Question about Lantus vial expiration

Mary & Jude

Mary & Jude

Very Active Member
For some reason, I tried to search the forum for this answer, but I think something isn't working with the search feature. I have a question about Lantus VIAL (not pens) expiration. Here is what I posted on the FB group (but I'm getting responses about the pens, not the vials, so I wanted to ask this question here):

"I've gone back and searched the group for guidance on the expiration of a vial of Lantus. The consensus in the group seems to be that, if kept refrigerated, it can last for "months," and that I need to check the insulin for cloudiness or particles which indicate it should be discarded. This vague time frame makes me nervous. (I'm the person who discards food when it approaches the expiration date
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.) I understand that the general guidelines say that Lantus should be disposed 28 days after the vial is punctured. But then I'm hearing that a vial can last much longer. To make matters worse for me, Jude is bouncy right now because he just came out of remission, and we're trying to get him regulated, so it worries me when he bounces--I wonder if it's him or the insulin effectiveness. Until I get him regulated, how far past the 28 days would you think I can safely go in assuming the insulin is still effective? Oh, and I'm going to try to get the pens in the future because I can see now how they save money in terms of not expiring until they are punctured."

TIA! And here is Jude's ss if someone is interested:


https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...1VNk5DWYEE/edit?gid=1182885903#gid=1182885903
 
Christie & Maverick said:
When Maverick was on Lantus, we used the vial, and I was able to use the whole vial. It lasted about 3 months at the doses I was giving. Never had a problem with its efficacy.
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Thanks, Christie. I might just set a reminder on my calendar for 3 months and repurchase then. I'm curious, why did Maverick switch from Lantus?
 
You’re welcome, hopefully others will chime in with their experience. Maverick was on Lantus for about 3 1/2 years and I never could really get enough duration, and I found his cycles very unpredictable even after that amount of time.

Funny enough there’s some unknowns with regard to Levemir availability since it is being discontinued in the US at least and not known what supply will be available next year in Canada. The idea of going back to Lantus isn’t appealing to me at all.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Yes I agree. Most CG can use the insulin for 6 months as long as it is kept in the fridge and you don’t draw back and then squirt the extra insulin back into the bottle.
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I don't know what you mean about the "draw back and then squirt." I'm assuming that means when you pull more insulin from the vial than you need and then you push that back into the bottle until you get to the correct dose. I find that I have air bubbles if I don't pull back a bit more than I need and then push it back into the bottle. I shouldn't be doing that??
 
tiffmaxee said:
My vials lasted about 5 months. I had to throw half away so I switched to pens and was able to use each one to tge last drop.
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I'm going to try to get the pens next time. The vet originally wrote my prescription for pens because I was going to try to use the coupon, but the pharmacy wouldn't honor it, so they ended up giving me a vial. I don't recall why, but I think that it must have been a savings issue for me. But if the insulin doesn't start degrading until a pen is open, clearly the better option is the pens, even if they are bit more expensive. I just threw away a vial that was 3/4 full.
 
Marielle said:
I don't know what you mean about the "draw back and then squirt." I'm assuming that means when you pull more insulin from the vial than you need and then you push that back into the bottle until you get to the correct dose. I find that I have air bubbles if I don't pull back a bit more than I need and then push it back into the bottle. I shouldn't be doing that??
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Same and I do this too, just a little past the dose and then back in. Seems to help with bubbles. Don’t know if it’s wrong though!
 
Don't squirt it back into the vial. Take out a unit or part of extra, then withdraw the syringe from the vial. Then you can deal with bubbles and squirt any extra into the air/sink/whatever. The syringe has a lubricant in it to help the needle move up and down. You don't want that lubricant in the vial.

To deal with bubbles, first pull the plunger back a bit more so air is in the top of the syringe. Then tap the syringe to get the bubbles to move to the top. Bubbles seem to like to join each other. Then slowly twist the syringe to get the dose you are looking for.

Jude is bouncy now, cause that's very common with cats that have fallen out of remission. Likely nothing to do with the vial.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Don't squirt it back into the vial. Take out a unit or part of extra, then withdraw the syringe from the vial. Then you can deal with bubbles and squirt any extra into the air/sink/whatever. The syringe has a lubricant in it to help the needle move up and down. You don't want that lubricant in the vial.

To deal with bubbles, first pull the plunger back a bit more so air is in the top of the syringe. Then tap the syringe to get the bubbles to move to the top. Bubbles seem to like to join each other. Then slowly twist the syringe to get the dose you are looking for.

Jude is bouncy now, cause that's very common with cats that have fallen out of remission. Likely nothing to do with the vial.
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Thank you for that explanation!
 
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