the US worried about having to go to the ER, Urgent Cares are the way to go with the kind of time the author was working with. You’ll be immediately seen, and not break the bank like an ER even if your insurance doesn’t cover it. They also should have all kinds of insulin at hand.

[tick_tock_tick]

You can in the USA too. Every Walmart in the country (and by god there are a lot of them) caries OTC insulin for $20-$25.

[zamadatix]

This is good info. I was going to say you can't in Indiana (where I used to live) but it turns out they changed their mind and it went into effect in 2021. Now (at least according to a current search) all states allow for at least a few forms of over the counter insulin (not the modern analogs, but it's better than nothing!)

[Projectiboga]

True but that is the old Human insulin which is in some way not a drug the way the current modified insulins are. Thanks for giving people this heads up.

[s1artibartfast]

Is that true for every type and format? You can walk into walmart and get regular and NPH insulin over the counter, no questions asked. Newer ones require a Rx.

I do think that the US is obnoxiously conservative, and far more medications should be OTC.

Instead, you cant even buy kidney friendly cat food without an expensive Rx from a vet and tons of controls. Heaven forbit someone buy it without proper consultation. Think of the Kittens!

Edit: after some reading, it seems that Canada and US are outliers in the west for allowing OTC insulin. UK and Europe requires Rx for all insulin.

Asia is more mixed. Japan, Korea: Rx required. China, Rx on paper, OTC in practice. India OTC

[dehrmann]

> you cant even buy kidney friendly cat food without an expensive Rx from a vet and tons of controls

There are a few law suits over this. Essentially, the claim is that they call it "prescription," but it has no prescription medications in it and isn't approved by the FDA to treat anything. So if you have an extra bag and sell it, this is OK since it isn't actually a drug, it's allegedly a price fixing scheme between vets and pet food makers.

[cperciva]

Is that true for every type and format

Yes, OTC for everything. I've heard that some pharmacists ask more questions about types which are commonly abused by body builders but that's about the extent of it.

Funny story since you mention cats: My brother's cat was diabetic and prescribed long acting insulin which cost $250/vial. I looked it up and... apparently it was just relabeled lantus, because of course nobody is going to waste money on a separate manufacturing line. Ended up buying it from my local pharmacy, without a prescription, instead of using the vet prescription.