Guide to buying insulin in Mexico, 2024

FAQs ( Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Do I need a prescription to buy Insulin in Mexico?
   Answer : No. Doctor prescription is NOT needed.
2. Can I buy 1 year worth of insulin supply at once? Is there a limit to the amount of Insulin that I can buy? 
   Answer : There is NO law that limits the amount of Insulin you can buy, BUT most pharmacies will only let you buy 3 month of Insulin supply at once to ensure there is enough supply for other patients. If you plan on buying Insulin and taking it back to the US. The US border control seems to permit a maximum of 3 months of Insulin Supply during single trip across the border.
3. When and Where was this data collected from?
   Answer : From the pharmacies in Mexico City in May 2024 by Dr. Jimena Prieto.
   

Overview of various options available in pharmacies

Farmacia San-Pablo

Type of Insulin: Basal Insulin.

AURAX GLARGINA(Generic - exclusively sold in Farmacia San-Pablo)

• Active Ingredient: GLARGINA(Spanish), Glargine(English)
• Content: 10ml Vial
• Price: $480 Pesos ($23USD)
• Special Considerations: No pre-loaded pen, needs Refrigeration.

LANTUS by Sanofi

• Active Ingredient: GLARGINA(Spanish), Glargine(English)
• Content: 5 preloaded pens 100 U
• Price: $2,296 Pesos ($138 USD)
• Special Considerations: needs Refrigeration.

SOLIQUA by Sanofi

• Active Ingredient: GLARGINA(basal insulin) + LIXISENATIDA(GLP1 analogoue)
• Content: 3 preloaded pens 100 U
• Price: $2,518 Pesos ($152 USD)
• Special Considerations: needs Refrigeration.

TOUJEA by Sanofi

• Active Ingredient: GLARGINA(Spanish), Glargine(English)GLARGINA
• Content: 3 preloaded pens 300 U
• Price: $2,004 Pesos ($120 USD)
• Special Considerations: needs Refrigeration.

Type of insulin: Intermediate acting

HUMULIN-N by Lilly

• Active Ingredient: ISOFANA(Spanish), Isophane or NPH insulin(English)
• Content: 100 U vial
• Price: $642 Pesos ($38 USD)
• Special Considerations: No pre-loaded pen, needs Refrigeration.

AURAX ISOFANA(Generic - exclusively sold in Farmacia San-Pablo)

• Active Ingredient: ISOFANA(Spanish), Isophane or NPH insulin(English)
• Content: 100 U
• Price: $222 Pesos ($13 USD)
• Special considerations: No pre-loaded pen, needs Refrigeration

Type of insulin: Fast acting

HUMALOG

• Active Ingredient: LISPRO
• Content: 100 U
• Price: $1,100 Pesos (66 USD)
• Special considerations: needs Refrigeration

Farmacia Del Ahorro

Type of insulin: Basal insulin

INSULINA GLARGINA(Generic - exclusively sold in Farmacias del ahorro)

• Active Ingredient: GLARGINA(Spanish), Glargine(English)
• Content: 100 U
• Price: $495 Pesos ($29 USD)
• Special considerations: No pre-loaded pen, needs Refrigeration

BONGLIXAN by Landsteiner Scientific

• Active Ingredient: GLARGINA(Spanish), Glargine(English)
• Content: 10 ml (100 U)
• Price: $675 Pesos ($40 USD)
• Special considerations: No pre-loaded pen, needs Refrigeration

Type of insulin: Intermediate acting

INSULINA ISOFANA(Generic - exclusively sold in Farmacias del ahorro)

• Active Ingredient: ISOFANA(Spanish), Isophane or NPH insulin(English)
• Content: 100 U
• Price: $207 Pesos ($10 USD)
• Special considerations: No pre-loaded pen, needs Refrigeration

Type of insulin: Fast acting

INSULINA HUMANA(Generic - exclusively sold in Farmacias del ahorro)

• Active Ingredient: Regular Insulin
• Content: 100 U
• Price: $194 Pesos ($10 USD)
• Special considerations: No pre-loaded pen, needs Refrigeration

