Submitted by trail-coffee t3_z40hx7 in pittsburgh

Hey I ran out of insulin and don’t want to pay $300 (insurance) to get at ER. My urgent care is $20 and obviously pharmacy would be free (for the visit, not insulin).

Is there anywhere in town to get insulin?

Edit: was able to make it through night alright. Got a prescription at an urgent care and went to a pharmacy that was open today.

Thanks for looking, I can’t believe a metro of ~5 million doesn’t have a single 24 hour pharmacy.

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[deleted] t1_ixort1j wrote

[deleted]

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Adorable_Anybody_133 t1_ixq5q42 wrote

Okay this is gonna sound dumb, But I have lived in both cranberry twp and Dormont and to me, they are 100% polar opposite of one another and I love so much that this has connect the two together… legit makes me heart so happy… that is all!

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Lurky_Murky_Rainbow t1_ixosuoh wrote

What kind do you use? I'm a diabetic and have extra.

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trail-coffee OP t1_ixotrie wrote

humalog pen, working on getting a prescription first thing in the morning. should have enough to get through the night if i don't snack.

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Lurky_Murky_Rainbow t1_ixou3bu wrote

I use novalog & tresiba pens. Happy to give you a novalog pen if you get stuck.

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just-kath t1_ixq4yed wrote

The number of people offering help to a stranger in this thread has given me so much hope. The last several years have broken my faith in most people but look at this. So many offers of immediate help warm my heart. Thank you good Pittsburgh folks..

OP I hope you sorted it out...

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arguchik t1_ixq8qlr wrote

I second this. Especially with how expensive insulin is.

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trail-coffee OP t1_ixows7u wrote

FYI, closest 24 hour CVS is Morgantown. The ones that used to be in oakland/downtown aren't 24/7.

According to Rite Aid website, no 24 hour pharmacy within 50 miles of south hills.

According to Walgreens website, no 24 hour pharmacy within 50 miles of south hills.

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time-lord t1_ixp7712 wrote

There was only one 24/7 pharmacy in the city, it's somewhere in the Shadyside/Squirrel Hill area. Unfortunately due to staffing, it isn't always 24/7 anymore.

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allieinspace t1_ixqkodx wrote

There is a 24 hour cvs in Shadyside/Oakland on centre Ave. they should have no problem filling it

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chuckie512 t1_ixqwku0 wrote

Not 24 hours anymore. The pharmacy isn't at least.

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trail-coffee OP t1_ixsnljm wrote

Negative, closest 24 hour CVS is Morgantown.

Edit: if you’re seeing “24 hour”, you’re probably looking at the convenience store and not pharmacy

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adam_mmm t1_ixp3320 wrote

I have a spare box of Humalog pens if you still need them.

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tvclown t1_ixoo2md wrote

Insulin is over the counter. Any 24 hr pharmacy should have it

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trail-coffee OP t1_ixooxxe wrote

My brand isn’t OTC, but the OTC stuff would work. Can’t find a pharmacy that’s open, the one in Oakland on Centre that Google says is open is actually closed.

Do u know if a 24 hour pharmacy that’s open?

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B0bb3r7 t1_ixortmh wrote

I think I read about that not being 24 hours. Looks like Rite Aid on Murray Ave is 24 hours.

EDIT - Derp. That's retail. What the fuck. Who wants retail 24 hours???

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trail-coffee OP t1_ixoskuf wrote

Rite aid website has all the pharmacies in the area as closed (as far as I can tell)

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Tr1ckygirl t1_ixp2ql1 wrote

Murray Ave was once 24 hours. Pre covid I delivered scrips from there and would get emergency late pickups from that location.

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coatedingold t1_ixort9o wrote

If your up for a drive the closest one I know that's 24 hours is in canton Ohio. Found out when I was sick on a Sunday night

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LearnDifferenceBot t1_ixorxyo wrote

> If your up

*you're

Learn the difference here.


^(Greetings, I am a language corrector bot. To make me ignore further mistakes from you in the future, reply !optout to this comment.)

