stability of expired T cream

[wham]

My doctor has prescribed T cream for me. He also did a trial of it with me a couple of years ago but I didn't notice it improving my condition so I stopped taking it after about 6 weeks (25 mg T per pump of cream). I still have more than a month's supply left over from that time, but now it's almost 2 years expired.

I realize I might not be able to accurately dose using this tube, but does it likely still have enough potency to use? If so then when I start another therapeutic trial I could use this up first and then start using the newly dispensed stuff (both the old and the new tube are the same prescription, so I could assume that the old tube is at most as concentrated as the new tube).

I know that the official answer is to not use any expired medications, but in reality some substances are very stable, while others actually become dangerous to use past the expiration date, so I am wondering what the deal is with T cream.

Thanks.

 

[John O'Connor]

Don't use anything until you get baseline blood work. You'll just create more unanswered questions. FSH & LH will drop the second you start using T. Stop guessing and do this correctly.

 

[wham]

I am getting the tests done, but for future reference am wondering if the cream is still reasonably potent.

 

[John O'Connor]

Only way to know how potent it still is would be to compare levels before using it, to levels after using it. Same as with any medicine after expiration date - it probably is not 100% potent, but to guess whether it is 90% or 30% is just that, a guess.

 

[CoastWatcher]

Starting a new protocol with an old prescription that has passed its Before-Use-Date doesn't seem sensible. It would call into question your response to the new protocol, potentially invalidating the blood-work that would be run to assess your progress. It seems short-sighted.