I had a 3 month supply of insulin that was left outside and not refrigerated. My apartment signed for the box but did not tell me it had arrived. It had an ice pack thing in it, and was barely cold to the touch when I finally got the box.
As soon as I got it, I put it in the fridge. I know that insulin is typically good 30 days even without being refrigerated… but what about this situation. Do you think the second half of my supply will be OK 2-3 months from now? Will that time not being refrigerated affect what its like after 30 days?
I know all of politically correct answers about once it is out it only being good 30 days… but I’m not sure about this situation… HELP!
depends on how it was packed. I have had pack go bad many times. if it was still cool try it. I have had part of a ship ment go bad while the other was still good. call your company. I use medco and they have always replaced it when it was bad.
I have also had them go bad in these types of situations. Like AR said you will know pretty quick if something went bad.
Tell them what happened. I am sure they will replace it.
I had a similar experience, I was told that if it was below 80 still and you refrigerated it, should be ok. Sounds like it was cooler than room temp. should be ok. Be ready to check you numbers for a couple of days to make sure. That was what my doc. said, so I hope this helps. Good luck.
My last shipment was left on my doorstep by UPS. I called the mailorder pharmacy and they patched me through to a pharmacist. After explaining the situation, it was decided that a new shipment would be mailed and more ice packs would be placed inside the package.
Maybe you should call your mailorder pharmacy and talk them into sending you a new shipment. don’t give Mr. Murphy an easy chance to mess things up. He does very well on his own.
marty
That’s the primary reason why I buy my insulin at the local pharmacy instead of mail order. It might be more expensive that way, but I don’t have to worry about it. Too hot in the summer (and I have one of those old fashioned metal standing mailboxes with the red flag), and too cold in the winter!
I don’t really know the answer to your question, though. I suppose you could just try it and keep careful tabs on your BGs. That’s what I would do, but you might not be willing to take that risk. Good luck!
I"d like to address the other situation, not knowing that much about the care and maintaince of insulin., that being the acceptance of your insulin by your apartment mgr or neighbors. If you are ordering it, say on line, or from a pharmacy that delivers and you aren’t going to be there, what do you do? I would inform anyone who would be taking this box for you to please put it in the refrigerator or a cold place, tell them what is in it, and why it is so important. I am sure there are those who would not be able to afford the purchase of more insulin to replace bad stuff, or their insurance wouldn’t cover more, and they’d be out money and a needed med. If your neighbors are going to take it, and they will be home, maybe do the same thing. I have had different things left outside for me in the hot sun, and poof! they are bad, and I can’t use them. But there must be a better system. Also, what about informing the co. that you ordered from and asking them to please put INSULIN: Please refrigerate; also the delivery company…I know USPS doesn’t do that…but it’s worth a try if it’s worth your life. Just for discussion purposes.
If the bottle is sitting around without being used then contamination is not the issue. Insulin is a protein and if not stored in the right conditions for an extended period of time will denature which renders it less potent.
The key there is “right conditions” and “extended period”. What you have been doing for the last 10 years (even if it is not what the manufactuer says to do) have obviously been the “right condition” and not over too much of an “extended period”.
I have gotten a shipment that has gone bad so it does indeed happen.
I didn’t know for the first 8 years I was diagnosed that I had to leave insulin refrigerated. I only did stored my long-term supplies in the fridge. I once worked at a summer camp with my insulin under my bed for 2 months in the 80 degree cabin… and never had a problem. After learning the more proper way, my insulin is stored always in the fridge, but I still have never had a problem with insulin going bad unless it was a really old bottle.
