Maybe you found an old bottle of semaglutide in the back of your fridge. Since the medicine can be expensive, you might wonder if it’s okay to use it. You don’t want to waste it, but you also want to be safe. When you’re on a weight loss journey, you want every dose of your medication to count. So, it’s natural to ask, “what happens if you use expired semaglutide?”. This guide will give you clear answers and explain the risks. When it comes to your health, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
The Two Biggest Risks of Using Expired Semaglutide
When you use any medicine that is past its date, you run into two main problems. These problems are very important to understand, especially for a medicine that you inject.
Here are the two biggest risks:
- Risk 1: It Might Not Work. Over time, the medicine inside the bottle starts to break down. It becomes weaker, or less potent. If you use expired semaglutide, it might not be strong enough to help control your appetite. This means you would be wasting the dose and not getting the results you want.
- Risk 2: It Could Be Unsafe. This is the most serious risk. Medicines that you inject must be perfectly clean, or sterile. Your medicine has special ingredients called preservatives that keep germs from growing in it. After the expiration date, these preservatives can stop working. This can allow harmful bacteria to grow in the liquid.
So, what happens if you use expired semaglutide? You could be injecting germs into your body. This could cause a painful skin infection or make you sick in other ways. Ensuring your medication is potent and sterile is central to the care we provide at Semaglutide Medics.
“Expiration Date” vs. “Beyond-Use Date”: What’s the Difference?
To keep your medicine safe, you need to know which date on the label is the most important. For compounded semaglutide, you will see something called a “Beyond-Use Date,” or BUD. This is different from a normal expiration date.
An “Expiration Date” is what you see on brand-name medicines like Wegovy. The big drug company sets that date. It tells you when the medicine is good until, as long as it stays sealed and stored in the right way.
A “Beyond-Use Date” is for medicines that are custom-mixed by a special pharmacy. This date is even more important. It tells you how long the medicine is safe and strong after you have opened the bottle for the first time. For many compounded medicines, this date is about 28 to 56 days after you open it.
Think of it like a carton of milk. It has a “sell by” date on the top. But once you open it, you know you should drink it within about a week. The BUD is like that “use within a week” rule. It’s the most important date to follow for your safety.
Our partner pharmacies provide clear Beyond-Use Dates on every prescription. If you’re ever unsure, you can message our medical team through the patient portal.
How to Store and Handle Your Semaglutide Correctly
Taking good care of your medicine is easy to do. When you store it the right way, you can be sure that it will be safe and effective for every single dose. Here are a few simple tips to follow.
First, always keep your semaglutide in the refrigerator. The best temperature is between 36°F and 46°F. Try to keep it on a main shelf, not in the door, where the temperature can change a lot.
Second, never let your medicine freeze. If it freezes, the medicine can be ruined and will not work correctly. If you find it has frozen by accident, you must throw it away.
Third, look at the medicine before you use it. The liquid should always be clear and have no color. If you ever see that it looks cloudy, has a weird color, or has little specks floating in it, do not use it.
Finally, a great tip is to write the date you opened the bottle on the box. That way, you never have to guess how old it is. If you have any questions about storage or your medication, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Ensuring Your Treatment Stays on Track
We know it feels bad to throw away something that costs money. But when it comes to your health, it is never worth the risk. Using an old dose that might not work will only slow down your weight loss progress. And using one that could be contaminated is a serious health risk.
The best rule is simple: when in doubt, throw it out. Staying on track with fresh, effective medicine is the key to reaching your goals. You deserve to feel confident that your treatment is safe.
We understand that life gets busy, but your health shouldn’t be a gamble. Our program is designed to make sure you always have a fresh, safe supply of medication when you need it. For a flat rate of $299 per month, your prescription, medication, and supplies are delivered directly to your door, taking the guesswork out of your treatment plan.
The Final Verdict on Using Expired Semaglutide
So, let’s sum it all up. Expired semaglutide is not something you should use. It can be less effective, which means it won’t help you lose weight. More importantly, it can be unsafe if germs have started to grow in it.
So, what happens if you use expired semaglutide? You risk slowing your progress and, more importantly, your health. It is never worth the risk. Always pay close attention to the dates and follow the storage rules to keep yourself safe.
Learn more about us and our commitment to providing safe, affordable, and effective weight loss solutions you can trust.
Sources:
- FDA – Don’t Be Tempted to Use Expired Medicines: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/dont-be-tempted-use-expired-medicines
- Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) – Safe Injection Practices: https://www.ismp.org/resources/safe-injection-practices
- CDC – Medication Storage and Disposal: https://www.cdc.gov/medications/lead/safe_storage.html
