[pokie]

I have recieved the standard advice from my DE; throw away the Lantus vials after 30 days from the date you first open them. I still have half a vial left at that point and I have been using them longer (maybe 45 days) with no noticeable ill effects. Any input?

[Scratch]

You may end up hearing a range of answers on this.

My own experience has been like this: so long as the vial is not exposed to extremes in temperature or sunlight, the insulin will remain good well beyond 30 days. During periods when my basal dose was 14 to 16u daily, I've used up the whole vial, meaning I have had vials last me over 60 days.

As I understand it, testing insulin stability and viability is done over a period of 28 days, that is how long the pharmaceuticals conduct tests with standard protocols, but they don't test beyond that time period. Because of that, the vials can be guaranteed for 28 days but not beyond because there is no data.

My own personal data does not qualify as being scientific in that regard.

On the other hands, I would point out I feel it is a reasonably inductive conclusion to think that there is no real reason to think that the insulin would go bad 28 days after puncture because of the passage of time from day 28 to day 29. There may well exist some critical time period after opening when an insulin would go bad -- it's just that that rigorous testing protcols have never gone in search of that time period thus giving us the usual instructions by DEs for us to toss that vial after the 28th day.

[ant hill]

That's a good question as I go though cartridges of 300Ml as any insulin is spoiled by light, Heat, And air and they say if kept in the dark and at temps that will go off sae 50 - 70F you may have that for maybe a week or more and maybe work effectively but once out of the fridge and getting used then I would use it up wile you are using it as quickly from the fridge.
I would be suspicious if the stock is out of the fridge or in the light for too long as it may be off.
I hear that in the US that mail order people who handle insulins the wrong way as I get mine from a pharmacy. I find that mail order is no wiser to what they deliver as they may have the insulin in a hot van although some are waking up the fact that this is perishable item.

[lottadata]

I use very small doses. I've kept vials of Lantus going for up to 2 months. After that they do seem to weaken.

However, I started one vial and stopped using it, but kept it in the fridge and it was still fine when I tried it again several months later.

I have found that a lot of insulins keep a lot better if I keep them in the fridge even though they don't tell you to do this. Don't put them in the door--the jiggling when it closes is not good for insulin, and don't put it on a high shelf that can freeze. I put mine on the bottom shelf with a little thermometer which I check to make sure it is well above freezing.

[Eddy]

A vial of Lantus lasted me for five weeks.

Humalog and Humulin (R and N) always lasted at least six weeks, but never more than ten. However, I punctured rapid and R so much that they probably had plenty of opportunities for contamination.

*shrug*

I've only been doing this for a bit under a year, but I've never discarded a vial just because it hit four weeks after opening.

[pokie]

I do keep my lantus refrigerated and make sure it doesn't freeze. I just finished a bottle for the first time and it seemed to be just as effective the whole way thru so I think I will consider it OK to use for a little longer, as long as it's been kept in the fridge and isn't cloudy or exposed to freezing. As much as I would like for cost not to figure into treating my diabetes, it does (especially since I lost my job) and every little bit does help.

[ohcarolina]

I use small dosesand like to not like to shell out the co-pay every month. I always thought that since I keep Lantus in the fridge it should last for a looooong time... but after about two months I notice a lot of morning highs, so Ithink it must weaken. I keep in in the door, though! Never knew about the jiggling. My humalog seems to last forever refigerated, though. Hate to throw out those half bottles, bu tit's less frustrated than unpredicatable BS.

[BlueSky]

If you get Lantus in 3 ml pen cartridges, you finsh them in a third of the time. I only use 13 units a day and I finish my Lantus cartridge before the the month is up.

[Alice]

I don't have the "leftover" problem since I switched to the pens...much more convenient also.

[fgummett]

BlueSky are you suggesting getting the pen cartridges even if not using a pen

[grace girl]

I use the vials, and they last about 6 weeks. I keep it refriderated, and I've only had a vial go bad once...it was the middle of summer (HOT here) and I had left it out a few times.
I don't have insurance, so I'm determined to get every single drop out of that bottle!

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by fgummett

BlueSky are you suggesting getting the pen cartridges even if not using a pen

The Lantus cartridges in the US look weird, so I don't know how easy drawing out of them with a syringe would be. Why not just use the pens?

[Jules49]

I will use a vial of Lantus in about 90 days. Still works fine for me.

[ohcarolina]

Lantus pens! What an obvious answer to my excess... Sometimes I amaze myself.

[iDream]

IMO the 30 day rule is a joke....they last for so much longer