I am just wondering how long it can be left at room temperature, and does it become ineffective after being out and getting to room temp. What is the reason fro keeping it cool?
2006-12-14 02:28:46 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Diabetes
Keeping it cool helps it stay stable, insulin that has been subjected to heat (like in a car during the summer) of frozen becomes less effective by changing the properties of the insulin, it just won't work the way it is supposed to and could harm you rather than help you.
I have been taking insulin for 15 years (1st via shot therapy and now via insulin pump), the vial (Humalog) I am currently using I keep at room temp.,(I use it in less than a month) the other vials are always in the refrig (I keep it in the door so there is less chance of them freezing). The only time I will put the current vial of insulin in the fridge is in the summer when it could get really hot in the house and I don't want to chance it getting too warm and I use ice packs when travelling. One note I did not see in the other answers, ice cold insulin hurts when injected!! Roll it gently in your hands to warm it before injecting. Since there are all different types of insulin and I don't know which type(s) you use, you should ask the pharmacist or read the pamphlet that comes with all insulin for proper storage for precise clarification for your type. Unless your insulin gets frozen or gets really hot is should stay stable, always check the appearance though, if it a cloudy insulin make sure to check that there are no lumps or particles floating in it. If its a clear type make sure it is clear, these would be indicators that the insulin was stored improperly. Check out these 2 sites for more info on insulin and storage of it.
good luck...
2006-12-14 08:07:30 · answer #1 · answered by golf girl 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My dad is diabetic and he told me that the insulin becomes inactive if left at room temp for too long. I would call the pharmacist. I would suspect that leaving it on the counter for an hour would not harm it, but call the pharmacy to be sure.
Some drugs do become inactive if left at room temperature long enough. When I was a child and received my 4 year old booster to get ready for school, it turns out the MMR vaccine had been left out and was bad.
In third grade 90% of my classmates, and I, had the measles, then the mumps and chicken pox. Over 70% of the total elementary school came down with those diseases thanks to inactive vaccinations. The school was shut down close to 6 weeks over the course of a couple years because so many kids were home sick. Wish I could have enjoyed the extra time off, but my sibs and I were sick every single time.
So yeah, it can effect it.
2006-12-14 02:40:25 · answer #2 · answered by Gem 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A long time ago people were told to keep it cold at all times. My dad was a diabetic when I was a kid 30 years ago and we had to keep it cold always, and traveling was a pain. I am now a type 1 diabetic also and I keep my unopened insulin in the fridge then when I open one (I use lantus cartridge, and novolog pens) I keep it out of refrigation. Lantus pens with the cartridges can not be refrigated. I go through alot of insulin so I have never had to keep mine more then 15 days or so.
2006-12-14 06:41:36 · answer #3 · answered by BAR 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be left at room temperature and does not need to be refrigerated but should not be out in direct sunlight or if it is hot out you will want to refrigerate it or put it in a cooler. Insulin is good for 30 days after you open the bottle regardless of where you keep it.
2006-12-14 02:31:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call your pharmacy where you got it from, they can tell you precisely, any pharmacy can. If I remember correctly it ca be left out no longer than an hour. Keeping it cool helps to preserve it. Making its effectiveness stable. Some insulin's need to be kept cool others don't.
2006-12-14 02:55:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A Pharmacist is the best resource for this information .
You can ask them the details of your questions and get a quick response as well as having any other questions answered about your medications or over the counter drugs you might have to take.
2006-12-14 02:32:43 · answer #6 · answered by Bobyns 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I work at a nursing home. We store the insulin in the fridge until we open it. After we open it, we can keep it in our med carts legally for four weeks. After four weeks, it has to be wasted.
2006-12-14 02:31:26 · answer #7 · answered by Mom of Three 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