? Question about Lantus left out of the fridge

[hellen_maggie]

Hi everyone,

I have a quick question about Lantus.

This morning after giving my cat the insulin shot, my husband accidentally left the Lantus vial out of the refrigerator for about 1.5 hours before putting it back

The vial is new and has only been open for about a week.

Could this have damaged the insulin? Should I discard it and start a new vial, or is it still safe to keep using it?

Thank you

 

[Blanche]

Good morning Hellen!

I have at hand the instruction's folded paper of Lantus in greek and it says clearly that the vial after opening can be stored at a temperature not higher than 25-30°C (depending on the type of the vial) for maximum 4 weeks.
Same information at the diabetes journal:

Storage.​

Unopened vial: Unopened Lantus vials should be stored in a refrigerator at 36–46°F (2–8°C). Lantus should not be stored in the freezer and should not be allowed to freeze. The vial should be discarded if the contents are frozen.

Open (in-use) vial.​

Opened vials, whether or not refrigerated, must be used within 28 days. They must be discarded if not used within 28 days. If refrigeration is not possible, the open vial in use can be kept unrefrigerated for up to 28 days in a place away from direct heat and light, as long as the temperature is not >86°F (30°C).


So if your husband didn't place the vial on the top of the radiator, I'd say that you are good to go.

Love from Blanche

 

[Allie & Gen]

I don't have a specific scientific basis for the recommendation, but if it were me I'd probably keep using the vial and see if I noticed any issues, since they're rather expensive to replace and 1.5 hours is a pretty short period (unless it was in really warm conditions, as Blanche mentions)!

Experiences vary, but so far my insulin has also retained efficacy far, far longer than described. I tend to see drug expirations as a sort of guideline but not a hard and fast rule; the company needs to give you something so that if the drug loses efficacy, they won't be sued for it, but it's an estimate, a range. Guideliens tend to err towards stricter estimates than are necessarily practical realities, though they're important to at least keep in mind!

Congrats on the reduction, by the way! Safe surfing to Maggie, and I hope your week is off to a good start, Hellen!

 

[hellen_maggie]

I don't have a specific scientific basis for the recommendation, but if it were me I'd probably keep using the vial and see if I noticed any issues, since they're rather expensive to replace and 1.5 hours is a pretty short period (unless it was in really warm conditions, as Blanche mentions)!

Experiences vary, but so far my insulin has also retained efficacy far, far longer than described. I tend to see drug expirations as a sort of guideline but not a hard and fast rule; the company needs to give you something so that if the drug loses efficacy, they won't be sued for it, but it's an estimate, a range. Guideliens tend to err towards stricter estimates than are necessarily practical realities, though they're important to at least keep in mind!

Congrats on the reduction, by the way! Safe surfing to Maggie, and I hope your week is off to a good start, Hellen!

Thank you, Allie, for the helpful information
Fortunately, the vial wasn’t left in a warm place, so I’ll try to continue using this one and see how it goes. Just to be safe, I did pick up a new vial, but I’m keeping it as a backup for now.
I also see that Gen has been surfing in some beautiful blue and green numbers lately! I hope he’ll be able to get back to his usual feeding schedule soon, overcome the recent issues, and surprise us in a good way

Have a great week!

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Thank you, Allie, for the helpful information
Fortunately, the vial wasn’t left in a warm place, so I’ll try to continue using this one and see how it goes. Just to be safe, I did pick up a new vial, but I’m keeping it as a backup for now.
I also see that Gen has been surfing in some beautiful blue and green numbers lately! I hope he’ll be able to get back to his usual feeding schedule soon, overcome the recent issues, and surprise us in a good way

Have a great week!

HI Hellen, it;s fine to keep using it. If you notice any floaties or solid clumps or flakes in it then it's a problem.
If it's clear and only a few hours left out, don't worry.

Since it's made for humans, we humans would use a vial or a pen in a much shorter time (since we would use more) so it's said humans can use it within 28 days unrefrigerated.

Since we use such small amounts for out pets, we make sure to refrigerate it so it retains its potency for many months.
Just check the bottle and if clear, you're fine!

 

[hellen_maggie]

HI Hellen, it;s fine to keep using it. If you notice any floaties or solid clumps or flakes in it then it's a problem.
If it's clear and only a few hours left out, don't worry.

Since it's made for humans, we humans would use a vial or a pen in a much shorter time (since we would use more) so it's said humans can use it within 28 days unrefrigerated.

Since we use such small amounts for out pets, we make sure to refrigerate it so it retains its potency for many months.
Just check the bottle and if clear, you're fine!

Thank you so much Staci