Compounded medications are almost similar to regular medicines and OTC drugs, except they are customized to meet the unique needs of individual patients. Compounded drugs don’t have an expiry date like conventional medicines. Instead, the pharmacy lists a beyond use date (BUD). This is the last date you can safely use the medication. Regular medications have an expiry date beyond which the manufacturer doesn’t guarantee the safety or potency of the drug.

American Integrative Pharmacy (AIP), led by the committed and seasoned Dr. Neema Yazdanpanah, provides safe and proven compounding medications to patients in Long Beach, Torrance, Los Angeles, South Bay Orange County, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes, Southern California areas, and online nationwide. 

Typical Beyond Use Date on Compounded Medications 

The expiration date is defined for FDA approved medications and OTC products. This date is specific to a particular medication under specific storage conditions and within its designated container. Expiration dates are determined after stability testing unlike beyond use dates. The testing is performed by the drug manufacturer and the results are FDA verified. 

In contrast, compounded medications are created on individual basis. They don’t undergo the same type of testing. In addition, these medicines don’t sit on shelves for extended periods of time. In most cases, the drugs are meant to be used within a period of 30 days. This is because compounded medications don’t need to factor in the time spent between manufacturing and final consumption. 

Determining the Beyond Use Date in Compounded Medications

Nationally recognized standards for dietary supplements, medications and foods are set by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). There are certain standards for compounded medications as well that are meant to ensure high standards and quality. Most states have already incorporated USP standards within their respective pharmacy laws. 

This means that there is a high likelihood your pharmacy may be applying these USP standards while determining the BUD. A few specific factors that compounding pharmacies have to take into account while determining the BUD are:

• Non-sterile compound: These medications are taken by the mouth, inserted rectally/vaginally, or applied to the skin. The ingredients used will determine the beyond use date.
• Sterile compound: Sterile medications have a shorter life because they are higher risk. These medicines are inhaled into lungs, put into the eye, or injected into the vein. The beyond use date depends on the manner in which the compound is made. 
• Dosage form: Capsules, tablets, suppositories, and other solid dosage forms have longer BUD. Topical creams have a shorter BUD as compared to solid dosage forms. Oral liquids have the shortest beyond use dates. 
• Water content: Water based ingredients shorten a medication’s beyond use date
• Storage: Medications can be frozen, refrigerated, or kept in specific containers. The BUD can change depending on the storage type. 
• Ingredients: This is probably the biggest factor determining the beyond use dates. Pharmacies combine different ingredients to create a compound. BUD is shortened if one of the ingredients has a shorter expiration date.

It’s risky to use a compounded medication after it’s beyond use date. The medication may become contaminated with dangerous substances and germs. AIP provides advanced compounding pharmacy solutions, including online prescription refills to patients in Long Beach, Torrance, Los Angeles, South Bay Orange County, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes, Southern California areas, and online nationwide.

California Pharmacy’s Online Compound Prescriptions 

For more information on compound pharmacy medications available or to make an online prescription purchase, please click here or call Toll Free 1-855-247-7948.

American Integrative Pharmacy is located in Torrance, CA serving residents in and around Orange County, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Lomita and surrounding areas. Online prescription sales are available across the US.