Has Levemir Been Discontinued in the U.S.? What It Means—and How Americans Can Still Save by Buying from Canada

Yes—Levemir (insulin detemir) is no longer sold in U.S. pharmacies. Novo Nordisk phased out the FlexPen earlier in 2024 and fully discontinued U.S. sales (vials and pens) by December 31, 2024. The company cited global manufacturing constraints, shrinking U.S. coverage, and availability of alternatives.

If you relied on Levemir, this change can feel disruptive. The good news: Americans still have options to maintain stable basal insulin therapy—often at a lower out-of-pocket cost—by ordering from Canada.

Can I still get Levemir from Canada?

In many cases, yes—but stock is limited and winding down. Canadian regulators list Levemir PenFill cartridges as “to be discontinued,” with an anticipated withdrawal date of December 31, 2025. That means some pharmacies may still have supply today, but availability will tighten as the year closes and may vary by province and wholesaler.

Because of the phase-out, many Canadian and U.S. clinicians recommend lining up a reliable alternative basal insulin now, even if you locate short-term Levemir supply.

Levemir Still Available from Canada!

Best next steps if you’ve been using Levemir

1) Ask your prescriber about clinically comparable basal options

All of the following are widely used and generally easier to source than Levemir:

Insulin glargine U-100 (e.g., Lantus, Basaglar, Semglee/Rezvoglar biosimilars)
Insulin glargine U-300 (Toujeo)
Insulin degludec (Tresiba)

Your clinician will individualize the conversion from detemir based on your current total daily basal, fasting glucose trends, hypoglycemia risk, kidney function, and CGM or meter data. Many patients transition smoothly with close follow-up in the first 1–2 weeks to fine-tune dosing.

2) Consider cost and access—especially if you pay cash

A practical advantage of switching through a Canadian prescription referral service is price transparency and access without U.S. insurance hurdles. If you’re paying out of pocket or facing prior authorizations, Canada can significantly reduce monthly insulin costs while keeping you on a modern basal. (If limited Levemir remains your best clinical choice, a Canadian source may be the only way to find it in 2025.)

3) Plan your refill cadence

Most Americans import up to a 90-day personal-use supply at a time. Ordering a 3-month fill can lower shipping costs and reduce the chance of mid-titration stock issues.

How buying from Canada works (simple, step-by-step)

Get a valid U.S. prescription for your basal insulin (Levemir if still available, or your new alternative such as insulin glargine or degludec).
Choose a trusted Canadian prescription referral service (e.g., Over the Border Meds) that sources from licensed Canadian pharmacies.
Upload or have your clinic fax the prescription, select your quantity (often 3 pens or 5×3 mL cartridges per month, depending on brand), and complete checkout.
Receive tracked delivery to your U.S. address. Typical timelines are 5-7 days, so order early when transitioning.

Why Levemir was discontinued—and why this matters for you

Novo Nordisk officially announced the U.S. phase-out with a final end date of December 31, 2024, noting manufacturing constraints, decreasing insurance coverage, and the availability of alternative long-acting insulins. Major outlets and professional notices echoed the timeline and signaled shortages leading up to the cutoff.

For patients, the takeaways are practical:

Therapeutic continuity is achievable. Modern basal insulins (glargine, degludec) are clinically robust and widely available.
Proactive switching avoids gaps. Even if you find Levemir in Canada now, stocks are finite and scheduled to sunset in Canada by end of 2025.
Costs can be lower when you source from Canada, especially if you’re uninsured, under-insured, or in a deductible period.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a biosimilar to Levemir I can switch to?
There isn’t a Levemir (detemir) biosimilar in routine retail circulation in North America right now. Most clinicians switch patients to glargine U-100/U-300 or degludec and titrate.
Do I need to change my injection timing?
Possibly. Detemir was often dosed once or twice daily depending on duration in an individual. Glargine U-100/U-300 and degludec are typically once daily, but your provider may adjust timing (e.g., morning vs bedtime) based on fasting patterns and lifestyle.
What if I felt “flatter” or more predictable on Levemir?
Share that experience with your clinician. Glargine U-300 and degludec can provide very stable profiles; some patients even report smoother overnights after switching. Early CGM feedback helps tailor the dose.

Bottom line: You have options—and you can save

U.S. sales of Levemir ended 12/31/2024. If it worked well for you, limited Canadian supply may still exist in 2025, but it’s expected to phase out there, too.
Work with your prescriber now to secure an alternative basal insulin and a titration plan.
Use a Canadian prescription referral service to keep monthly costs down and avoid last-minute pharmacy surprises in the U.S.
If you’re unsure which basal to choose—or whether Levemir is still available—our team can check stock, pricing, and talk through options so your switch is smooth and affordable.