How to store Lantus

Oradev · #1 (**permalink**) 12-30-2006, 02:23 PM

How does everyone store (Refrigerator or Room Temp) Lantus or Levemir after the seal has been broken? If I would keep Lantus out of the fridge for a day and then put it back in, do you think the change in temp would affect the Lantus in any way?

Cyborg · #2 (**permalink**) 12-30-2006, 02:26 PM

I always keep insulin refrigerated, even if left out accidentally.

grace girl · #3 (**permalink**) 12-30-2006, 04:08 PM

I keep it in the fridge. I never seem to be able to use the whole vial before it expires and stops working, and by keeping it in the fridge it seems to last a little bit longer.

David_S · #4 (**permalink**) 12-30-2006, 04:40 PM

nce I start using the vial I keep it out of the fridge. It lasts 28 days.

Geoff · #5 (**permalink**) 12-30-2006, 04:40 PM

Lantus that you are using daily in your pen device, is best kept out of the refrigerator as long as the average temperature does not go above 25C, and is not exposed to direct sunlight, it will keep for up to 30 days without going bad. If you use Lantus cold, straight from the refrigerator it can give you a stinging sensation around the injection sight.

Oradev · #6 (**permalink**) 12-30-2006, 05:41 PM

Do you think Lantus would go bad if I change the temp frequently? An example is I go to a movie and take it with me. I would be room temp for around 3 hours or so.

lgvincent · #7 (**permalink**) 12-30-2006, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oradev

Do you think Lantus would go bad if I change the temp frequently? An example is I go to a movie and take it with me. I would be room temp for around 3 hours or so.

Could you use an ice pack or two to help keep it cold?

grace girl · #8 (**permalink**) 12-30-2006, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oradev

Do you think Lantus would go bad if I change the temp frequently? An example is I go to a movie and take it with me. I would be room temp for around 3 hours or so.

Any time I've let it come to room temp and then put it back in the fridge it quit working before the 28 days. I use a freezer pack if I have to take it with me now....

KickStart101 · #9 (**permalink**) 12-30-2006, 11:12 PM

Hi Adam:

I have only been on Lantus for about 6 weeks.
I treat Lantus the same way I treated Lente and Humalog, which
usually lasted 2 weeks or a bit longer than specified. I keep it in
the fridge unless I leave the house to go shopping, visit Friends,
appts., etc. At a place with a fridge I would ask to put it in theirs.
Leaving it out of the fridge for 5 hours would be my limit. Also I
never put air into the vial. Makes it last longer plus no fussing with
bubbles.

Almost aways worked for me.

Oradev · #10 (**permalink**) 12-31-2006, 12:44 PM

What about Novolog? Does everyone store Novolog in the fridge or room temp? Has anyone had any experience with Novolog going bad or losing its effectiveness?

camjen1 · #11 (**permalink**) 12-31-2006, 01:18 PM

What happened with the pump? Also why would you need to carry lantus to a movie? It would be the novolog you'd have to worry about with changing temps if carrying it around.

That being said I have never had a bottle of lantus go bad but have had one vial of humalog go bad. I could only blame myself since I had left it in my pocket for a bit and when I finally took it out it was most likely the same temp as my body temperature. I tried using it afterwards but it had absolutely no affect on my bs.

Penny · #12 (**permalink**) 12-31-2006, 01:52 PM

OK, what is the final verdict???? I keep my Lantus and Novolog pens in the refrigerator until I open them. Then I put them in my pill box in this room where I usually inject. I was told this was a safe way to do it. If I am going on a trip, I use a cool pack until I get where I am going, but then just leave both insulin sitting on a table. In the summer when the house can get pretty warm, I keep everything in the fridge, unless we are running the central air. How do you tell if a vial is bad?

Oradev · #13 (**permalink**) 12-31-2006, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camjen1

What happened with the pump? Also why would you need to carry lantus to a movie? It would be the novolog you'd have to worry about with changing temps if carrying it around.

That being said I have never had a bottle of lantus go bad but have had one vial of humalog go bad. I could only blame myself since I had left it in my pocket for a bit and when I finally took it out it was most likely the same temp as my body temperature. I tried using it afterwards but it had absolutely no affect on my bs.

I'm currently taking a break from the pump. As when I first started pumping, i've had numerous problems with the infusion sets. The control was great, but i couldn't deal with the constant pain and changing of the sets (around 2 - 3 times a day). I'm starting to think the pump is just not for me, i'm just too skinny. I wish I had an answer for the site problem, but i don't.

I take my Lantus at 11:00 pm. If I go to a 10:00 pm movie, I will need to take the Lantus with me.

I've never had Novolog go bad either. I'm just wondering if anyone had this happen.

lilituc · #14 (**permalink**) 01-02-2007, 04:49 AM

I've had Novolog go bad. Like other insulins, it's not the suddenly going bad you need to worry about, because you can tell that if you look at the vial. When it goes bad normally, it just loses effectiveness. This happened to mine once when I was travelling in a car and it was sitting in a bag under the heater. The bag didn't feel that hot or anything, but after two hours, it suddenly was only about 50% effective. I know because I had to use it until I could get a new one. I'm still not sure why this happened when it wasn't that hot, though.

Stuboy · #15 (**permalink**) 01-02-2007, 04:52 AM

i store all my insulin in the fridge, the cartridge im using i store at room temp in my pen untill it runs out (usually about a week or two)