I just found out from the pharmacist that both my insulin pens (Humalog and Lantus) expire after a month and that I should throw them out and start a new pen. So, 2 questions.
1- Is the insulin in a pen older than a month weaker or usable?
2- How do you dispose of used pens?
I know how to dispose of needles and I don't think pens with leftover insulin can go in th garbage. So..what to do?
1) Yes, the insulin can degrade over time, especially as it is exposed to heat. The higher the ambient temperature, the faster it degrades. That's why the data sheets for the insulin only certify it for 3 days in a pump at close to body temperature (and some people report on here that it is even less for Apidra) . Obviously it does not go bad all at once on day 32. It may still be good , especially if it was kept cool. My view is that diabetes has more than enough variability without introducing new sources of variability, like possibly bad or weak insulin, so I discard after a month at room temperature or after the expiration date on the box/bottle .
2) As far as I know, there is no reason not to throw the expired insulin into the garbage. It is broken down if swallowed (that's the reason we can't take it orally), so even if a person or animal broke the pen open and ate it, it would likely do nothing.
Insulin is a protein that degrades over time. Humalog specifically say not to expose it to temperatures over 98.6 degrees farenheit. Insulin kept refrigerated degrades much slower and can be used until it reaches the expiration date on the packaging. My backup lantus expires over a year from when I purchased it, if kept refrigerated. Manuafacuters suggest that after insulin is opened you can leave it at room temperature and use if for the next 28 days. After that point they tell you to throw it out. It is your choice what to do at this point.
You likely need to check local laws and rules or call your trash company about the correct methods to dispose of sharps. Unused insulin is NOT a biolgical hazard, but the sharps containing blood products can be a concern. My trash company told me I can put sharps in an empty penut butter container and dispose of them in the trash. You could also buy a sharps container and sometimes health care facilities allow you to bring in sharps for them to dispose of for you.
thanks to both of you. I don't need to take chances so the pens will go after a month. I already know about disposing of sharps. The drug store, part of the medical bldg where I go, will dispose of sharps for patients. They give you a special red container for sharps. And thanks for the info about disposing of insulin pens. That's a relief.
According to the manufacturers and pharmacists (who like to sell insulin), insulin can lose potency at room temperature, but in reality, you will find that insulin doesn't go bad unless it is exposed to extreme heat. I have carried vials of insulin in my pocket (no cool pack) all over Florida, Nicaragua and Japan in the summer (tropical climates), and it was just as good after 50 days as it was at the start. The only time I've had trouble was when I left it unprotected in an automobile in the summer sun. Other than that one time, I never discard until the vial is empty.
I drove to St. Louis from Chicago last summer. I absentmindedly tossed my insulin in the trunk and we headed south. Around Springfield (2-2.5 hours to go...) I noticed the temperature immediately shot up, what we later heard was a "heat bubble" over StL. As we drove over the hill in Collinsville, IL, where you can see the arch the temp hit 104 and I went "oh no, it's in the trunk..." and I had to swap a reservoir out when we arrived as I figured "fresh juice for a night on the town" would be smart. It was 105 by the time we hit some shade at the hotel and my bag felt pretty warm but, when I got it going, it worked out fine. I would still be concerned about frying it and try to use small bottle remnants that are lying around occasionally to finish out bottles, etc. and haven't ever run into any that flat out didn't work. I never had Lantus though...
Lantus definitely is kaput in a month. I now use Levemir & it's good for 6-8 weeks.
I don't know about Humalog, but Apidra is supposed to be replaced after 30 days. I use a vial of Apidra for 6+ weeks without a problem. I keep insulin refrigerated or in a Frio wallet. I also don't shoot air into the vial. Not something you do with a pen:)
No issue with tossing used pens in the trash.
At first I thought my insulin was going bad, and maybe it was. But now I have not thrown away any insulin, I use them to the end of the pen. And I inject the remaining insulin in the pen with a syringe- I get a few more doses that way. I now always carry my insulin pens in a frio. I also have been injecting from older novolog prefilled pens into the cartridge of my novopen junior refill with a syringe so I'm using older insulin and I will hopefully always have a stockpile of insulin and supplies if for true disasters. I have just thrown out the old pens in the plastic recyle- I hope that is ok. I'm not sure what to do with the pen/needles and syringes etc. One of my plastic needle containers is almost full now. Do we bring that to our doctor's office or a hospital?
I was using lantus novolog now using levemir/novolog and symlin. The symlin I just store in the fridge all the time, I don't use it if I eat out in case of a hypo due to waiting for food etc.
Hopefully your previous insulin was just a bad batch and newer insulins will be more predicatable.
Throwing pens and insulin away in the trash is fine. I suggest you call or go to your local trasch company's website for information on how to dispose of sharps. My trash company is fine with me putting sharps in an empty penutbutter jar and closing it up tight. Many hospitals or doctor's office will accept sharps, too.
thanks, I think it was ok maybe and I was just spiking? not sure... I'm going to contact my endo and the recycle center and see what they say :)