What is the Botox Shelf Life?

I wanted to clarify that Botox cosmetic comes in either 50 or 100 units.
If kept cold, each vial has an expiration date printed on the vial.
Once prepared the manufacturer's instructions state that the Botox is good for 4 hours.
However, in clinical practice , many studies have shown that the Botox is active for at least two weeks if kept cold.
In most busy practices it would be unusual that a vial would not be used the day it was opened and certainly withon the next office day.
I hope this helps.

Botox does not have a 500 unit vial that we know of. We have always purchased 100 unit vials.
Botox has an expiration date on it if is has not been mixed with saline. If it has been mixed with saline, we have used it up to several weeks after mixing and it still works fine. We are not sure exactly how long after mixing it would take before losing effectiveness.

Allergan Botox comes in a vial of 100 units. I am not familiar with the one you are quoting. Once it is diluted, most physicians feel that it keeps well for two weeks or even more in the refrigerator (it is frozen while stored prior to mixing). Most physicians who perform excellent Botox injections never have that concern as the bottle doesn’t last more than a few days in their practice. The volume of patients undergoing the treatment means that the office needs to open a new vial very frequently.

Hi apeeling one,
In the US we use FDA approved Botox Cosmetic by Allergan which comes in 100 unit vials. The unmixed vials are kept refrigerated and have expiration dates that range up to two years out. Once mixed with solution, the Botox is usually used within a day or two, but has been shown to keep its potency even after two weeks.
Be well.
Dr. P

Apeeling One,
There is no 500 unit vial of Botox Cosmetic in this country. Botox Cosmetic comes in 100 units and 50 units. Your last question was about reconstituting Botox. I am concerned that you are purchasing non-FDA approved Botox over the internet or from some other source and trying to figure out how to use it. This can be very dangerous. Please go to a trained medical professional for your Botox.

A study looked at Botox which was freshly mixed and Botox which was mixed and then stored in a refrigerator and freezer at the University of Pittsburgh published in Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery August 2008. The study found no difference between the duration of effects. The company guideline (Allergan) is to use the product within 4 hours of reconstitution. Undiluted botox has a much longer shelf life. Presumably by shelf you mean stored in a cold temperature controlled environment. Most Botox in the States is from Allergan and comes in 100 unit bottles.

Botox cosmetic is packaged in 50 and 100 unit vials with 100 and 200 unit vials of Botox (not cosmetic)...the shelf-life of the properly material stored and unmixed is about 2 years according to Allergan...but probably much longer is still okay...lots of room for safety...once reconstituted the company says at least 4 hours but definitely more...in the order of weeks or longer...interesting question...why do you ask?

If the Botox has not yet been diluted with saline, the shelf life is approx 2 years. Allergan, recommends Botox to be used within 4 hours of reconstitution. It should not be kept for more than a day or so, but some injectors may keep up to 2 weeks if they do not inject frequently.

I am waiting to hear from my Allergan reps on this.
I have only received Botox in 100 unit vials. Until your question, I was not aware that Botox came in 500 unit vials. I checked the PDR and no 500 unit vials. I am awaiting a call back from my Botox rep.
This sounds dangerous to me and foolhardy. Do not use this.

The shelf life of the Botox after mixing with saline is some thing that has not been studied. Allergn (parent company of Botox) recommends immediate use after mixing ,But I have used it up to 2 weeks after mixing and it was effective (botox in U.S comes in 100U/vial)