What is in it
Each ingredient, and how the ingredients behave together, is part of how the date is set.
BEYOND-USE DATES
How long does your
compounded medication last?
Every compounded preparation carries a beyond-use date on its label. It is the date to use it by, and it is set by the pharmacy that made it for you. Here is what that date means, where to find it, and how to plan your refills so a fresh supply is ready in time, wherever you live in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
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Dated on every labelPCAB accreditedShipped to all 50 states + DC423-975-0597
WHAT IT MEANS
The date on your label,
in plain terms.
New to compounded medication? Our guide to what a compounding pharmacy is covers the basics.
A commercially manufactured medication comes with an expiration date set by its manufacturer. A compounded preparation is made by a pharmacy for one named patient, so the pharmacy sets the date instead. That date is called the beyond-use date, and it is the last day the preparation should be used.
We assign beyond-use dating in accordance with USP <795>, the standard for non-sterile compounding, and print it on your label beside the storage directions for that preparation. Keep the preparation in the container we sent it in and store it the way the label says.
If a date on your label looks sooner than you expected, that is normal for a preparation made to order. Give us a call and a pharmacist will walk you through it.
WHAT SETS THE DATE
Three things that shape it.
The dosage form
A cream, an oral capsule and an olive oil base topical are different preparations, and whether a preparation contains water matters too.
The container and storage
The container we dispense it in and the storage conditions on the label are part of the dating. That is why the label asks you to keep it in that container.
HOW WE CAN HELP
What we do for you.
Dated on every label
Every preparation we dispense is labeled with its beyond-use date and its storage directions, so you never have to guess.
Dated to USP <795>
We assign beyond-use dating in accordance with USP <795>, the standard for non-sterile compounding.
Made to order
Each refill is compounded to order for you as the named patient, from the prescription your prescriber writes.
Pharmacist reviewed
A pharmacist reviews every formulation before it is made, and is glad to answer questions about your label.
Easy refills
Request a refill online, or call 423-975-0597 and a member of our team will take care of it.
Wherever you live
We are licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and we ship your refill to your home.
More for you: Request a refill · Transfer a prescription · Moving or traveling · PCAB accreditation · Our quality standards
PLANNING YOUR REFILLS
Three steps,
and a refill ready in time.
Traveling or moving soon? Read our guide to moving or traveling with a compounded prescription before your next refill is due. If your prescriber changes the prescription, they send us the new one and we prepare it to match. Prescriber details are on our prescriber page.
- 01
Check the date when your preparation arrives
Look at the beyond-use date on the label and note it somewhere you will see it, such as your phone calendar.
- 02
Request your refill before you run low
We have a 48-hour compounding time on most preparations. Shipping time is additional, so leave room for both.
- 03
We prepare a fresh supply and ship it to you
A member of our team confirms the price with you before anything is processed, made, or shipped.
QUESTIONS PATIENTS ASK US
The things
worth knowing.
Call 423-975-0597 for current pricing and shipping options for your state.
What is a beyond-use date on a compounded medication?
A beyond-use date is the date after which a compounded preparation should not be used. The pharmacy assigns it when the preparation is made, following USP <795> for non-sterile compounding, and prints it on your label.
Is a beyond-use date the same as an expiration date?
Not quite. An expiration date is set by the manufacturer of a commercially manufactured product. A beyond-use date is set by the compounding pharmacy for a preparation it made for you. On your label, treat it the same way: use the preparation on or before that date.
Where do I find the beyond-use date?
It is printed on the pharmacy label on your container, together with the storage directions for that preparation. If you cannot find it or cannot read it, call us at 423-975-0597 and we will look it up for you.
What should I do if my medication is past its beyond-use date?
Do not use it. Call us at 423-975-0597 or request a refill online, and we will prepare a new supply from your prescription. If you have no refills left, we can contact your prescriber for a new prescription.
Is the beyond-use date the same as running out of refills?
No. The beyond-use date is about the preparation in your hands. The number of refills left on your prescription is a separate line on your label. When the refills run out, your prescriber sends a new prescription and we prepare it to match.
Can you ship my refill to my state?
We are licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. We have a 48-hour compounding time on most preparations. Shipping time is additional and varies by destination. A member of our team confirms the price with you before anything is processed, made, or shipped.
Compounded preparations are not reviewed or approved by the FDA for safety or efficacy. This page is for education and reflects what we see in clinical practice; it is not medical advice. Decisions about your care rest with your prescriber.