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Maumee-Issues t1_ixp3bkk wrote

The otc insulin is super dangerous for modern diabetics without specific instructions from docs. It's only around as its cheap for animals or people who were diabetic long ago. But like since the 90s no one really uses it.

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ttsignal24 t1_ixp52k3 wrote

What!!!???!?!?!? Lol... whatever.... Don't share stupid info.

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Maumee-Issues t1_ixpbz4v wrote

I am a diabetic who goes to the doctor. And it is much less predictable than modern insulin which can still easily kill you if you don't know what you are doing. Also here. This explains it well https://khn.org/news/you-can-buy-insulin-without-a-prescription-but-should-you/amp/

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jetsetninjacat t1_ixq23um wrote

This is 100% why that ad/meme passed around Facebook about 25 dollar Walmart insulin was shit. Even the cheap shit that's OTC isn't the best.

Humalog w/o insurance when I first got type 1, 25$ a bottle. Humalog now, 275 with discount.

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ttsignal24 t1_ixp65zj wrote

Well... I'm being downvoted for trying to help.
Some of you must like to suffer for no reason.

That being said, you can get free insulin by walking into any hospital, clinic, urgent care, walmart, rite aid etc. You will need to prove that you need it (prior prescription, receipts, name with social if you have been prescribed in the past). All of that IF you have insurance.

If you Do Not have insurance, you can walk into any of those places and get it for free.. Period! Stop chatting and go get your insulin.

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Maumee-Issues t1_ixpdam1 wrote

Nothing is free in US Healthcare. If you go to the hospital they will bill you. If you go to the pharmacy, you pay before they give you the medication.

I am just curious where you learned these things honestly but I am skeptical and do not believe you. This runs counter to every experience I have had a s a diabetic in the US.

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fadedrosebud t1_ixsfqty wrote

One of the few instances of NextDoor being useful: lots of discussion recently about drugstores, especially RiteAid closing with no notice at various times because of no pharmacist being available. People go to get their script and find the pharmacy closed. This is a crappy development no matter what drug you need, so be aware. Rite Aid has a reputation for paying terrible wages and setting demanding schedules. Never mind not being able to get your prescription late at night, some people are having problems in the middle of a weekday.

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gimmedemplants t1_ixq7ivj wrote

I hope you were able to get your meds, OP! It makes me sad that you had to deal with this stress (how are there no 24/7 pharmacies in the area??), but also it made me happy to see all the help offered here ❤️

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trail-coffee OP t1_ixq86o8 wrote

At an urgent care with 375 sugar hoping to get a prescription and head to a pharmacy that opens before 9.

Worst case scenario, getting the old fashioned insulin at Walmart OTC (as long as it comes in pens or they sell needles)

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BetesBurgh t1_ixqmod8 wrote

Sent you a chat request. Happy to help if I can

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Dry-Anywhere-1372 t1_ixr9spz wrote

WalMart has N and R over the counter for like $25 a piece.

Best of luck man.

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ElectronicDiver2310 t1_ixrmn87 wrote

Did you get insulin? I've send a chat request yesterday.

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trail-coffee OP t1_ixsnc99 wrote

Yes, ended up just having to wait until normal urgent cares and pharmacies opened this morning. Closest thing I could find after hours last night was a CVS in Morgantown.

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ElectronicDiver2310 t1_iy23t78 wrote

Like I told in chat I am your neighbor and I have some extra (trying to keep like this).

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mommayeen t1_ixrp4gw wrote

Hey! I’m a nurse that works with a diabetes doctor! Get in touch with me! I have some questions that might be able to help you!

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MrRetrdO t1_ixrqcyn wrote

A girl I know mentioned something about Walmart having free or cheap (I forget which) emergency insulin for those in need.

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gibberson1 t1_ixrvqca wrote

Walmart pharmacy sells novolin R and novolin N and 70/30 for 24.99 a vial. Not exactly 1:1 for humalog but could hold you over for the time being!

