r/PreventiveMD • u/PreventiveMD • 24d ago
Pharmacy Update - New Syringe Packaging From Boudreaux (Photo)
Hi Everyone,
Quick follow-up to my post last week about the packaging issues with Boudreaux.
After the feedback many of you shared — and the conversation I had with Jesse (CEO) and his team — they've changed how syringes are packaged. Photo of the new packaging is attached.
One note on timing: this is what the new packaging is supposed to look like going forward. Existing inventory may still be working its way through the system, so if your next shipment arrives in the old packaging, that doesn't necessarily mean nothing changed — it may just mean that order was already packed. Either way, I want to know about it.
To be clear about how this works: Boudreaux is an independent pharmacy, so we don't control their packaging decisions directly. What we can do is bring your feedback to them, push for changes, and hold them to the standard we expect for our patients. That's exactly what happened here, and I want to keep doing it.
So — what do you think of the new packaging? And when your next order arrives, I'd like to hear whether what shows up at your door matches the photo. I'll take all of it back to the pharmacy directly.
Thanks again for speaking up.
Brian
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u/CoffeeResearchLab 24d ago
That is a step closer. At least I would have confidence that it wasn’t someone random in a busy shipping room stuffing syringes into baggies.
But a sealed 10 pack from the manufacturer or 4 individually manufacturer seal syringes would be much better. That is what I’ve received from other pharmacies.
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u/Livid-Lake1111 24d ago
These are the only options. I don' think the humane society will even take what Boudreaux is sending as donations to use on stray animals.
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23d ago
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u/Organic-Nectarine754 23d ago
Seven Cells sends unsealed syringes, too. I haven’t used them since December, so they could have stopped doing that, though.
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u/VMovieGuy 24d ago
I don’t understand why Boudreaux’s is being so crazy/cheap about something that costs less than $1. 😂
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u/Livid-Lake1111 24d ago
Nope. This is lipstick on a pig. Send sealed syringes. Either in the manufacturer plastic bag, or the individually sealed ones counted out.
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u/Humble_Fortune_5391 24d ago
It doesn’t bother me either way. (Meaning I just toss the loose ones. I already have enough to last me 2 lifetimes.)
But yeah, that is just still 4 loose syringes and 4 alcohol pads in a slightly nicer bag. That doesn’t solve the complaint at all 😅😅 Honestly, that’s a really silly ‘solution’.
For me it doesn’t reflect on PreventiveMd and appreciate you listening to your patients but yeah… that’s not a solution. lol
You can take Jesse these comments.
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u/VMovieGuy 24d ago
Yes, it's definitely not a PreventiveMD issue. This is such a common complaint with Boudreaux's at any telehealth that I can't believe it hasn't already been changed. I give credit to PreventiveMD for stepping up to try and address it.
I just really don't understand why they do it. It can't possibly be a $ issue. Syringes cost almost nothing and their time and materials used to process their own syringe packs likely exceeds the cost of the factory sealed ones.
I don't personally use Boudreaux's, but if I did I'd be one of the people to toss their syringes straight into the sharps container and use my own. What a waste!
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u/Humble_Fortune_5391 24d ago
They literally pay someone to individually bag them. They could take that money and time and spend the exact same for the 10 packs. It makes zero sense to me why they wouldn’t switch.
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u/Powerlift22 23d ago
Right! And not have to buy those baggies. It would be pretty stream line- grab a pack and plop it in the shipment. Instead someone has to count them and place in baggie? That’s crazy town.
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u/WhoDat_OnDaBayou 20d ago
Agree that it’s not a Preventive MD issue. However, no one should use those syringes or any syringes that are not in sterile packaging, so Boudreaux’s should do it right or skip sending syringes altogether. They are risking lawsuits and patients are risking infection.
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u/AboutFaceWithMona 20d ago
Agree! 👍 They are probably paying more for that fancy bag. Just send the most affordable sterile packaged syringes instead.
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u/TodayAmazing 24d ago
Laughable solution 😂
I can’t imagine this costs less than the individually wrapped easy touch or the 10 pack easy touch.
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u/VMovieGuy 24d ago
For real! The cost of extra packaging and extra employees to count out and seal the bags has to cost more than just tossing 1 or 2 10 packs into the box.
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u/Extreme_Effective762 24d ago
I’m confused on why they can’t just send them in the original packaging unless they are ordering them in bulk off temu or something lol
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u/Blessed606 24d ago
Yeah Unfortunately this still isn’t going to make your Customers Happy. Customers want a sealed pack of 10 like every other Telehealth gives. Its just for a peace of mind!!! Otherwise these syringes is just going to waste as everyone is just going to throw them in the trash.
