Tip for OOP with Follistim

miesl · April 2010

Get all 300 IU cartridges.

Yes, it'll mean more shots. It's completely and totally worth it.

My cartridge last night had 125 IU overfill (it looked like the cartridge with the most, so I used it first). That's high for overfill, but even if I only had 50 overfill... 50 * 9 cartridges = 450 units overfill.

I had 900 IU cartridges last time, about 75 overfill each. 3 * 75 = 225 overfill. I also ended up having about 400+ left in one of those at the end of the cycle, which ended up tossed.

Therefore... 300 cartridges all the way. More total overfill, less chance of losing dose at the end of a cycle.

LCB34 · April 2010

You may have more overfill but the price per IU decreases as you buy larger cartridges (at least it did with the pharm I used).

So, you need to do a bit more math that simply seeing how much extra you are getting. 300 may still be the best way to go but, more calculation that what you have done is needed.

miesl · April 2010

Really? The places I priced it was the same $/IU no matter what cartridge size or if you got it as vials to be mixed instead of cartridges.

LCB34 · April 2010

miesl:

Really? The places I priced it was the same $/IU no matter what cartridge size or if you got it as vials to be mixed instead of cartridges.

The pharm I used (a local place in Houston) was not that way. It wasn't a huge difference, and like I said, may not overcome the additional IUs in overfill you get going with a smaller cartridge but, there was a minor price difference per IU when ordering larger cartridges.

Missy0708 · April 2010

I discarded the leftover my last cycle also (but my insurance paid for it). Now that I am out of pocket, I am wondering this: Can't you just give yourself 2 injections? One to use up the vial and then put a new one in the pen and dial it up to the additional amount? Anyone know if this would work?

For example: Dose is 375, there is 200 left in vial- inject that than give myself another injection of 175 with a new vial.

LCB34 · April 2010

Missy0708:

I discarded the leftover my last cycle also (but my insurance paid for it). Now that I am out of pocket, I am wondering this: Can't you just give yourself 2 injections? One to use up the vial and then put a new one in the pen and dial it up to the additional amount? Anyone know if this would work?

For example: Dose is 375, there is 200 left in vial- inject that than give myself another injection of 175 with a new vial.

Yes you can. Just dial your dose (375) and push the plunger until it stops. Take not of where the dial stopped (in your example it would stop at 175), put in a new cartridge, dial to 175, and inject the rest of your meds.

Hoodlum90 · April 2010

I use Village Pharm. They told me that the makers of Follistim overfill each cartridge by about 100IUs, no matter the dose in the cartridge. Having used 900, 600, and 300 cartridges in 3 cycles of IVF, I'd say they were pretty much on the mark. They offer no discount for buying the larger amount, so I agree that in the end, you are getting more by buying 300IU cartridges. Also, you do run much less risk of having to crack open a larger one for just that last injection because you had to stim one extra day and then have to throw the rest away.

And for the person who asked, yes, you can use up the last amount of a cartridge and then inject the balance amt from a new one.

erinandbrockv · April 2010

I used Village Pharmacy too and I was so shocked at the cost of the Follistim-if I have to do IVF more than once I can not get the Pens like what I have now. They are over $3,000 for 3 of them!

Missy0708 · April 2010

Thanks girls!

hopefulmommy · April 2010

LCB34:
Missy0708:

I discarded the leftover my last cycle also (but my insurance paid for it). Now that I am out of pocket, I am wondering this: Can't you just give yourself 2 injections? One to use up the vial and then put a new one in the pen and dial it up to the additional amount? Anyone know if this would work?

For example: Dose is 375, there is 200 left in vial- inject that than give myself another injection of 175 with a new vial.

Yes you can. Just dial your dose (375) and push the plunger until it stops. Take not of where the dial stopped (in your example it would stop at 175), put in a new cartridge, dial to 175, and inject the rest of your meds.

Hope you don't mind me butting in, but I am going to run into this with my Follistim tonight. When you run out and the pen stops , you take out empty vial and put new one in, right? My question is will I have to redial or just push the rest in ? Thanks!!

LCB34 · April 2010

hopefulmommy:
LCB34:
Missy0708:

I discarded the leftover my last cycle also (but my insurance paid for it). Now that I am out of pocket, I am wondering this: Can't you just give yourself 2 injections? One to use up the vial and then put a new one in the pen and dial it up to the additional amount? Anyone know if this would work?

For example: Dose is 375, there is 200 left in vial- inject that than give myself another injection of 175 with a new vial.

Yes you can. Just dial your dose (375) and push the plunger until it stops. Take not of where the dial stopped (in your example it would stop at 175), put in a new cartridge, dial to 175, and inject the rest of your meds.

Hope you don't mind me butting in, but I am going to run into this with my Follistim tonight. When you run out and the pen stops , you take out empty vial and put new one in, right? My question is will I have to redial or just push the rest in ? Thanks!!

I always redialed b/c I think the dial has to be pulled all the way up in order to start a new cartridge.

hopefulmommy · April 2010

LCB34:
hopefulmommy:
LCB34:
Missy0708:

I discarded the leftover my last cycle also (but my insurance paid for it). Now that I am out of pocket, I am wondering this: Can't you just give yourself 2 injections? One to use up the vial and then put a new one in the pen and dial it up to the additional amount? Anyone know if this would work?

For example: Dose is 375, there is 200 left in vial- inject that than give myself another injection of 175 with a new vial.

Yes you can. Just dial your dose (375) and push the plunger until it stops. Take not of where the dial stopped (in your example it would stop at 175), put in a new cartridge, dial to 175, and inject the rest of your meds.

Hope you don't mind me butting in, but I am going to run into this with my Follistim tonight. When you run out and the pen stops , you take out empty vial and put new one in, right? My question is will I have to redial or just push the rest in ? Thanks!!

I always redialed b/c I think the dial has to be pulled all the way up in order to start a new cartridge.

Will do! Thx!!

halfnhalf · April 2010

I think I am going to copy and paste this conversation into a word document, LOL, because I start follistim on Monday night for the first time and I feel sort of confused about it. I think once I sit down and take a look at the pens, etc I'll be okay, but so far I haven't really done that.

So thanks for the information in advance, I'm sure I'll be needing it!!!

GL everyone!

Want a personalized experience?

Tip for OOP with Follistim

Re: Tip for OOP with Follistim

Choose Another Board

Search Boards