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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Expired Imitrex
        
(Message started by: gusher on Aug 28^th, 2004, 11:10am)

Title: Expired Imitrex
Post by gusher on Aug 28^th, 2004, 11:10am

Ladies and Gents,

Up until quite recently, I had been CH free for two years. Well, the beast has reared it's ugly head and, once again, I am back to O2, Depakote, and Imitrex as a means of aborting the cycle and coping. I found two injections of Imitrex that expired back in Feb 2002. Do I toss it or do I hold it? Will it hurt me or does it expire so they can sell me more? Anyone have any input on this?

Thanks and be well,
Greg

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex
Post by E-Double on Aug 28^th, 2004, 11:24am

i have read here several posts with the same question and everyone mentioned that their doctors said they were ok.

Don't take my word for it though ;)
I'm not a doctor.

I'm sure others might respond similarly

Best,
Eric

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex
Post by Jonny on Aug 28^th, 2004, 11:28am

Depends on how it was stored, if refridgerated it probably will still work, if not it wont kill you to try it.

Hell, send it to me I'll use it

..........................jonny

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex
Post by Kevin_M on Aug 28^th, 2004, 11:38am

Greg,

Yeah, storage is a good key. I have the nasal spray and it says 36 to 86 degrees F (2 and 30 degrees C)and protect from light, but they are in boxes anyway. That is a wide range so most likely if always kept indoors, it is good still.
When I questioned my doctor on some samples he gave me that were out of date, he just pshawed the whole thing and said they only date them so they get moved faster. It's an inventory thing and that the medication is very stable. I've used outdated two year old nasal spray and it worked. Don't know about injections.

Kevin M

*edit* sorry, the injections may have a different temperature storage range, but I don't know it, perhaps similar though. So if it's not been in the fridge, someone may know what the range is.

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex
Post by Prense on Aug 28^th, 2004, 2:01pm

I've seen many folks here state that they had used expired trex injections successfully. I have never heard someone say it did not work. I guess we could assume the ones that tried it, but never posted the results here died...

Chris ;;D

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex
Post by Superpain on Aug 28^th, 2004, 5:59pm

Use it...

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex
Post by caseybarton on Aug 28^th, 2004, 8:39pm

on 08/28/04 at 14:01:03, Prense wrote:

Damn that's funny. Morbid, and a little sad. But really funny.
Casey

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex
Post by Kevin_M on Aug 28^th, 2004, 8:45pm

on 08/28/04 at 20:39:34, caseybarton wrote:

Damn that's funny.

I was cracking up too when I read that, had to read it twice to be sure of what I read. That was good. ;;D

Kevin M

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex
Post by chris on Aug 29^th, 2004, 12:52am

I recently asked my doctor about them and he said they would still be fine ,just maybe not as potent.

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Aug 29^th, 2004, 8:38pm

I was one of the ones posting the same question a few months ago. Use them. According to my doc, there are only 3 meds known to man that truly "expire" and they're all related to cancer chemo or cardiac treatment. Almost all drugs have a useful shelf-life of 10 years.

Where I had problems was remembering how to use the stupid autoinjector (3 years between cycles). I used up all my old ones because I couldn't remember that you simply twisted, pulled, and injected. Instead, I twisted, PUSHED, pulled, and watched that precious drug inject itself across the room! I now keep the autoinject directions taped to the inside of the medicine cabinet (just in case I have another cycle ... which I'm sure I won't ... maybe I won't .... well I probably will, but I'll be prepared ....)

Kris

Title: Re: Expired Imitrex
Post by marquise16 on Aug 29^th, 2004, 10:35pm

Hi Greg,

Just thought that I would give you some feedback on your "Imitrex" question.

I met with my doctor this week (beginning of a cluster...yay... :( . She told me the Imitrex will decrease in "strength" by about 2% per year. However, I'm not a doctor, so I'm not allowed to practice medicine ;) I'd look into this some more.

Best of luck and hang in there!