All of my follistim is expired!!!!!!

lynn0926

Good thing I noticed by accident!  I went to grab my cetrotide to order a refill online and noticed all 33 boxes of my follistim is stamped dec 2011.  I wont need it until at least Wed, just glad I noticed ahead of time. The pharmacy is closed today except for emergencies. I dont know if this is considered an emergency since they would ship overnight to get here Tues for possible Wed start? Should I bother the emergency people or wait until tomorrow? They said emergency is defined as missing your next dose. Urgh!

rosemary&thyme

That's super annoying. I'm glad you caught it! I would call them, especially because tomorrow is a holiday. 

farmerlynda

Eeeps!  How crazy, why would they send you expired meds?!  I would definitely call them, especially as PP said with Monday being a holiday.

illinigal

I'm sorry it is expired, but holy cow, 33 boxes?!  Do you use that much per cycle?

rosemary&thyme

illinigal:

I'm sorry it is expired, but holy cow, 33 boxes?!  Do you use that much per cycle?

I was wondering the same thing! 

MAbride0808

I would call them since you need it Wednesday and tomorrow is a holiday.   To me this would be an emergency.  Good luck!

lynn0926

illinigal:

I'm sorry it is expired, but holy cow, 33 boxes?!  Do you use that much per cycle?

Yes, unfortunetly my insurance does not cover the pen, so they are all 75 iu vials. I stim at 450 ius because of being DOR.  The other sucky part is it is not powder with dilutant so 450 ius ends up being a shot of 3cc. Last cycle they sent me 50 boxes. I do have some left over from that though.

farmerlynda

lynn0926:

illinigal:

I'm sorry it is expired, but holy cow, 33 boxes?!  Do you use that much per cycle?

Yes, unfortunetly my insurance does not cover the pen, so they are all 75 iu vials. I stim at 450 ius because of being DOR.  The other sucky part is it is not powder with dilutant so 450 ius ends up being a shot of 3cc. Last cycle they sent me 50 boxes. I do have some left over from that though.

Ugh I hate, hate, hate insurance!  So frustrating the hoops we have to jump through to get health care.  Why would they cover the med in one form, but not another?  It makes no sense.

illinigal

lynn0926:

illinigal:

I'm sorry it is expired, but holy cow, 33 boxes?!  Do you use that much per cycle?

Yes, unfortunetly my insurance does not cover the pen, so they are all 75 iu vials. I stim at 450 ius because of being DOR.  The other sucky part is it is not powder with dilutant so 450 ius ends up being a shot of 3cc. Last cycle they sent me 50 boxes. I do have some left over from that though.

Ahhh...  I didn't know they came in 75 IU vials. I've always had 600 or 900 IU cartridges for follistim.   I'm sorry your insurance doesn't cover it.   I agree with the other ladies that I would call and ask since tomorrow is a holiday.  Good luck!

Married071709

Ask your Dr if you can still use them.  They should be fine if the expiration date is Dec 2011.  Most medications are good for a year after they expire. They have to put dates on meds.  My uncle is a pharmacist and he said meds start to lose the effectiveness after the expiration date.  They just expired so you might be ok.  Wouldn't hurt to ask. 

HappyIAm

My RE will allow them to be used for an additional 6 months after expiration date.  Might be an option for you to save on copay.  Defiantly don't throw the expired away.  Someone from the OOP donated meds may be approved to use the expired.  We had all our meds donated and it was and answer to prayer for us!!  We used pens and those 75 iu viles.  Made injection time a little more challenging for us after the pens were gone. But, you do what you gotta do!

Trish11278

So glad you noticed that!  I would call them and just lie saying you need it by Tuesday and you didn't know if tomorrow's holiday would mess anything up.  This way it gives you an extra day just in case something happens. 

lynn0926

HappyIAm:

My RE will allow them to be used for an additional 6 months after expiration date.  Might be an option for you to save on copay.  Defiantly don't throw the expired away.  Someone from the OOP donated meds may be approved to use the expired.  We had all our meds donated and it was and answer to prayer for us!!  We used pens and those 75 iu viles.  Made injection time a little more challenging for us after the pens were gone. But, you do what you gotta do!

This is good to know. I will call my nurse tomorrow and see if it is fine to use them. If not, then I have about 50 75 iu vials to donate because I have some left over from last cycle. It def is a challenge using them. We have to break it down into 3 shots because the 3 cc at once was unbearable.

I did call again, but you get an answering service and they have to page the pharmacist because they are on call only today. I felt bad bothering them I guess. They are open tomorrow because they have a list of holidays they are closed. AF is not here today so I def wont need them until at least Wed. If I have to I will take a half day of work to pick them up. That pharmacy is a little over an hour away. Thanks girls! 

sbrowns08

Oh Lynn I'm sorry that you've been through a hassle today! I hope you get it all figured out soon.