How long can an opened bottle of lidocaine viscous (oral/oesophageal solution) be stored at room temperature before it expires?

Lidocaine Viscous Storage Duration

An opened bottle of lidocaine viscous solution can be stored at room temperature for up to 14 days maximum, after which it must be discarded regardless of appearance.

Storage Guidelines for Opened Lidocaine Solutions

Room Temperature Storage

• Lidocaine viscous solutions should be discarded after 14 days at room temperature, even if the solution appears clear and unchanged 1
• This 14-day limit applies to solutions stored in their original containers at approximately 20°C 1
• The date the bottle was opened must be clearly recorded on the container label, along with the discard date 1

Refrigerated Storage Option

• If refrigerated at 4°C with protection from light, unopened or properly sealed lidocaine solutions may remain stable for extended periods (up to 3 months for some formulations) 1
• However, once opened and exposed to potential contamination, the 14-day rule should still apply for patient safety 1

Critical Storage Considerations

Why the 14-Day Limit Matters

• The stability data supporting longer storage periods applies primarily to unopened, sterile preparations under controlled conditions 1, 2
• Once opened, the risk of bacterial contamination becomes the limiting factor, not just chemical stability 1
• Even if chemical assays show adequate drug concentration, microbial contamination risk mandates the 14-day discard policy 1

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Never use lidocaine solutions that have changed color or developed precipitate, regardless of the time since opening 3, 4
• Do not assume that viscous lidocaine follows the same storage rules as injectable lidocaine formulations 4, 2
• Avoid storing at temperatures above room temperature (>25°C), as this accelerates degradation 3, 5

Special Formulation Considerations

Lidocaine with Epinephrine

• If the viscous solution contains epinephrine, the stability is significantly reduced compared to lidocaine alone 3, 4, 5
• Buffered lidocaine-epinephrine solutions retain only 82% epinephrine concentration after 4 weeks refrigerated, and drop to 1.34% at room temperature 5
• For epinephrine-containing solutions, use within 7 days when refrigerated 4

Plain Lidocaine Solutions

• Plain lidocaine solutions without epinephrine are more stable, retaining >94% concentration for 28 days when refrigerated 4
• However, the 14-day room temperature limit still applies due to contamination risk once the seal is broken 1