What should be done with compounded products that exceed their BUD?

Compounded products that exceed their Beyond-Use Date (BUD) must be discarded to ensure patient safety. The BUD is a critical guideline established to protect patients from unsafe medications that may no longer meet sterility or stability guidelines after a certain time. Once a compounded product has surpassed its BUD, the integrity of its formulation cannot be guaranteed, which poses significant risks, including potential contamination and reduced therapeutic efficacy.

By discarding these products, the likelihood of administering ineffective or unsafe medications to patients is minimized. Adhering to BUDs is essential in sterile compounding practices as it upholds the standards set by regulations, such as USP 797, and prioritizes patient health and safety. In contrast, storing them for future use, using them for alternative patients, or testing for efficacy after the BUD has passed are not compliant practices and could lead to patient harm.