Short Shelf-Life Medication Discard Guide and Storage Requirements

Short Shelf-life Medication Discard Guide and Storage Requirements

Medication Name / Indication for Use / Discard Guide and Storage Requirements
Eye/Ear drops and ointments
Chlorsig, Brolene, Soframycin, Genoptic, Tobrex / Bacterial eye infections / Discard 4 weeks after opening (i.e. 1 month).
Store at room temperature
Chlorsig eye drops to be refrigerated until opened.
Ciloquin, Ciloxan, Ocuflox / Keratitis, severe conjunctivitis / Discard 4 weeks after opening (i.e. 1 month)
Store at room temperature
Xalatan/Latanoprost , Xalacom, Lumigan, Travatan, Betoptic, Tenopt, Timoptol, Nyogel, Ganfort, Combigan, Azarga, Cosopt, Duotrav, Iopidine, Alphagan, Alphagan P, Enidin, Trusopt, Azopt, Brinzoquin / Glaucoma and/or ocular hypertension / Discard 4 weeks after opening (i.e. 1 month)
Store at room temperature
Xalatan and Xalacom eye drops to be refrigerated until opened.
Siguent Hycor (ointment), Maxidex, FML, Prednefrin Forte / Allergic and inflammatory eye conditions / Discard 4 weeks after opening (i.e. 1 month)
Store at room temperature
Atropt / Widens the pupil of the eye / Discard 4 weeks after opening (i.e. 1 month)
Store at room temperature
Systane eye drops (bottle), Refresh Tears Plus, Refresh Liquigel, Genteal drops,
In a Wink drops, PAA eye gel, Viscotears, Polyvisc / Dry eyes / Discard 4 weeks after opening (i.e. 1 month)
Store at room temperature
Vistil, Vistil Forte, Genteal gel, HPMC PAA gel, Systane Gel drops / Dry eyes / Discard 12 weeks after opening (i.e. 3 months)
Store at room temperature
Optive, Poly Tears, Tears Naturale, Systane Ultra, Refresh Night-time, Ircal eye ointment / Dry eyes / Discard container 6 months after opening.
Store at room temperature
Systane Unit dose eye drops (vials), Cellufresh, Optifresh, Celluvisc, Optifresh Plus, Theratears / Dry eyes / Discard vials immediately after use.
Store at room temperature
Bion Tears / Dry eyes / Discard vials immediately after use.
Use all containers in a pouch within four days of first opening the pouch.
Kenacomb Otic drops, Otocomb Otic drops, Kenacomb Otic Ointment / Otitis Externa / Ear Drops to be refrigerated at all times.
Ear Ointments to be stored in room temperature.
Both are stored until the expiry on the box/bottle.
Insulin preparations
Novorapid, Actrapid, Humulin, Mixtard, NovoMix, Humalog, Levemir, Lantus, Protaphane, Apidra / Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled by diet and other antidiabetic drugs. / - If kept in the fridge at ALL times, discard once expiry on the box is reached.
- If taken out of the fridge (i.e. if 1 vial is stored in the trolley for convenience), must be discarded after 1 month of opening/removing from fridge.
Antacids
Mylanta / Antacid-used for reflux / After opening refrigerate, discard after 6 months
Gaviscon / Antacid-used for reflux / Store at room temperature until the expiry on the bottle
Other
Anginine tablets / Angina / Discard 3 months after opening bottle.
Store at room temperature
Neo-B12 Amps, Vita B-12 Amps / B12 Deficiency / Store at room temperature until the expiry on the box
Salbutamol nebules / Opens up airways / Once removed from the foil, discard after 3 months.
Atrovent/Ipratropium / Bronchospasm / Store at room temperature until the expiry on the box