Why 28 days?

[DanG]

I notice the small print on Lantus/Humalog prescriptions or product literature tell me to discard after 28 days.

Whatcha s'posed to do for the other 3 days of the month?

Does anyone discard their vials of Lantus/Humalog after 28 days?

Is there a reason that this use caution is given? Is there a life degradation that requires the manufacturer to put this on their product literature?

From previous threads here, I see that there a few of us who use our disposable syringes more than once. Most I use is twice. Anyone here re-use syringes more than twice? - I draw enough for two injections and use the next injection within 24 hours - that is how I re-use syringes. Any other re-use stories? I also see many do not use alchohol swabs to clear skin prior to injection. I try to swab each time I inject, but while away from home with self-fulled second hand syringe, I do not swab. This MDI thing is about 3 years old to me, and diabetesforums is about 8 months old to me, so there's still lots to hear/learn.

[owlyn]

Regarding Lantus and Humalog: I use disposable pens, and they are used up long before the 28 days (usually about a week or so).

[Scratch]

There's probably some sort of testing protocol which has found that the insulins can't be guaranteed effective beyond 28 days after opening.

That said, I just recently had a vial of Lantus last me 51 days.

It's not an issue for me with the Novolog since I use the pens for that.

Of course, it's to the financial benefit of the pharmaceutical companies if we toss out vials with substantial quantities of unused insulin.

[notme]

I would refrigerate and use to the end of the bottle. :aetsch:

[blue_eyed_devil]

i know in the hospital you have to throw the open vials away after 28 days (for any insulin). i think like owlyn said it's just because they can't guarentee it after that time period. i just keeping using mine until either it expires or the bottle is empty, i just leave in in the fridge.

just out of curiosity why don't you use insulin pens?

with reguards to reusing needles i used to do it all the time. infact i didn't even change them on a reglar basis, just when it started to feel funny, however i always drew up the correct amount of insulin each time to prevent over or under dosing. i'm on a pump now so of course can't reuse anything really!!!

i have to put my two cents in on the alcohol swab thing too. the reason that was taught to us (as nurses) not to do this is because it hardens the skin and can cause problems in the future with absorbtion at injection sites (i can't for the life of me remember what it's called). if i remember i'll post the name of the contion it causes :)

[grace girl]

I keep my lantus and humalog refriderated and use it until it's gone. Lantus lasts me about 6 weeks, humalog sometimes as much as 3 months...I've had a few bottles go bad here and there, but always in the summer and always when I forgot and left one out for a day or so.
Now if I start seeing abnormally high readings for a day or so for no apparent reason, I'll disgard the bottles and start fresh if they are older than 28 days.

I've never reused a syringe, and I haven't used alchohol pads in MONTHS.

Before someone asks, I don't use pens because I don't have insurance and they cost 2x as much as bottles and syringes do.

[EasyType2]

I e-mailed the company about the time limitations on Lantus. Received a very nice phone call in response.

The lady who called said that the reason for setting that time limitation was that the company had never tested Lantus for sterility or effectiveness for a longer period of time.

I use it until it's gone - usually about 7 weeks. I observe it each injection for any change, or sediment. No problems.

I do keep it refridgerated, however.

[catgalla]

I'm on a pump and I always wait until my Novolog is gone. The bottle I am using is always out of the fridge too and I've yet to have it go bad, at least I don't think it's gone bad.

[Connie in KC]

My cat is on Lantus, and his is on its second month, and still seems to be effective. Since I don't test his blood levels, I check by how much water he is drinking. His doctor said I could reuse his needles, but I had a thought. His Lantus cost $89 (no insurance for cats) and his needles cost 13 cents. I would not take the chance of contaminating an $89 bottle of Lantus to save such a piddly amount of money. I ALWAYS use a new needle. Now that I'm on Lantus also, (I saw how well it worked for the cat) I will continue to use a new needle each time for me.

Maybe later I'll try the pens. How do they work? It looks like you can change a needle each time??? My copay is the same for a 1000 unit bottle and 5 pens with 300 units each.

[owlyn]

Yes, you change the needle each time, but pens only work in whole units. What dosage is your cat on? Is his Lantus U-100?

[shockme]

connie- i was just saying to my hubby the other day"i wonder if people with diabetic pets test them?"we have 3 cats.i can't imagine giving them insulin,let alone testing their bg!are you supposed to test a pet or do you not do it cuz it'd be too hard?just curious...trish

[BriOnH]

Before getting the opticlix lantus pen it seemed to me that lantus would loose potency after 30 days. Interesting to see that it has lasted others longer though, so I could have had other variables I didn't concentrate on which indeed inturn does not loose its potency.

Remember too its 28 days AFTER the bottle has been punctured.

[SueM]

There is prob a very simple explanation............... The person who put the use by date could only count up to 28 :vroam:

[2high]

LOL Sue!!!

[Scarlett]

I don't know why drug companies say that it HAS to be discarded but my deep set emotion and opinion is SO THEY SELL MORE OF IT( big DUH). I've had NovoLog in the pen for 4 months past the expiration, still use "as needed" and always have good results (meaning it's working to lower the BSL) I am going to start using the Lantus in the cartridge as soon as my other bottle is finished) never refrigerate it and have been a T1 for +34 years- my feeling is that your body doesn't produce it under refrigerated conditions so .....why would that preserve it :confused: not really confused just (not trusting the major manufacturers that always want more money) and since the diabetic ratio is increasing... how could they lose ?