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ginbear t1_ixoyag9 wrote

Lookup goodrx for discounts on your meds if you are buying outside of insurance at the pharmacy . Can save quite a bit of money that way.

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hot-bi-girl-1 t1_ixrtcqn wrote

Cvs in North Oakland is 24 hour

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hybrid_throwaway_ t1_ixs2t4j wrote

there's no way the pharmacy is open 24 hours. i haven't seen a 24 hour pharmacy in like 10 years.

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hot-bi-girl-1 t1_ixw4jpd wrote

I got a prescription filled there at 2:30am in Sept. This is the one on centre ave.

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ttsignal24 t1_ixp1pbs wrote

You could honestly get Insulin in less than 10 min if you need it. At no charge.
Social workers are here and can call things in also.

If you truly need it immediately, call 911.

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angry_eccentric t1_ixqo922 wrote

social workers cannot call in prescriptions. only a doctor or nurse practitioner can do that.

911 will send an ambulance, which is not what this person needs (hopefully). calling 911 for a non-emergency situation is a waste of resources, especially on a busy holiday weekend.

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[deleted] t1_ixr6q25 wrote

[deleted]

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angry_eccentric t1_ixr96qc wrote

right, but this person doesn't need police or EMTs, they need insulin. therefore, it wouldn't be a good use of emergency services, since the police would not do anything in this situation and EMTs could only drive this person to the ER, which they said they didn't want to do because it's prohibitively expensive.

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U84owe4 t1_ixot7fc wrote

There are 24/7 hour pharmacies in town - they are likely open tonight too

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trail-coffee OP t1_ixotlqm wrote

can you point me to one? all the rite aids show closed and all the 24 hour CVS i called (downtown and oakland) are closed.

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U84owe4 t1_ixou4hn wrote

You could also call the ER and ask where you can fill an emergency prescription tonight. They will have a place to use.

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Kyliep87 t1_ixoubp1 wrote

Maybe give a couple Walgreens a try. I know they have some 24 hour pharmacies, but not sure if they have different hours during holidays.

Eta - that might be a dead end too. Maybe a hospital pharmacy, but I honestly don’t know how that would work.

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U84owe4 t1_ixou0qj wrote

There are a few pharmacies on center Ave that are probably open

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U84owe4 t1_ixqmves wrote

That is not true - CVS on center Ave is 24/7

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ttsignal24 t1_ixp0njr wrote

Uh.... Why are you paying so much? I would ditch your insurance plan if doses are that hard to get.
Any clinic or hospital will likely provide it for free if you have some records. They will certainly provide it for free if you are in a situation where you need it asap. Just walk in. They are there to help, and they get it.

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BurningBright t1_ixp1s1k wrote

What hospital can you get anything for free at?

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ttsignal24 t1_ixp2oox wrote

I thought you were joking about the need for insulin. My bad. It's very easy to get. Free and if not, cheap. It's cheaper if you do Not have insurance. But do not lie.

For all you followers of this. Just go to Walmart (Assuming you live in the US). $15.00 no questions asked if you do not have insurance.

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adam_mmm t1_ixp3jvd wrote

While better than nothing, Walmart insulin isn't great. I was in a bad place for a few days and had to use it. Wouldn't recommend for a long period of time.

Also, as of today it costs $73 a vial. $86 if you choose to use pens.

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ttsignal24 t1_ixp6j7h wrote

Walmart provides Novo....... Like 90% of Canada and the US. Most popular brand for decades.

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ttsignal24 t1_ixp4a9i wrote

No... It does not. Walk in. Ask them. If you have no insurance, it is cheaper and most of the times free. Especially if you can show that you can not afford insurance.

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ttsignal24 t1_ixp4pki wrote

Do not let the downvotes discourage you. Some people like to feel like victims. Hit up your local Walmart (or any major drug store) they will take care of you.

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trail-coffee OP t1_ixq4qjc wrote

It’s not the doses, it’s the ER visit. Best pharmacy I could find for late thanksgiving day is in Morgantown (somebody above said a pharmacy in Canton is open as well).

Walmarts in the area are all closed too.

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