Why do I need a prescription for those? / myLot

By JJ

March 9, 2016 5:23am CST

Can't seem to figure this out. I'm diabetic, so I'm supposed to test my blood sugar/glucose every morning. I had been really lax in doing it for a while, but I started doing it again. Anyway, over the past weekend, I ran out of test strips for my glucose meter, so I thought I would go get some. I was surprised to learn you need a prescription to get them.

And mine was outdated.

So I had to wait for the weekend to end so I could contact my doctor and get it renewed. But I don't understand why a person needs a prescription to buy the test strips and the lancets for the machine. They aren't a drug...you can't take them. The lancets can't be used to inject anything. By any standard I can conceive, they shouldn't be regulated by a prescription. It would make almost as much sense (in my opinion) to require a prescription to buy bandaids or sewing needles. Maybe I'm missing something... (Edit: what I appeared to be missing is the cost...evidently, they can be purchased without one, for an outrageous fee)

26 people like this

25 responses

Yalul

@yalul070 (1713)

• Manila, Philippines

9 Mar 16

Uh-uh talk about regulation! maybe some people are having fun with their glucose meters that taking blood sugar levels has become an addictive exercise

3 people like this

dpk262006

@dpk262006 (58673)

• Delhi, India

10 Mar 16

Is it? What purpose it serve for them?

1 person likes this

dpk262006

@dpk262006 (58673)

• Delhi, India

11 Mar 16

@yalul070

1 person likes this

Yalul

@yalul070 (1713)

• Manila, Philippines

11 Mar 16

@dpk262006 i'm just kidding dude

1 person likes this

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (357177)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Mar 16

Vince buys these too but doesn't need a prescription. He says they aren't that expensive here.

3 people like this

@JolietJake (50190)

•

9 Mar 16

I'm getting various replies on facebook, some people say they get them cheap without one, other people say they are quite expensive that way.

2 people like this

dazzledlady

@dazzledlady (1618)

• Philippines

9 Mar 16

Hmm well in my country we dont need a perscription to buy test strips or lancets unless you want to avail senior citizen discount. But in your country , you probably should ask the pharmacist who catered you for the information of mylot readers as well because it got my curiosity. If I were to make my conclusion they probably need it if you are purchasing the test strips under your insurance.

2 people like this

@JolietJake (50190)

•

9 Mar 16

No, I was going to buy them straight out with cash.

1 person likes this

@JolietJake (50190)

•

9 Mar 16

@dazzledlady Actually just did some nosing around the Internet...evidently, you don't have to have one if you are willing to pay $120 for 50 strips vs paying $7 or less if you have a prescription...the pharmacist didn't explain that to me, and the doctor had stated I did need one to get them...

1 person likes this

dazzledlady

@dazzledlady (1618)

• Philippines

9 Mar 16

@JolietJake wow the price difference. And there it goes , the power of explaination. I always emphasize it to my people that if they just explain procedures properly then they have lesser problems with their clients. Hahaha! Sometimes , we just need some justification.

2 people like this

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Silvermist

@silvermist (19702)

• India

9 Mar 16

@JolietJake This is the first time I have come across such a case .Nodody here needs a prescription for those strips.

2 people like this

@JolietJake (50190)

•

9 Mar 16

I thought it weird, but talking to my Dad yesterday, he said he had to have one too

2 people like this

ida123

@ida123 (6206)

• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines

9 Mar 16

My youngest son and my husband were also using test strips for the gluco meter but when they buy it, the pharmacy don't need any prescription because it can't be taken. I feel bad that when you need the strips you also need a prescription and that is too much.

2 people like this

@JolietJake (50190)

•

9 Mar 16

After researching it a bit, it appears I can get them without a prescription, but the cost is outrageous.

1 person likes this

Reine25

@Lucky15 (37374)

• Philippines

9 Mar 16

Strips being prescribed? Hmmm. Isn't that too much? Adding more work for the.doctor

and the pharmacist too

2 people like this

@JolietJake (50190)

•

9 Mar 16

It seems kind of weird to me, for sure.

2 people like this

Oshy

@TiarasOceanView (70022)

• United States

9 Mar 16

Oh its all backwards JJ. I dont see it either. Yes I am pretty sure I have seen them to buy without having the prescrip..it would make sense for them to be available without the prescrip for gads sake. Yes take care of yourself you lolz

2 people like this

Juliaacv

@Juliaacv (54003)

• Canada

9 Mar 16

I would imagine that the prescribing doctor may be getting a kick-back for writing the script, just a thought.

2 people like this

Marlina

@marlina (154117)

• Canada

9 Mar 16

Here in Canada, we need a prescription for those too,.

2 people like this

Jekca

@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

10 Mar 16

that's crazy! Or maybe that is to encourage you to be sure the dr is doing yearly tests and stuff

2 people like this

Nanette Piotrowski

@nanette64 (20364)

• Fairfield, Texas

9 Mar 16

That is absolutely ridiculous @JolietJake . Especially when you consider that some 'organizations' hand out free NEEDLES to ADDICTS to help stop the spread of AIDS. Seriously?

2 people like this

Anne Johnston

@AnneEJ (4917)

• Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Quebec

9 Mar 16

That is probably the reason, they are less expensive if you have a prescription.

2 people like this

fishtiger58

@fishtiger58 (29819)

• Momence, Illinois

9 Mar 16

I bet you get them fairly cheap with the prescription. What I don't understand is those who make them for OTC purchase. I mean if they are that expensive why would anyone buy them OTC

2 people like this

O'Kennedy

@OKennedy (1130)

• United States

9 Mar 16

they sometimes don't make any sense with the way they do things.

2 people like this

dpk262006

@dpk262006 (58673)

• Delhi, India

10 Mar 16

Did not you try to find out from the authorities concerned who have made it compulsory to carry a Doctor's prescription for buying strips from a Chemist? Did not you try to probe the Chemists who was insisting for a prescription?

1 person likes this