Not me! I have used levemir pens six months past their expiration date with no ill effects, just the expected good ones. I also get a lot of prescription drugs from my doctors who sometimes do not do a good job of cleaning the samples closet. I am glad to get these, regardless of close, or just past, dating.
Helen
I had the occasion a month or so to use expired Glucagon. It's the first time in 39 years that I've needed glucagon. I had the flu (or something like it - fever, vomiting, chills). I was at home with my 17 year old son. At the first queasy signs I disconnected my pump. About two hours later I tested, and my blood sugar was around 30. I yelled for my son, he found the glucagon, I mixed and injected it, and my blood sugar rose, without any food (since I couldn't hold anything down). Only later did I notice that the glucagon was very old, from the last millenium, I believe it had expired in 1999. Did it work? I am not sure. I've heard that glucagon blows you sugars sky high. That didn't happen with me. I think I peaked at around 120.
Dear Peter,
That Glucagon was indeed pretty old! You're lucky it wasn't dead.
By the way, I think it was at your house that I attended a meting of the Boulder Valley Diabetes Support Group years ago. But since everyone else was a thin type 1 and I was then a fat type 2, I felt out of place. Now that I am close to being underweight, I probably would feel more comfortable and intend to return!
Best regards,
David
An M.D. who I know by name but who prefers to remain otherwise anonymous send me this comment. The doctor said I could post it here:
"On expired pills. About 8-10 years ago the Wall Street Journal carried a nice article on this issue where they detailed the US military’s drug stockpile. They tested and found that for almost all of the ordinary pill type drugs they stockpile in large quantities the actual shelf life was much much longer than the manufacturer’s date. Realistically, Pfizer wants to show stability for the FDA, not for consume long term storage and use at a later date. This article is worthwhile accessing via their archives."
hi! david,
love the e-column
how does this translate for expired test strips and control fluid?
thanks
thanks! david - interesting info
googled the hemocue --- the unit plus 200 test strips runs $395
http://midwifesupplies.com/Hemocue-Glucose-201-Analyzer-Combo-PEA9210.html
extra strips are $169 per 100 (individually wrapped)
a little beyond my allowance right now, although it would be nice to have someday just to check calibration of regular meter
best!
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I had some nicotine patches go bad pretty quick after the expiration date (back before they were OTC.) They were samples from the doctor and could have spent some time in a salesman's car in the 110° Oklahoma summer.