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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Expired Imitrex injection vials
        
(Message started by: gobblebox on Jul 22^nd, 2004, 6:31am)

Title: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by gobblebox on Jul 22^nd, 2004, 6:31am

Hi everyone!! My husband just had his first bout after two years. He has been pain free since then and I'm so upset that we have to go through this again!!! His last clusters went for six weeks back at the end of 2002. He still has four vials of Imitrex injections that have of course expired. I'm sure you all know how expensive this medication is. Were sitting on $400 in expired shots!! Has anyone ever used their expired shots? He just waited it out this time but almost had me inject him with the "old" stuff. By that time the crying and pacing had stopped and he was able to talk and see me. This one lasted about 20 to 30 minutes. Any similar experiences with expired Imitrex shots would be helpful. I just hate to think that $400 worth of this drug is usless just because of an expiration date. Hell, I drink my expired milk before it truely goes bad . [left][/left]

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by Superpain on Jul 22^nd, 2004, 6:46am

I've used it out of date with the same effect. As long as it's not over a yr or so is my rule of thumb...
But if I get hit and I've got shots from 4-5 yrs ago, I'd try them. But that's just me...

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by don on Jul 22^nd, 2004, 6:58am

I would not hesistate to use them.

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by UN_SOLVED on Jul 22^nd, 2004, 8:02am

ditto. I used injections that were 4 years expired.

Unsolved

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by Giovanni on Jul 22^nd, 2004, 8:57am

I have been told by the neuro that as long as they have not been exposed to temperature extremes they should be good almost indefinitely.

John

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by clavers on Jul 22^nd, 2004, 8:58am

Un-solved is right, I don't think that they ever really become unusable.

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by gobblebox on Jul 22^nd, 2004, 10:15am

Thanks you guys!!! I'm praying that my husband will not have another episode later today or tonight, but you know how this goes. I will have injection in hand if needed. Can't believe this could be starting over again!!!!! It just came out of the blue after two years of nothing.

Thanks for the input!!!!

Kim

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by floridian on Jul 22^nd, 2004, 1:21pm

1 day before the expiration date, 100% good. 1 day after the expiration it drops to 0% good. ;)

Actually, I think the US FDA requires all drugs and many foods to be stamped with an expiration date that is on the cautious side. Bottled water should be good indefinitely, but even that has an expiration date.

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by mellie on Jul 22^nd, 2004, 3:19pm

I just used expired shots from early 2003 two weeks ago and they worked fine!

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by Superpain on Jul 22^nd, 2004, 6:11pm

I'm reminded of that song by... [smiley=huh.gif] C'mon, 70's rock... Skynard maybe?

*verse* "Gimme back my bullets..."

The beast can't read expiration dates. That stuffs like holy water to him... ;)

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jul 22^nd, 2004, 8:44pm

I'm currently sitting on 7 vials of expired Imitrex. My cycles hit only every 3-4 years (most recent ended a few weeks ago). I was prepared to have him write me a script every year so I'd always have some unexpired stuff on hand.

His response ... "It's the pharmaceutical company's way of getting you to spend more money."

The most recent literature states that there are only 3 known manufactured drugs that truly "expire." Imitrex isn't one of them. *smile*

Kris

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by don on Jul 22^nd, 2004, 10:03pm

There are no vowels in Lynyrd Skynyrd.

They all expired.

But the band is still good!

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by LadyLuv on Jul 23^rd, 2004, 6:12pm

Spoke to a friend of my (Pharmacist?) and she said that the shots would still be good, but the they may not be as strong.
She said that is the norm with most pain medication. The only medication that I was advised not to take after experation are antibiotics; the can become poison after a while.
So go for it - and God Bless - :)

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by Superpain on Jul 23^rd, 2004, 6:42pm

on 07/23/04 at 18:12:38, LadyLuv wrote:

Imitrex is not a pain med...

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by IndianaJohn on Jul 23^rd, 2004, 7:50pm

I talked to my GP about that today. He said that as long as it has been kept with it's temperature limits and hasn't been exposed to direct sunlight , should be OK.

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by jdm on Jul 25^th, 2004, 1:51pm

Just ran into this myself as my med ins. will only give me 4 kits every 22 days. I had a bunch left from 2002 and 03. After coming to this site, tried some old and it worked fine. Had been stored in dark dry space.

I had been scared to use but no more, good luck.

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by Jayne on Jul 25^th, 2004, 5:00pm

I spoke to one of our experts at the convention abut this. She said it may loose it's potency over time, but it will not hurt you. You just might have to use more of it if it's not working. I have used well expired imitrex and it worked, I had to use a little more than usual, but it still orked. You've got nothing to be afraid of, so go for it.

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex injection vials
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jul 26^th, 2004, 8:25pm

OK - I'm going to tell a secret that will both horrify you and maybe make you LOL!

My cycles are 3-4 years apart. That's alot of time to go by without a CHA (thank heavens!) After my last cycle, I put my autoinjector and the last 2 Imitrex doses up in a cabinet.

When my most recent cycle started, I got out the Trex, but couldn't remember how the autoinjector loaded and worked (it's been 4 years, after all). Here I was ... in the middle of a kip 8-9 with two vials of Trex and no idea how to use them!

Anyway, I put the injector in, twisted to load and then pushed. As I pulled the injector out of the little medicine holder, I watched that precious Imitrex shoot directly across the room! Did that 2 times in a row! Got out the ice bag, put a kleenex to my dripping eye and nose, and pulled my hair on the opposite side until it was over.

I now have the autoinjector instructions taped inside the cabinet just in case, but am switching to sterile vials and Insulin syringes for future use. *smile*

Kris