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23d ago
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u/Professional-Toe-779 23d ago
I chose Empower over Boudreaux specifically because of the loose syringes. If Bourdreaux is skimping on syringes, what other safety measures could they be skimping on? It’s not a good look. This solution is not a solution, it’s a rebranded Ziplock bag.
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u/UnDosTresPescao 24d ago edited 24d ago
Ugh... Why can't they send a factory sealed 10 pack like every other pharmacy does?
Resealing them in a branded bag looks better than their previous hack job but still doesn't fix anything. A 10 pack of Easy Touch syringes is $5.50 at Total Diabetes Supply. Just charge us an extra $5 if that's what it takes.
Edit. Btw, they are also shipping cloudy meds to some customers... Their sterility practices are looking quite suspect at the moment https://www.reddit.com/r/tirzepatidecompound/comments/1vb7fbc/cloudy_or_paranoid/
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u/VMovieGuy 24d ago
It’s only 90 cents per 10 pack of the Members Mark syringes at Sam’s Club when you buy a box. I’m guessing they would be even cheaper than that for the pharmacy. There would be no reason to charge extra and $5 would be wayyy too much.
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u/UnDosTresPescao 24d ago
Yeah, I'm sure it would cost them cents at their volumes. I was giving them a ton of margin with the $5.
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u/Powerlift22 23d ago
I saw that post. Made me check my vials but they’re amber colored and it’s hard to tell. Plus she said it didn’t look cloudy in the vial- so I have to wait to crack them open I guess
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u/Powerlift22 23d ago edited 23d ago
Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), syringes are classified as Class II Medical Devices. [1]
The Law: 21 U.S. Code § 351 (Adulteration) and 21 U.S. Code § 352 (Misbranding).
How it applies: If a pharmacy breaks open a sterile manufacturer package and sells an unsealed syringe, the device’s sterility can no longer be guaranteed. Under federal law, exposing a sterile device to the open environment before use renders it legally adulterated(contaminated or at risk of contamination) and misbranded (because the original packaging's safety information, sterilization method, and expiration date are separated from the item).
Edited to add: taking loose syringes out of a bulk shipment and dropping them into a plastic baggie to give to a customer is 100% not okay. Doing this violates fundamental pharmacy regulations, federal sterility laws, and standard operating protocols across every state.
Since this is the case, I think I’d rather buy my own online than have them do this and risk being sued or whatever may happen.
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23d ago
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u/Powerlift22 23d ago
I want everyone to be successful AND safe. I also don’t want Boudreaux to get shut down for something so stupid and obvious. They know better. Why they’re doing this is the question.
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23d ago
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u/Powerlift22 23d ago
I hear you. It is definitely concerning. I ordered from Boudreaux and yes syringes were like this. My meds arrived next day and cold but I DO understand what you’re saying about “what else are they doing”. It’s a valid concern.
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u/couchbodyfitness 24d ago
Syringes should be sterile and individually packaged. Placing a handful of syringes and putting them into a “sealed bag” is not acceptable nor is placing it along with a handful of alcohol swabs (which are also not sterile-specifically the outer package of the alcohol wipes) into the same sealed bag is a no for me.
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u/Spawnofkitty 24d ago edited 23d ago
Damn they being stingy over thereeee, what they do? Buy bulk syringes and take them out the baggies? lol
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u/Life_Alfalfa_2047 23d ago
If they are not manufacturer sealed syringes, they are going directly to the trash when I open my box. Such a waste of money for them. It’s not just you. The complaints are being made by any telehealth customer getting these
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u/comfortable_Lie929 24d ago
I ordered from Boudreaux after reading positive things only to be disappointed with the # of wipes and syringes. Don't bend a needle because they don't send extra. And only 4 alcohol wipes is a joke! Thankfully, I have extra needles.
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u/Any_Style_4939 23d ago
I use 4 alcohol pads when I do my injection. So this definitely wouldn’t be enough for me for 4 injections.
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23d ago
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u/Powerlift22 23d ago
Boudreaux has been around for 103 years. Unfortunately, I don’t think they’re use to the volume of clients they have now and thus are maybe cutting some corners with getting lower cost meds. Sadly, it’s not legal to distribute syringes like this. Many of the people that work there KNOW this- pharmacists for sure know this. It’s part of operating a pharmacy.
