Asacol (Mesalamine) enema question

[deltaforce]

Hello folks,

Generally, I am a lurker here. I am a pharmacist by education but never practiced and went in research instead. Lurker here as I have been toying with an idea of taking the test, in order to make more money. But thats whole another topic.

I need an answer to the question, if I can use officially expired Azacol enema. I am a patient of Ulcerative colitis and as a result of insurance change, my deductible is $5500/calendar year (Actually its $11000 because the contract year is July to June and this is first year on this type of insurance). I simply can not afford to pony up $400 for a set of 28 enemas. I have 4 old unopened boxes lying around, which officially expired July 2012. I am curious if I can use them?
What I don't know is, if the formulation degrades over the period of time and if that will be troublesome to Ulcerative colitis remission.

Many thanks in advance.

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[Praziquantel86]

Not the place for medical advice.

 

[Lubeckd]

Hello folks,

Generally, I am a lurker here. I am a pharmacist by education but never practiced and went in research instead. Lurker here as I have been toying with an idea of taking the test, in order to make more money. But thats whole another topic.

I need an answer to the question, if I can use officially expired Azacol enema. I am a patient of Ulcerative colitis and as a result of insurance change, my deductible is $5500/calendar year (Actually its $11000 because the contract year is July to June and this is first year on this type of insurance). I simply can not afford to pony up $400 for a set of 28 enemas. I have 4 old unopened boxes lying around, which officially expired July 2012. I am curious if I can use them?
What I don't know is, if the formulation degrades over the period of time and if that will be troublesome to Ulcerative colitis remission.

Many thanks in advance.

I think i learned about this in pharmaceutics 2... Half life and everything, but I can't give you the answer.

 

[rph3664]

I would recommend that you contact the manufacturer, but the chances are good that if they were stored properly, they should be OK to use.

 

[BidingMyTime]

The answer I always give patients is, I can not recommend that you use medications past their expiration dates. Expiration dates exist for a reason. Generally, the only risk of expired medications is that they may not work, or may not work as well---how serious that risk is, would depend on the medication. Tetracycline is the only medication I've heard of that breaks down into a toxic substance.

 

[npage148]

The answer I always give patients is, I can not recommend that you use medications past their expiration dates. Expiration dates exist for a reason. Generally, the only risk of expired medications is that they may not work, or may not work as well---how serious that risk is, would depend on the medication. Tetracycline is the only medication I've heard of that breaks down into a toxic substance.

Degraded aspirin is toxic

 

[deltaforce]

Thanks for the information.

I am sorry that I did not frame the question correctly. I am NOT here for a medical advice. I am here for the information on Mesalamine and how its compounded. I have learned about half life and expiry date just as everyone else here too but we know well for the fact that many of the medications are still good beyond their expiry dates, if stored as directed. Legally, no pharmacist can tell the patient that its ok to take expired tylenol otherwise they will dragged in a lawsuit.

I am unable to find textbook information on mesalamine degradation. As npage148 noted correctly that degraded aspirin (to Salicylic acid and Acetic Acid) is toxic, I don't know for sure the degradation product of mesalamine (which also contains salicylic acid moiety). The way it is supplied, I am sure this is light sensitive so I am trying to figure out what does oxidation product looks like?

PubMed gave me few articles,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7866552
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1438009
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8385459
but I do not have access to any of these articles.

Hope now I managed to frame the question correctly.

 

[Nkemjika]

Found them!!!. Send me your email address and i'll send them to you.

Thanks for the information.

I am sorry that I did not frame the question correctly. I am NOT here for a medical advice. I am here for the information on Mesalamine and how its compounded. I have learned about half life and expiry date just as everyone else here too but we know well for the fact that many of the medications are still good beyond their expiry dates, if stored as directed. Legally, no pharmacist can tell the patient that its ok to take expired tylenol otherwise they will dragged in a lawsuit.

I am unable to find textbook information on mesalamine degradation. As npage148 noted correctly that degraded aspirin (to Salicylic acid and Acetic Acid) is toxic, I don't know for sure the degradation product of mesalamine (which also contains salicylic acid moiety). The way it is supplied, I am sure this is light sensitive so I am trying to figure out what does oxidation product looks like?

PubMed gave me few articles,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7866552
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1438009
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8385459
but I do not have access to any of these articles.

Hope now I managed to frame the question correctly.