What is it that compounding pharmacies are doing differently?

[pavlovs]

I'm a lurker but finally have the courage to make a first purchase. However, I have a question that I haven't been able to find an answer to. I keep reading that once a peptide is reconstituted, it should only be stored and used for thirty days, so what is it that the compounding pharmacies are doing differently that keep their peptides stable for 3 months to a year?

I apologize for my noobiness.

 

[indolent]

They (hopefully) reconstitute the vials using carefully sterile methods/conditions, and seal the caps. They (AFAIK) will only send out three months' supply, in the form of three (or more) vials, with instructions to use each within 28 days of removing the outer cap. They give instructions to alcohol-swab the self-resealing lid before each use, to minimize contamination.

Many grey peptide users feel that a vial, reconstituted using proper procedures with bacteriostatic water (NOT reconstituting solution or distilled water or anything else, generally), properly alcohol-swabbed before each use, always with a new needle, and refrigerated for all but a few minutes, can safely last up to 90 days. Many don't.

 

[Morbius]

They (AFAIK) will only send out three months' supply, in the form of three (or more) vials, with instructions to use each within 28 days of removing the outer cap.

Before I started the grey world research, we got my wife started on compounded sema from one of the big name boutique clinics. It wasn't toooo expensive for the first 3 months, so my project was figuring out the grey world before her dose increased and the price became bananas.

ANYWAY --

They sent out one vial and said to just use it for 3 months, ramping up the dose on the typical sema 4 week schedule.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[keangkong]

They (hopefully) reconstitute the vials using carefully sterile methods/conditions, and seal the caps. They (AFAIK) will only send out three months' supply, in the form of three (or more) vials, with instructions to use each within 28 days of removing the outer cap. They give instructions to alcohol-swab the self-resealing lid before each use, to minimize contamination.

Many grey peptide users feel that a vial, reconstituted using proper procedures with bacteriostatic water (NOT reconstituting solution or distilled water or anything else, generally), properly alcohol-swabbed before each use, always with a new needle, and refrigerated for all but a few minutes, can safely last up to 90 days. Many don't.

I believe, but can't prove, that if compounding pharmacy does stuff right such as filling everything in sterile conditions, etc., that what they have will actually last longer than they stuff I reconstitute myself.

 

[zpped]

Tirz actually very hardy and will last many months in the fridge after recon.

 

[pavlovs]

I looked at the ingredients list for branded tirzepatide and semaglutide. Both have more ingredients than simple bacteriostatic water, such as propylene glycol and phenol. I'm assuming this why our bottles shouldn't be used for more than one month - we don't add the other ingredients that preserve our own individual compounds. I also have been using compounded tirz that was compounded by pharmacies and was sent one bottle meant to last for three months. I think I would be very afraid to do that with my own homebrews.

 

[Glp1judd]

They are making billions, whereas we entertain ourselves at a loss.

When your goal is to continue making billions following a govt shutdown, you create new shelf life guidelines to max revenue and worry and the rest later.

 

[Areyoukitten]

Before I started the grey world research, we got my wife started on compounded sema from one of the big name boutique clinics. It wasn't toooo expensive for the first 3 months, so my project was figuring out the grey world before her dose increased and the price became bananas.

ANYWAY --

They sent out one vial and said to just use it for 3 months, ramping up the dose on the typical sema 4 week schedule.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I used a compounding vial for 2 months, I couldn’t imagine going for 3. Those last few injections left really bad welt-like reactions. Of course, I still kept using because I paid over $300 for it

 

[Morbius]

Fortunately I have grey sema on hand now so we will definitely not hesitate to cut over if it starts looking dicey. I was really surprised to get that one vial.

 

[zpped]

I'm a lurker but finally have the courage to make a first purchase. However, I have a question that I haven't been able to find an answer to. I keep reading that once a peptide is reconstituted, it should only be stored and used for thirty days, so what is it that the compounding pharmacies are doing differently that keep their peptides stable for 3 months to a year?

I apologize for my noobiness.

How long a peptide lasts highly depends on 1) the specific peptide (and other excipients that were added to the vial) and 2) how much contamination/oxygen/sunlight it has been exposed to.

I have zero hesitation reconning some tirz and splitting it into multiple vials and using that for a few months.

 

[jaestar]

The real reason is to make money. Before there was talk of lifting compound, the compounders said to not use after a month. They didn't want someone that dosed 5mg/week to buy a 60mg vial and use it multiple months. They wanted you buying a new vial every month.

When the FDA started putting dates on when compounding would end, the compounding companies overnight changed it to three months to a year. They wanted you buying a big supply to maximize how much money they could make before they had to stop selling.

Like zpped stated above, there are some peptides that do not age well and have to be used in days.