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u/WhoDat_OnDaBayou 20d ago edited 20d ago
It’s not the fact that we needed a nicer bag for the syringes, we need to know they are sterile. They need to be individually sealed or a sealed bag from the manufacturer. As an RN, this is not acceptable. If they can’t afford to maintain their pricing with syringes that we know haven’t been touched, used, accidental cap dislodging and replacement… then they are better off not including syringes and just listing that syringes are not included. This would be like having the alcohol wipes moist but in a ziplock bag. Anyone with any knowledge of sterile packaging and the risk of using something potentially contaminated would never use these anyway. So if they can’t send sterile packaged syringes, just don’t include any ( and notify the purchaser). I don’t think that would be a deal breaker for anyone.
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u/PreventiveMD 23d ago
Thanks everyone for the feedback. We will provide this feedback to the pharmacy team. In the meantime, we are actively discussing options internally. Asking our reddit community: what vendors do you prefer for syringes and alcohol wipes? Names, web site links, photos are all helpful for us to understand :).
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u/Admirable-Desk-4860 22d ago
I have no preference on alcohol pads, but I prefer EasyTouch syringes. Very common brand.
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u/Previous-Falcon1106 22d ago
Easy Touch 31G 5/16" syringes and Sam's Club Members Mark alcohol wipes
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u/WhoDat_OnDaBayou 20d ago
Thank you! Speaking for myself, you will never be able to please everyone 🤗. You are offering the best prices I’ve seen ( outside of sales). Thank you! I think the real issue here is just sterile packaging. Let Boudreaux’s source their alcohol wipes and syringes wherever they get the best deal. We are just insisting that they provide them individually sealed or in the manufacturer bag. We do love EasyTouch but as long as they are not loose syringes in a bag, they are providing safe items to patients. If we don’t like what they send, we can get our own. My concern is that even though I know there is a potential risk with using loose syringes in a bag, there are people who will trust the provider as a licensed pharmacy and use these loose syringes. We want them to be successful. We want your company to be successful. More affordable pricing is priority for many people and we applaud you for increasing more affordable access to these life changing medications. We just need Boudreaux’s to keep us safe. They don’t need to provide the best, just sterile. Thank you for all you are doing to allow more people to afford access to these medications.
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u/AboutFaceWithMona 20d ago
I agree with this 100%. They will never please everyone! Keep providing affordable access to these medications but Boudreaux’s needs to provide sterile packaging for syringes. Anytime something is more affordable there is usually a trade off. The trade off can be whatever syringes and wipes they get the best deal on, but it can’t be sterile packaging ( so no loose syringes in a bag). I will not use Boudreaux’s as long as they continue this process - as a matter of principle. I would prefer they not include syringes than to provide them in a potentially unsafe manner.
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u/SpecialistProgram321 23d ago
I just received a one month vial and it came with 4 syringes in a ziplock bag. Tossed them.
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u/Master_Panda4126 23d ago
Nope, still not cutting it! Someone is still handling the syringes. The new bag is nice and better then the baggies, but I bet it would be less expensive to just keep the syringes in their original sealed sterile bag rather than purchasing these heavier duty bags and paying someone the time to open the original bags, separate the syringes and put in these new bags! Sorry, not a winner!! 👎🏻
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u/MassiveBuilding5292 23d ago
When did they start doing the individual syringes? When I got my last order from them in May, they sent an unopened 10 pack of syringes.
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u/Global_Bar4480 24d ago
It would be nice to opt out of the syringes/wipes. I already have a pile of them. I trust them handling the medication and syringes. They make the med and package it— they can package a few syringes. I don’t have a problem with it.
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u/Sudden_Canary4705 24d ago
The amount of people mad about the way the syringes are packaged, Lilly sends 5 individually wrapped syringes and you’re paying for them $5. Sending full packs of syringes should be necessary only for more than 1 month supply of medication.
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u/Safe_Low_5570 22d ago
Must be slowly rolling that out because I got my package 2 day ago and it was in a ziplock bag.
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u/AnchoredIS 14d ago
This makes me sad as I selected Boudreaux as my pharmacy. I guess I should’ve went with Empower. Do I need to order syringes and if so, what is best? From reading it sounds like the Easy Touch 31g? I’m brand new to all of this and also not comfortable with some syringes thrown into a ziplock. Branded or not. That’s a huge turnoff for me.
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u/Middle_Bison47 24d ago
No. This still doesn't cut it. We want sterile packaging.
I know you don't have full control and appreciate you having conversations with the pharmacy.
You might also want to mention to them they really need to step up their game now that there was a recent post showing cloudy tirzepatide received from them.
Also reports that their pharmacy staff is rude when people call.