GUIDELINES ON SHELF-LIFE OF SOME COMMON MEDICINES

To follow manufacturers recommended shelf-life if it is shorter than the duration after first opening as stipulated below:

INSULIN PREPARATIONS EXPIRY DATES (AFTER FIRST OPENING)

Actrapid (vial and penfill) 6 weeks

Apidra (Glulisine) (vial and pen) 4 weeks
Insulatard (vial and penfill) 6 weeks
Lantus (Glargine) (vial and pen) 4 weeks
Levemir (Detemir) (flexpen) 6 weeks
Mixtard (vial and penfill) 6 weeks
Novomix (flexpen) 4 weeks
Novorapid (Aspart) (flexpen) 4 weeks

EXTERNAL SOLUTIONS EXPIRY DATES (AFTER FIRST OPENING)

Acetone Solvent 6 months
Alcohol 70% (for disinfection of equipment/ 6 months
bench tops etc)
Alcohol 95% 1 month
Calamine 15% & Menthol 0.4% Lotion 1 month
Calamine Lotion 15% 1 month
Cetrimide Solution 1% w/v 1 week
Chlorhexidine 0.5% in Alcohol 70% 6 months
Handrub with moisturizer
Chlorhexidine 2% in Alcohol 70% (Hexodane) 1 week
Chlorhexidine Gluconate Solution 0.05% 500ml Discard unused portion after 24 hours
Chlorhexidine Liquid Soap 4% 500ml (Hibiscrub) 6 months
Formaldehyde Buffered Solution 4% 6 months
Gentian Violet Solution 1 month
Glycerin Thymol Compound Gargle 1 month
Hydrogen Peroxide Solution 3% (10 vol) 500ml 1 month
Iodine Tincture 1% 500ml 1 month
Lidocaine Spray 10% 50ml 6 months
Methylated Spirit 70% v/v (for disinfection of 6 months
equipment/ bench tops etc)
Methylated Spirit 70% v/v (for use on patients) 1 month
Octenisan Wash Lotion 6 months
Olive Oil 200ml 6 months
Potassium Permanganate Solution 0.1% 1 month
Povidone Iodine Solution 10% 1 month
Povidone Iodine Surgical Scrub 6 months
Sodium Chloride Irrigation 0.9% 500ml Discard unused portion after 24 hours
Water for Irrigation 500ml Discard unused portion after 24 hours

CGH Drug Information Service

Original version was created on 13 Apr 2005. Last updated on 3 Feb 2014
Reference: GL/PHA/02: General Guidelines for shelf-life of Medicinal Product

1
 EXTERNAL CREAMS / OINTMENTS EXPIRY DATES (AFTER FIRST OPENING)
Lidocaine 2% Topical Syringe Gel 10g Discard unused portion (for sterile use)
1 week (for non-sterile use, e.g. for external piles)
Lubricating Jelly Sterile 5g Sachet Discard unused portion
Lubricating Jelly 42g 1 month
Other creams and ointments 6 months

EYE PREPARATIONS EXPIRY DATES (AFTER FIRST OPENING)

Cefazolin Eyedrops 50 mg/ml w/o Preservatives 1 week (fridge)
Gentamicin Eyedrops 14 mg/ml w/o Preservatives 1 week (fridge)
Refresh Plus (P/Free) 0.5%Eye drop Discard unused portion
Tears Naturale Free Eye drops 12 hours after opening of vial

INJECTIONS EXPIRY DATES (AFTER FIRST OPENING)

Cyanocobalamin (Vit B12) Inj 1000 mcg/ml 10ml 2 weeks
Esmolol HCl Inj 100mg/10ml Discard diluted solution after 24hours
Ketamine Inj 50mg/mL 1 month
Lidocaine 2%(20mg/ml)/ Epinephrine 5mcg/ml 20ml 3 days (fridge)
Triamcinolone Acetonide Inj 10 mg/mL 5ml 1 month (fridge)
Tuberculin PPD Inj 2 Tuberculin units/0.1ml 24 hours (fridge)
All undiluted single-use ampoules/injections. Discard unused portion
If the contents of the single-use ampoule/injection is
further reconstituted with another
INHALATIONS /NASALdiluent,
SPRAYS please refer EXPIRY DATES (AFTER FIRST OPENING)
to the product insert or dilution guidelines for
Budesonide
information 1mg/2ml
on expiry Respules (Pulmicort)
date of the reconstituted solution. 3 months after opening foil pack
1 mg/2 ml
Ipratropium Br Nebule 0.5mg/2ml 12 hours after
Discard opening
unused respule
portion
Triamcinolone Nasal Spray (Nasacort AQ 120s) 2 months
Salbutamol Respirator Solution 0.5% (Ventolin) 1 month
Salbutamol Respirator Solution 0.5% (Pfizer) 3 months
10
Allml Inhalation
other Solution
nasal sprays/drops 6 months

ORAL PRODUCTS / MILK FEEDS EXPIRY DATES (AFTER FIRST OPENING

Dextrose Tolerance Solution (Trutol) 75g Discard unused portion after 24 hours
Gastrografin Oral Solution 72 hours
Glyceryl Trinitrate Tab 500mcg 100s 2 months
All Commercial Liquid Milk Feeds Discard unused portion after 24 hours (fridge)

EXTERNAL PRODUCTS EXPIRY DATES (AFTER FIRST OPENING)

Biospot Disinfection Chlorine Tablet Until expiry date
Combur 5 Test D test strips Until expiry date
Diastix urine test strips 6 months
Presept Effervescent Disinfectant Tablets Until expiry date

CGH Drug Information Service

Original version was created on 13 Apr 2005. Last updated on 3 Feb 2014
Reference: GL/PHA/02: General Guidelines for shelf-life of Medicinal Product