Refrigerate or Not?

[Cat Ma]

Is Novolin N supposed to be refrigerated once the vial is opened? The label on the box says to refrigerate unopened bottle but "may store at room temperature after opening for use".

If Novolin N should be refrigerated after it is opened, is it ok to store at room temperature for awhile, say a half hour, prior to giving it to my cat?

 

[rhiannon and shadow (GA)]

I don't know for certain....
I'm basing my answer on Lantus. Lantus can be stored at room temperature but we all keep it in the fridge to keep it as good as we can for as long as we can.....

but there are often occasions where someone forgets their insulin on a counter for half a day and it does fine.

 

[BJM]

If the dose you are giving is small, refrigeration allows you to use it past 1 month, which is often the duration many insulins were tested. Also, refrigeration retards the growth of any possible microbes that get into the insulin.