I’ve messed up my ordering and think I might need to throw away 2 doses. ://

[threeeggsontoast]

Bit of a silly question really but wonder if someone can help.

I’m 6 weeks into my MJ journey and I got my first two pens from one supplier and I currently have 2 doses of a pen left. I keep the pen in a cupboard rather than the fridge once it’s opened. So, 2 doses left in that pen (I inject on Saturdays).

In an attempt to get a good deal, I thought I’d order pen number 3 from another supplier. Allowing for processing time, thought I’d apply early so I didn’t run out. They turned the prescription round quickly and it was delivered today…except I wasn’t in and missed it! I missed the Ts and Cs where it said you had to sign for it. I didn’t have to do that with my previous supplier.

I’ve now had an email to say it’s been returned to the post office and I can collect on Friday. I checked with the supplier and they’ve said that as long as I take the first jab of the new pen by July 2nd, it’ll be fine and I just don’t need to refrigerate it after that.

Except I have a pen with 2 doses sitting in the cupboard which was prescribed on June 11th. Everyone’s saying you can keep the pens for anywhere between 21-28 days but because I need to start using the new one by July 2, I’m guessing I need to chuck the current one out as it’ll have expired by the time the new one runs out?

Hopefully that actually makes sense!! How long do people keep their pens? Anyone used them after the expiry date?

Next time I’ll be more organised!

I've kept it for 35 days out of fridge and nothing seemed off. I think Dr Kevin Anders has a YouTube video about this.

Please tell me if I have misunderstood you, pen #3 will have been out of the fridge for approx 4-5 days when you collect it?

It can be be kept at room temp for up to 30 days. I would return it to the fridge asap, finish using pen #2 and then only remove pen #3 from the fridge when you'rer eady to start it, you'll get the 4 doses within the remaining 25 days. It's outside the manufacturers advice, but from a pharmaceutical point of view, unlikely to be an issue.

The guidance from the manufacturers is to use the pen within 30 days once at room temp (above 8 degrees C).

Having said that, I would stick the new pen in the fridge as soon as you get it and use it once you’ve finished your current pen. You’ll be slightly outside the guidelines but that would be a very minor risk I’d be ok with. But it’s up to you as to what you think about that.

Why can’t you collect it until Friday? I’d push back on that and get it asap, stick it in the fridge and use as my next pen.

It wouldn’t be far enough out of the guidelines to worry me as long as it was clear.

Yes, that’s correct. The supplier said once it had been out of the cooling pack they send it in for more than 4 days, it has to be used immediately. But ideally if it was still ok to pop it in the fridge and then use up the remainder of the other one, I would be happy!

So to clarify, the new one will have been out of a cooling pack for 4 days and then put in a fridge for 2 weeks (while my current pen is used).

Sorry, it’s complicated! My own fault for not thinking it through before ordering pen number 3!

It won’t have been out of the cooling packs though, it’s still in them now whilst at the post office. They should be good for tomorrow at least and then if you collect as early as you can on Friday, or Thursday if you can, then it won’t have been at room temp for several days. Not ideal but not so far out of guidelines that I would waste your current pen. Just stick it in the fridge as soon as you can get it, and then carry on as you planned.

I had one that was delivered with the ice packs defrosted and just popped it in the fridge, it was caught up over the bank holiday. I think it took about 5 days to arrive. I used it and it was no different to all the others I've used

Agree with @SilenceInside

https://tempex.lilly.com/uk/

this will tell you the factual answer directly from manufacturer