Fresh Insulin?

andy2812 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-13-2004, 10:51 AM

I just renewed my insulin prescription from my mail order drug company. The expiration date is 7/1/05, which is only a little over 6 months away. Usually when I get insulin the expiration date is closer to a year away. I'm worried that the insulin I just received is not the freshest in terms of the most recently produced insulin and that by the time I use it all up, it will be about 3 months prior to expiration date. Is this something that I should be concerned about or does it not matter what the expiration date is as long as it hasn't expired?

HeatherP · #2 (**permalink**) 12-13-2004, 11:01 AM

I think in many cases the manufacturer assigns an expiration date as a disclaimer to avoid lawsuits. That's so that just in case it does become unstable after a certain date they have their "out".

Many pharmacies do not allow returns of medications, so you may not be able to trade it in.

Odds are the insulin is fine, and if you're going to use it up before the expiration date then you shouldn't have any problems. You may want to keep an eye on your sugars at first but if you don't see any problems I wouldn't worry about it.

HeatherP

lgvincent · #3 (**permalink**) 12-13-2004, 11:04 AM

Many years ago, a nurse told me that the expiration date on drugs preceeds the actual expiration date by six months. Keeping that in mind, I've used insulin after the expiration date on the vial without any problems that I was aware of. The expiration worries me too, though. I wonder if the insulin becomes weaker as it gets older. I really don't have an answer to that.

rzrbks · #4 (**permalink**) 12-13-2004, 11:27 AM

Quote:

lgvincent
The expiration worries me too, though. I wonder if the insulin becomes weaker as it gets older.

Isn't that true for everything?

lgvincent · #5 (**permalink**) 12-13-2004, 11:42 AM

I guess you're right, but not for Superman!

Harold · #6 (**permalink**) 12-13-2004, 12:41 PM

Maybe you have stumbled on to why mail order drugs are cheaper.

KrisinNM · #7 (**permalink**) 12-14-2004, 07:01 AM

What I don't understand is that there is an expiration date printed on the box and then another on the rx label that is about 6 months from the date I get the insulin. Sometimes the rx date is almost a year before the date on the box.

Belinda · #8 (**permalink**) 12-14-2004, 03:45 PM

I am assuming that if it is kept refrigerated etc...until you use it prior to expiration then you are good to go. I hope so since I have some in my frig that expires lets say in 2006!