Farmacias Guadalajara

Type of insulin: Basal insulin

INSULINA GLARGINA( Generic - exclusively sold in Farmacias Guadalajara)

• Active Ingredient: GLARGINA(Spanish), Glargine(English)
• Content: one preloaded pen
• Price: $691 Pesos ($41 USD)
• Special considerations: needs Refrigeration
  
  Also available:
• Content: 100 U Vial
• Price: $1831 Pesos ($109 USD)
• Special considerations: needs Refrigeration

Type of insulin: Intermediate acting

HUMULIN 70/30 by Lilly

• Active Ingredient: 70% Isophane Insulin(Intermediate acting) + 30% Regular Insulin(Short acting)
• Content: 100 U
• Price: $934 Pesos ($56 USD)
• Special considerations: No pre-loaded pen, needs Refrigeration

Type of insulin: Fast acting

INSULINA HUMANA( Generic - exclusively sold in Farmacias Guadalajara)

• Active Ingredient: Regular Insulin
• Content: 100 U
• Price: $793 Pesos ($47 USD)
• Special considerations: No pre-loaded pen, needs Refrigeration

Farmacias Especializadas

Type of insulin: Basal insulin

GALACTUS

• Active Ingredient: GLARGINA(Spanish), Glargine(English)
• Content: 10 ml (100 U)
• Price: $936 Pesos ($56 USD)
• Special considerations: None Refrigerated drug
  
  Also available:
• Toujeo, Lantus, Banglixan
• All in similar prices to the other stores.

Type of insulin: Intermediate acting

HUMULIN-N by Lilly

• Active Ingredient: ISOFANA(Spanish), Isophane or NPH insulin(English)
• Content: 100 U
• Price: $364 Pesos ($21 USD)
• Special considerations: No pre-loaded pen, needs Refrigeration

Type of insulin: Fast acting

HUMULIN-R by Lilly

• Active Ingredient: Regular Insulin
• Content: 100 U Vial
• Price: $707 Pesos (42 USD)
• Special considerations: No pre-loaded pen, needs Refrigeration

Farmacias Benavides

Type of insulin: Basal insulin

INSULINA GALRGINA(Generic - exclusively sold in Farmacias Benavides)

• Active Ingredient: GLARGINA(Spanish), Glargine(English)
• Content: 100 U
• Price: $486 Pesos ($29 USD)
• Special considerations: No pre-loaded pen, needs Refrigeration

Type of insulin: Intermediate acting

HUMULIN-N by Lilly

• Active Ingredient: ISOFANA(Spanish), Isophane or NPH insulin(English)
• Content: 100 U
• Price: $676 Pesos ($40 USD)
• Special considerations: No pre-loaded pen, needs Refrigeration

INSULINA ISOFANA(Generic - exclusively sold in Farmacias Benavides)

• Active Ingredient: ISOFANA(Spanish), Isophane or NPH insulin(English)
• Content: 100 U
• Price: $195 Pesos ($11USD)
• Special considerations: No pre-loaded pen, needs Refrigeration

Type of insulin: Fast acting

HUMALOG Mix 25

• Active Ingredient: LISPRO(25%) + LISPRO PROTAMINA(75%)
• Content: 100 U
• Price: $912 Pesos (54USD)
• Special considerations: No pre-loaded pen, needs Refrigeration
  

DISCLAIMER:

At Nomadcare, our commitment is to enable informed decision-making by providing unbiased information to our expats and travelers community.

1. No financial conflict of interest: Neither the authors of this blog nor our company, Nomadcare, have any financial ties or affiliations with the pharmacy outlets or pharmaceutical manufacturers mentioned above.
2. Educational Purpose: This blog is curated solely to offer general information and guidance to patients within the Nomadcare WhatsApp community. Its aim is to empower informed decision-making.
3. Price Variability: The prices and availability of these medications are subject to change based on specific pharmacy outlet, city, and any ongoing promotions or deals.
4. Non-Commercial Intent: This content is not meant to serve as an advertisement. Our goal is to inform, not to promote any particular product or service.