buprenophine

I have some pain meds that are mixed with pet tinic (vitamin) and they have been sitting for about 4-6 months..just on

the shelf.  I'd like to use them for my cat Sammy who has either an abscess on his teeth or stomatitis. Does anyone

know if this stuff has a shelf life?  

JennyLee said:

...they have been sitting for about 4-6 months..just on the shelf....Does anyone know if this stuff has a shelf life?  

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All drugs will have an expiry date - that's Federally regulated. Despite this, some compounds will 'last' indefinitely (e.g. L-lysine). Others, and I believe that Buprenorphine will be one of those, will lose potency over time. Unless it was indicated somewhere on the label/packaging, there's really no way of knowing just how "fresh" nor how old the drug was when originally dispensed.

However.....with Buprenorphine, there are some other factors to consider. From Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th edition:

Quote:

Buprenorphine should be stored at room temperature (15-30° C). Temperatures above 40° C or below freezing should be avoided. Buprenorphine products should be stored away from bright light...

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When I've been given these Rx's, they've always been inside a 'light-proof' plastic/paper envelope with a "light-sensitive" warning on the label.

BTW - and you may already know this, while Buprenorphine is given orally to cats, it's not a drug which should be swallowed...it works ONLY when it gets absorbed by the mouth's tissues. So, the idea is to get small amounts into the cat's mouth without prompting the swallowing reaction. I mention this because I have seen cases (and, have personally experienced this) where this was not explained by Vets or staff and the directions were simply "Give X amount by mouth....". Totally useless and worse, kitty remains in pain.