Beyond-Use Date (BUD)

Deep dive

Beyond-Use Date (BUD): complete reference

Beyond-use date (BUD) is the date after which a compounded pharmaceutical preparation should not be used — distinct from the FDA-approved expiration date that applies to commercial products. USP General Chapter <797> establishes BUD standards for compounded sterile preparations based on risk classification: low-risk preparations (24 hours at room temp, 3 days refrigerated, 45 days frozen for typical sterile compounds), medium-risk and high-risk preparations have shorter limits. For compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, BUD is typically 28-45 days from compounding depending on the formulation, storage conditions, and pharmacy USP certification. The BUD is shorter than commercial product expiration because the pharmacy has not done full stability testing required for FDA-approved products. Patients receiving compounded GLP-1s should: check the label for assigned BUD, store as instructed (refrigeration usually required), and discard unused medication after BUD passes — even if vial appears intact.

In practice

Your compounded semaglutide vial has a "BUD: 2026-08-15" label. After that date, discard remaining medication — even if vial still has liquid. The BUD reflects what the pharmacy can guarantee for safety/potency.

Clinical context

BUD applies to compounded preparations; commercial FDA-approved products have longer "expiration dates." Always check BUD on compounded products.