Anyone using a 5mg pen to inject 3.75mg? How long does a pen last in the fridge?

[DietingForDecades]

I've had 2.5mg for 4 weeks. I will use the 5th dose of 3.75mg for week 5. I'm planning to continue with 3.75 for a few weeks. Can I use a 5mg pen to do this? How long does a pen last in the fridge? (I know prescribers say 4 weeks once opened but many people are using the 5th dose). Anyone using a 5mg for more than 4 weeks? Thanks.

Pens last for 30 days once you start using them whether in the fridge or not. That means you can do 5 doses within that timeframe.

Instructions says a pens in-use period is 30 days.

If you are using 3.75mg (45 clicks) from the pen you will get 5 doses out of the pen before it locks on days 0,7,14,21,28. All within the allowed in-use period of 30 days.

There will be enough liquid for a 6th dose (using a syringe 0.45ml) but this would be on day 35 which is beyond the in-use period. You have time to risk assess using the medication outside its in-use period.

Qualified Eli Lilly/your provider will tell you a firm no, social media will say yeah go for it. You need to make your own risk assessment as only you will bear any consequences.

Also be aware some providers may question if you are not ordering every 4 weeks especially on higher doses. If questioned you could tell them you were on holiday, travelling, ill, forgot a week for several days and followed instructions waiting to inject until following week.

I use mine for the full 30 days. I have been doing the same with a 5mg pen.

I just did 6 doses and used my last pen for 32 days, I brought my last dose back by 2 days due to wanting to change the day.
Yes I'm still alive and it worked fine. It's obviously a risk you are taking to your health as its outside of instructed use and an increased risk of bacteria contamination. The way i see it is I don't have dependents, so at least no-one relies on me if i get ill etc.

It was due to ordering a 15mg but at the time the bonus dose in the 12.5mg was too strong for me, even though it was calculated to be 14.6mg, and the 12.5mg was wearing off. I then did doses of around 13mg to use up the next pen even though that wore off after a few weeks.
Now I've started 15mg and it's still strong but better than constantly filling my face, snacking and craving carbs! God help me when I taper down, i was prediabetic so i may have to stay on it a long time.

Down to individual risk assessment. I have been on it for a year and from month 3 have taken smaller doses from a larger pen to make it cheaper.

It's your own assessed risk.

I took 7 doses from my first pen as I started on 1.25 for a few weeks. I personally don't mind the risk of over 30 days, it's my decision, but some people on here will slate me for it.

We all make our own calculated decisions. I'll be taking 3.75 out of my 5mg pen for as long as I can. Money is tight for me and also I want the lower dose so I'm fine with counting the clicks and using syringes.

My understanding is the risk is the meds being less effective? I am of the view that if the medication is still clear I’m game!!

I asked my pharmacist and he said it's not to do with it being less effective, it's to do with the higher risk of infection from using an open pen.

Well that makes me even less concerned!

I had 7 doses from my last pen. I just kept it in the fridge and was vigilant as I could be about keeping it clean. My friend who’s a pharmacist said it would be fine.

you do have to keep up on ordering. Don’t leave it longer than 5-6 weeks. I currently have 2 spare pens.

I have taken two doses of 3mg and one of 3.5mg from my 5mg pen. I think that will leave me with three more 3.5mg doses plus the 'bonus' dose. So I will be taking 7 doses from this pen so it will be open for 42/43 days. I'm prepared take that risk as long as the liquid is clear. Obviously that is my decision and I'm not advocating it as good practice! But it will save me a lot of money.

A cloudy pen obviously should never be used and should be discarded. A clear pen does not mean it is guaranteed ok.

I wouldn't use the liquid being clear as part of my risk assessment for extending the in-use period as the liquid is less likely to go cloudy during this period. It is more likely to go cloudy if there has been a problem in manufacturing or transit, exposed to excess heat, or frozen.

Refrigeration does not prevent bacteria growth, it only slows it, so bacteria could be present without cloudiness for some time and we are reliant on the effectiveness of the preservatives beyond 30 days in-use. That is what I make my decisions based on.

I take 3.75 (45 clicks) from my 5mg pens as 5mg makes me feel really sick! I’ve also kept and used pens for more than 30 days and I’m still alive! 😁

@snowone, that is good to know thanks , I am thinking of doing the same 😀