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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> expired imitrex
        
(Message started by: stacy3675 on Nov 19^th, 2007, 8:50am)

Title: expired imitrex
Post by stacy3675 on Nov 19^th, 2007, 8:50am

this has probably been asked but do you all take expired imitrex and what is your limit on expired i know we normally use it so fast this isnt a problem but if you happen to run into it then what?

Title: Re: expired imitrex
Post by lashultz on Nov 19^th, 2007, 10:48am

I remember taking to my Doctor about this. He said they should be good for a while after the experation date. I don't know what a while is though. I would check with your Doc.

Title: Re: expired imitrex
Post by StrangeBrew on Nov 19^th, 2007, 11:37am

Expired merely means "perhaps not quite at full strength." I've heard of people here using Trex that was 3 years beyond expiration and it worked just fine.

Title: Re: expired imitrex
Post by room217 on Nov 19^th, 2007, 9:44pm

Good question. I'd like to hear from other people using expired imitrex too.

Earlier this year I used 2 imitrex injections which we're a year expired (may 06). The side effects seemed to feel a little different, a little fainter... but the end result was the same. The headache was gone in 10-12 minutes.

I still have some of this same batch, and it looks like I'll be forced into trying some again as I'm having far more headaches than insurance will cover. I'll keep you posted.

Should I keep them in the fridge? Do you?

Title: Re: expired imitrex
Post by Kevin_M on Nov 19^th, 2007, 10:01pm

Yeah, they're good for a few years past expiration, kept in the temperature range between 35 and 85 degrees F.

All this year I've used expired March 2006 stock and each has been fine, and have used older.

Title: Re: expired imitrex
Post by Melissa on Nov 20^th, 2007, 9:40am

My own neuro gave me samples that had expired 2 years earlier (no she's not a quack) and it worked great for me at that time.

Title: Re: expired imitrex
Post by DannyV on Nov 20^th, 2007, 6:22pm

I have lots of experience with this one. Personally I have never noticed any difference. I have some from over 2 yrs old and they work fine with no sides at all. That is just me.

Title: Re: expired imitrex
Post by stacy3675 on Nov 20^th, 2007, 6:47pm

i only put 1 in the fridge and it kinda looked funny so i didnt put any more in there. thanks for the post i guess i will be ok.

Title: Re: expired imitrex
Post by DrBB on Nov 20^th, 2007, 8:13pm

Hi Stacy,

As you have heard, expiration dates on most medications are arbitrary, usually a year after dispensing, or three years after manufacture, though there are exceptions. As long as you store most tablets and capsules in a cool (room temperature), dry, place, or in an airtight container, most will last well beyond the expiration date--or as lashultz so aptly put it, "a while."

However, if you have stored them, say, in a moist bathroom or an otherwise humid room, or if they are regularly exposed to sunlight (or even ambient light), the lifespan of the medications usually will be shortened "some" (whatever that is).

I have two suggestions if all this vagueness is making you uncomfortable. First, explain to your pharmacist how long you have had the prescription and how it has been stored, then ask what happens when it gets too old. That's because some meds just lose their kick, but a few break down into bad stuff.

Second (which I actually just thought of), you can do a Google search of www.clusterheadaches.com, using the little "Search " button in the upper left,next to the "Home" and "Email" buttons of something like 'expired' 'Imitrex' without the single quotes. That will get you to other threads like this one:
http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=medsarchive2004;action=display;num=1102346147.

Good luck!

Title: Re: expired imitrex
Post by justthe2ofus on Nov 28^th, 2007, 11:30am

I use expired Trex from my last cycle...Its almost a year past date, doesn't seem to be much of a difference. I don't get as much of a "flushed" feeling as I do from a fresh dose, but it seems to work the same (as quick, etc.).

Title: Re: expired imitrex
Post by Paul98 on Nov 28^th, 2007, 4:08pm

I used some this year that went out in 03. As long as it has been stored properly, isn't dark or CLOUDY it should be ok. I have found that the potency is reduced a bit with the old stuff but not by much.

Best palce to store it is in the fridge. I have stored the single dose vials in the freezer and made sure they were on their side during freeze down. Mix well after thawing and don't refreeze. Do not try to freeze the autoinject packe as they WILL crack.

-P.

Title: Re: expired imitrex
Post by justthe2ofus on Nov 28^th, 2007, 4:21pm

thanks for the freezing tip, I use the auto-inject... ;)

Title: Re: expired imitrex
Post by maryo on Nov 30^th, 2007, 8:52pm

A former Army surgeon I know told me that the U.S. Army found that of their stockpiled medications, only nitroglycerine and (I think) amoxicillin actually lost effectiveness. None of the others did. So, folks, hold on to your "expired" medications. Chances are they're good for a long, long while.

Title: Re: expired imitrex
Post by JoeS on Dec 1^st, 2007, 9:19am

I know this is not what you asked about originally, but here's my experience with Zomig for what it's worth:

I had stockpiled some Zomig nasal spray over the past four years -- a few of them expired on 10/2005 and the rest expired on 10/2006. I have been using these during my current cycle.

My experience is that the ones that expired 10/2006 are working just fine -- for me they take effect within 10 minutes which is as good as ever.

However, the ones that expired 10/2005 have not been effective (or at least they are taking longer to work).

All of these were stored in my bathroom closet in the original boxes. Thanks for the tip on the refrigerator storage. I'll do that from now on.

Joe

Title: Re: expired imitrex
Post by ccbiggsoo7 on Dec 2^nd, 2007, 3:02am

neuro told me to take em won't hurt ya just not as strong as when first made!!