Using Expired Medicine

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.

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.