All insulins should be stored in the refrigerator until opening and protected from light.
Once opened or removed from the refrigerator for storage in the medication cart, the
insulin should be dated as it will expire in a specified time per manufacturer.
PENS
| Insulin Name | Expiration Upon Opening or Removing from Refrigerator |
|---|---|
| Insulin Glulisine (Apidra Solostar) | 28 days |
| Insulin Lispro (Humalog, Admelog, Lyumjev) | 28 days |
| Insulin Lispro; Insulin Lispro Protamine (Humalog Mix 50/50 and 75/25) | 10 days |
| Isophane Insulin (NPH) – Humulin N KwikPen | 14 days |
| Regular Insulin (Humulin R KwikPen) U-500 | 28 days |
| Regular Insulin; Isophane NPH (Humulin 70/30 KwikPen) | 10 days |
| Insulin Glargine U-100 (Lantus, Basaglar, Semglee) | 28 days |
| Insulin Detemir (Levemir Flextouch) | 42 days |
| Isophane Insulin (NPH) – Novolin N FlexPen | 28 days |
| Regular Insulin (Novolin R FlexPen) | 28 days |
| Regular Insulin; Isophane Insulin (NPH) (Novolin 70/30 FlexPen) | 28 days |
| Insulin Aspart (Novolog FlexPen) | 28 days |
| Insulin Aspart; Insulin Aspart Protamine (Novolog Mix 70/30 FlexPen) | 14 days |
| Insulin Glargine U-300 (Toujeo Solostar) | 56 days |
| Insulin Degludec (Tresiba Flextouch) | 56 days |
NOTE: With the exception of Tresiba, all pens should be stored at room temperature once opened. DO NOT REFRIGERATE. Once Tresiba is opened, it may be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature below 86 degrees F [30 degrees C]).
GLP-PENS
| Name | Expiration Upon Opening or Removing from Refrigerator | Storage of Opened Pen Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Lixisenatide (Adlyxin) | 14 days | The pen should be protected from light and kept in its original packaging. Discard pen 14 days after its first use. |
| Exenatide (Byetta) multi-dose pen injector | 30 days | After first use, the Byetta Pen injector can be kept at a temperature not to exceed 77 degrees F (or 25 degrees C). Protect from light. |
| Semaglutide (Ozempic) | 56 days | The open pen can be stored for 56 days below 86 degrees F (30 degrees C) or in a refrigerator at 36 to 46 degrees F (2 to 8 degrees C). |
| Dulaglutide (Trulicity) | 14 days | Single use pens. If needed, a single pen may be stored at room temperature not to exceed 86 degrees F (or 30 degrees C). Store unused, unopened pens in the refrigerator at 36 to 46 degrees F (2 to 8 degrees C). Protect from light; it is recommended that the pen be stored in the original carton. |
| Liraglutide (Victoza) | 30 days | Store pens that are in use at 59 to 86 degrees F or in a refrigerator at 36 to 46 degrees F. If exposed to temperatures above 86 degrees F, throw the pen away. |
VIALS
| Insulin Name | Expiration Upon Opening or Removing from Refrigerator | Storage of Opened Vial Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Insulin Glulisine (Apidra) | 28 days | May refrigerate or store at room temperature. |
| Insulin Lispro (Humalog, Admelog, Lyumjev) | 28 days | May refrigerate or store at room temperature. |
| Insulin Lispro; Insulin Lispro Protamine (Humalog Mix 50/50 and 75/25) | 28 days | May refrigerate or store at room temperature. |
| Isophane Insulin (NPH) Humulin N | 31 days | May refrigerate or store at room temperature. |
| Regular Insulin (Humulin R) 100 units/mL | 31 days | Store in a cool place (below 86 degrees F). |
| Regular Insulin (Humulin R) 500 units/mL | 40 days | May refrigerate or store at room temperature. |
| Regular Insulin; Isophane NPH (Humulin 70/30) | 31 days | May refrigerate or store at room temperature. |
| Insulin Glargine U-100 (Lantus) | 28 days | May refrigerate or store at room temperature. |
| Insulin Detemir (Levemir) | 42 days | May refrigerate or store at room temperature. |
| Isophane Insulin (NPH) Novolin N | 42 days | May refrigerate or store at room temperature. |
| Regular Insulin (Novolin R) | 42 days | Store in a cool place below 77 degrees F (25 degrees C); do not refrigerate. |
| Regular Insulin; Isophane Insulin (NPH) (Novolin 70/30) | 42 days | Store at room temperature; do not refrigerate. |
| Insulin Aspart (Novolog) | 28 days | May refrigerate or store at room temperature. |
| Insulin Aspart; Insulin Aspart Protamine (Novolog Mix 70/30) | 28 days | May refrigerate or store at room temperature. |
| Insulin Degludec (Tresiba) | 56 days | May refrigerate or store at room temperature. |
References:
- Clinical Pharmacology Home (clinicalkey.com)/monographs. Accessed 10/11/2022.
Editorial Note: This is an update from our May 2021 – Did You Know? Insulin Expiration Dates: An Update. This update includes some additional GLP-Pen treatments that were not on the market at that time. Previous edition can be accessed at: https://www.hdrxservices.com/insulin-expiration-dates-an-update/
