Why must pulmicort respules (budesonide) be thrown away after 2 weeks from when the foil was opened?
WE received several packets from our Dr., and we only have to use it whenever our child is sick. So, we use 1 or 2 respules and then store the rest. Thankfully, he isn't sick every 2 weeks, but then we have to throw away 2-3 respules when he does get sick for a few months because the foil bag was opening. I just see $ going down the drain and I cna't find an answer as to why. If it's kept out of sunlight, I don't understand why it can't be used more than 2 weeks later.
Hi Fidrych,
I can certainly understand your concern about discarding unused medication. With the costs of our healthcare coverage and medications on the rise, it doesn't seem to make sense to throw away something that still looks good enough to use. However, the shelf life for Pulmicort Respules is two weeks once the foil bag has been opened. This is the amount of time the manufacturer can guarantee the medicine will work according to their claims.
Keep in mind that some medicines lose their potency over time, and other medicines can become unstable over time. This is why manufacturers give their medicines an expiration date and a shelf life. The choice to discard or use out dated medincie is entirely up to you. If you would like more specific information about Pulmincort Respules, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
:)
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