Medication Storage & Handling

Proper Storage

All Sprout Health medications require refrigeration:

• Temperature: 36-46°F (2-8°C)
• Location: Store in the main body of the refrigerator, not in the door
• Protection: Keep in original packaging until first use
• Avoid: Do not freeze. Freezing can damage the medication.

Upon Arrival

When your medication arrives:

1. Refrigerate immediately – Even if you plan to start later
2. Keep packaging – Until you’ve verified the medication looks normal
3. Note the beyond-use date – This is your expiration date

Before Each Use

Always inspect your medication before drawing a dose:

✓ Check the liquid is clear (or slightly yellow, depending on medication)
✓ Confirm there are no floating particles
✓ Verify there’s no cloudiness or discoloration
✗ Do not use if the medication looks abnormal. Please reach out to our support team for further assistance.

Beyond-Use Date (Expiration)

Understanding Your Beyond-Use Date

The beyond-use date (BUD) is printed on your vial label and indicates the last date you can safely use your medication. This date is determined by the compounding pharmacy based on:

• Chemical stability of the active ingredient
• Sterility requirements under USP standards
• Storage conditions (temperature, container type)
• Testing and analysis specific to your formulation

Important: Compounded medications typically have shorter beyond-use dates than commercially manufactured products. This is because they're prepared in smaller batches for individual patients and may not undergo the extensive stability testing that commercial products receive.

What to Do When Your Medication Reaches Its Beyond-Use Date

DO NOT automatically discard your medication when it reaches the beyond-use date.

Instead, follow these steps:

1. Stop using the medication immediately once you reach the beyond-use date on the label
2. Contact our support team at [e-mail] or [phone]
3. Keep the medication refrigerated while we investigate
4. Wait for confirmation - Our pharmacy partners may be able to extend the beyond-use date based on additional stability testing and analysis they've performed on your specific batch

Why Beyond-Use Dates May Be Extended

Pharmacies can extend beyond-use dates beyond the initial date printed on your vial when they have:

• Conducted stability studies on the specific formulation
• Performed sterility testing per USP standards
• Verified the container-closure system maintains integrity
• Documented that the medication remains chemically stable and safe

This testing and analysis takes time, which is why the initial beyond-use date may be conservative. If your pharmacy has completed additional testing, they may authorize an extension.

We'll verify this for you—don't make this decision on your own.

If Your Medication Cannot Be Extended

If our pharmacy partners determine the beyond-use date cannot be safely extended, you'll need to properly dispose of any remaining medication:

• Do not throw vials in regular trash
• Do not flush medication down the toilet
• Do use an FDA-approved sharps disposal container for needles and syringes
• Do follow FDA medication disposal guidelines: www.fda.gov/disposal
• Many pharmacies and police stations offer medication take-back programs

Questions About Your Beyond-Use Date?

Contact our support team, and we'll coordinate with the compounding pharmacy to determine if your specific medication can be safely used beyond the printed date.

Traveling With Your Medication

If you need to travel, please contact your provider on how to safely transport your medication:

• Keep refrigerated when possible
• Use a cooler with ice packs if refrigeration isn’t available
• Plan ahead – Medication can stay at room temperature for short periods (check with pharmacy for specific guidance)
• Don’t leave in hot cars – Extreme heat will damage the medication

Proper Disposal

When you’re ready to dispose of unused medication:

• Do not throw vials in regular trash
• Do not flush down the toilet
• Do use an FDA-approved sharps disposal container for needles
• Do follow FDA guidelines for medication disposal: www.fda.gov/disposal

Many pharmacies and police stations offer medication take-back programs.

Questions About Storage?

Contact the pharmacy listed on your prescription label or our support team at [e-mail].