How to Store Epogen: Fridge, Multidose Vials 21 Days
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[Storage · Epogen]

How to store Epogen (epoetin alfa)

Quoted from the US label · Unopened vs in use · Travel · Sources · Reviewed

Short answer: Keep Epogen vials in the fridge at 36-46°F (2-8°C), in the carton to protect them from light. Do not freeze or shake them, and do not use a vial that was frozen or shaken. Single-dose vials are used once and the rest thrown away. Multiple-dose vials go back in the fridge after each dose and are thrown away 21 days after the first needle entry. Source: Epogen label, sections 2.6 and 16.

What does the Epogen label say?

Section 16: “Store at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). Do not freeze.” and “Store Epogen vials in the original carton until use to protect from light.” Section 2.6: “Do not shake. Do not use Epogen that has been shaken or frozen.”

Epogen US prescribing information, sections 2.6 and 16, and Patient Information.
VialBefore first useAfter first use
Single-dose vial (2,000, 3,000, 4,000 or 10,000 Units/mL; no preservative)Refrigerator, 36-46°F (2-8°C), in the cartonUse once. Discard unused portions; do not re-enter the vial
Multiple-dose vial (20,000 Units/2 mL or 20,000 Units/mL; contains benzyl alcohol)Refrigerator, 36-46°F (2-8°C), in the cartonStore at 36-46°F (2-8°C). Discard 21 days after initial entry
Any vialNot frozen, not shaken, protected from light-

How do you handle Epogen at home?

  • Patient Information: shaking could cause Epogen not to work. If it is shaken, the solution may look foamy and should not be used.
  • After removing a dose from a multidose vial, store the vial in the refrigerator, not the freezer, and not for more than 21 days.
  • Throw away a multidose vial if there is not enough medicine left for another dose, or if it has been more than 21 days since the first needle went into it.
  • Do not use a single-dose vial more than one time, even if medicine is left in it.

Multiple-dose vials contain benzyl alcohol. The label says do not use them in newborns, infants, or pregnant or breastfeeding women; those patients use single-dose vials. See the epoetin alfa page.

How do you travel with it?

Epogen has no room-temperature allowance on its label. Carry it in an insulated bag with a cold pack, in the carton, without letting the vial touch the pack, since frozen Epogen is not used.

  • TSA allows medically necessary liquids over 3.4 oz in carry-on bags; declare them at the checkpoint for inspection.
  • Unused syringes and pen needles are allowed when they travel with the injectable medicine.
  • Ice packs and gel packs that keep medicine cool may go through frozen, partly frozen or melted.
  • Keep medicine in your carry-on, not checked luggage, where you cannot control the temperature. Do not let it touch an ice pack directly, since most labels say do not freeze.

More in the travel guide.

Quoted from the current US label on DailyMed, not personalized advice. Labels change; the leaflet in your own carton, your pharmacist and your prescriber are the final word on how to store it.
Bacteriostatic vs sterile water0.9% benzyl alcohol, multi-dose vs single-dose, the 28-day rule and the neonate warning. Left out of the fridgeExact room-temperature hours and days from each label, and the temperature ceiling. Can you freeze peptides?Every "do not freeze" statement on the labels, and lyophilized vs mixed.

Frequently asked questions

Does Epogen need to be refrigerated?+
Yes. The label says store it at 36-46°F (2-8°C) in the original carton, and do not freeze it.
How long is an opened Epogen vial good for?+
A multiple-dose vial is kept in the fridge and discarded 21 days after the first needle entry. A single-dose vial is used once and the rest thrown away.
Can Epogen be shaken?+
No. The label says do not shake it and do not use Epogen that has been shaken. Shaking can make the solution foamy.
Can I use Epogen that froze?+
No. The label says do not use Epogen that has been frozen.

Sources

  1. Epogen (epoetin alfa) injection US prescribing information, DailyMed
  2. TSA: Liquid medications
  3. TSA: Unused syringes
  4. TSA: Gel ice packs

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