How long will my medication last?

There are two scenarios here -- a sealed, never used vial, and a vial once it's first used. Let's look at each separately.

Sealed Vial

For an unopened, never-punctured vial: with proper refrigeration, the medication will last at least until the "Beyond-Use Date" (BUD) printed on the vial. This date can range from one month to one year from the compounding date.

The BUD is the date beyond which the safety and effectiveness of a compounded drug can no longer be guaranteed. However, these dates aren't based on testing of your specific medication, but rather on USP United States Pharmacopeia guidelines, state regulations, and published studies. This means a pharmacy might set a BUD one year out while another sets it just one month out - this difference often reflects state regulations rather than the actual medication inside.

Many people report successfully using their properly refrigerated compounded GLP-1s beyond the listed BUD without issues, but this is done at your own risk. The main risks are:

• Loss of effectiveness - the medication may not work as well
• Contamination - which could be dangerous

Warning signs to watch for: If your medication appears discolored, cloudy, or contains any particles, that's a sign that something has gone bad. Discard the vial (or check with your provider first).

Opened/punctured vial

Once the vial has been opened and used for the first time, with the rubber cap punctured by your syringe, a different "timer" begins.

The standard recommendation is that once punctured, a vial should be used within 28 days. This is a conservative safety guideline designed to minimize the risk of contamination.

However, many people successfully use their vials for up to two months (8 weeks) without issues, provided they follow proper handling protocols:

• Always wipe the top of the vial with an alcohol swab before and after each puncture - always!
• Keep the vial refrigerated between uses - in a closed container to avoid contamination
• Never reuse needles - use a fresh, sterile syringe for each injection
• Avoid touching the rubber stopper with your fingers

The primary risk of using a vial beyond the 28-day guideline is contamination - bacteria or other microorganisms could potentially enter the vial through the puncture site, even with proper handling. While many people report no problems extending use to two months, going much beyond that increases the contamination risk significantly.

Ultimately, this is a personal risk tolerance decision. If you choose to extend beyond 28 days, pay close attention to any changes in the medication's appearance (cloudiness, discoloration, particles) or unusual side effects, and discard the vial (or check with your provider) if you notice anything that looks off.