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Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: randym431 on July 19, 2011, 09:23:09 pm

Title: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: randym431 on July 19, 2011, 09:23:09 pm
Well.. its summer and my 2 meds say to store between 59 - 77 degrees F.  It can get up to 84 in most of the house on really hot days even with the air on. And we usually turn it off or up when not at home. So how do people store their meds during these hot hot Summers? I was looking (google) for some type of climate controlled pill box or some kind of small home use climate controlled medicine storage thingy. No luck.
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: buginme2 on July 20, 2011, 01:09:37 am
How about a Whynter WC-211DZ 21 Bottle Dual Temperature Zone Wine Cooler, Stainless Steel Trimmed Glass Door with Black Cabinet


It will keep your wine and HIV meds at the most optimal temperatures!
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: mecch on July 20, 2011, 01:13:49 am
The fridge would be too cold? 
Why not put the bottle in the fridge and just take out a few days at a time to room temperature.
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: wolfter on July 20, 2011, 06:35:00 am
I keep all my meds in a plastic container under the foot of my bed.  Typically ground floor temperature is quite cooler than the inside air temperature. 

PS, why would you turn the air off and allow the room temp to get so high?  It's a total waste of money to regulate the inside temp this way.  You're over working your mechanicals and wasting energy.
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: Hellraiser on July 20, 2011, 06:38:51 am
PS, why would you turn the air off and allow the room temp to get so high?  It's a total waste of money to regulate the inside temp this way.  You're over working your mechanicals and wasting energy.

Please enlighten me on how not having the air on is a waste of energy?  I'm also a little curious about how it stresses the mechanical functions of a central air unit but that seems a little more intuitive.
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: james3000 on July 20, 2011, 09:12:27 am
I never thought of putting my meds in a wine cooler.
I keep mine in a dark cupboard this year is very hot so maybe should move them ?
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: metekrop on July 20, 2011, 11:12:22 am
Refrigerator is the best place. 
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: Assurbanipal on July 20, 2011, 11:52:59 am
Refrigerator is the best place. 

Not usually -- it is important to keep many of these drugs dry and condensation can be a problem if you refrigerate them. 
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: mecch on July 20, 2011, 03:46:53 pm
Thus my suggestion to keep them tightly sealed in fridge but take out a bit at a time.

I dunno. Its not that stinking hot in Switzerland.  This would worry me in dog day weather of the USA.
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: james3000 on July 20, 2011, 03:53:01 pm
I am in Canada (ontario) and we are having a Heatwave they say Thursday could be the hottest day in T.O since records began. Whats better Too Hot or Too cold ?
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: mecch on July 20, 2011, 03:59:55 pm
Check your specific drug recommendations and also maybe call the pharmacy and ask for a recommendation. It's their job to know this. Or your doc. 
I think its a very interesting question though, considering the temps around the world!
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: randym431 on July 20, 2011, 05:10:13 pm
As to the air cond thing, long story. Very big house. So big, actually has 2 furnaces and 2 air units. Some rooms we don't heat or cool when seldom used. I could probably store the meds in a cooler area of the house, but by habit I keep them in the same place. Same room.
In 5 years I've never forgotten to take a dose. Im afraid to change a habit. Out of sight, out of mind thing.
But I could keep them in a cooler place I guess...

My reason for this post was... one would have thought 'someone", some company, could have invented a low cost small climate controlled med pill box of some sorts. Any inventors out there?

I feel the same when it comes to storing bread in the Summer heat, and butter.
All we would need is a bread box with climate control. Something with a climate controlled temp around 60 - 65 degrees.
Fresh bread can start growing mold within 24 hours in room temps of 78+.
Same with the butter dish left out.
Yes, one can store bread in the frig, but I hate that myself. It dries out the bread in the wrapper, and storing in the freezer is even worse.

Someone just invent some kind of bread box with climate control. Is that too much to ask?
I think that could be wildly popular. Then I could store my meds in there too. :D

Im just surprised no one has addressed the storage of meds by inventing some type of climate controlled thingy for home use.
And then invent a climate controlled bread box too!

PS.. Just had a thought...
Maybe one of those little mini boxed tiny refrigerators?
Something really small, but big enough for maybe 3 or 4 loaves of bread. Plus a settable temperature range between 45 - 70. Wouldn't need to freeze. And then could store meds in there also? Hmmmm
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: Miss Philicia on July 20, 2011, 05:12:56 pm

In 5 years I've never forgotten to take a dose. Im afraid to change a habit. Out of sight, out of mind thing.

So where did you keep your meds the other four years during hot weather?
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: james3000 on July 20, 2011, 05:13:40 pm
I am glad I read the Forums today as my partner bought a wine cooler fridge ( I thought a waste of money) I moved the Meds into it with 60 f . Does make you think what people in Africa or a hot climate with no fridge ?
Sometimes I feel down but have to count my lucky stars as have first rate care and access to Meds.
Also the clinic I go to is a Team of experts from Id doctor to Pharmacy.
It has never been this hot in Ontario so was glad to think about temperature of meds

Thx

xxx
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: james3000 on July 20, 2011, 05:16:38 pm
Randym413,

Hey that's a great idea I would love a bread storage device and a med storage device :)
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: james3000 on July 20, 2011, 05:25:10 pm
Miss P

We are having record breaking heat in some parts of North America and we do not all have central A/C
Could be a one in ten year event or could be a trend of Global warming.
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: Miss Philicia on July 20, 2011, 05:44:59 pm
Miss P

We are having record breaking heat in some parts of North America and we do not all have central A/C
Could be a one in ten year event or could be a trend of Global warming.

That's lovely James. It's going to be +100 F for the next several days where I live -- almost 40 C. I'll think of you when sweating on the non-A/C subway platform tomorrow to go get a peripheral neuropathy test.

ps: my post was for Randy who lives in Iowa, not you now wasn't it?
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: james3000 on July 20, 2011, 05:55:11 pm
I am sure you will be fine Miss P after all these years...........
The heat must be making you Cranky well more Cranky than usual............
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: james3000 on July 20, 2011, 05:57:00 pm
Miss P
here is an idea have the test done in the fall
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: Miss Philicia on July 20, 2011, 06:03:41 pm
Miss P
here is an idea have the test done in the fall

Nope. I've already had to wait 8 weeks for this appointment. I can't move further with underlying podiatry issues I've had until I have this test. If I get faint I'll get a taxi. Or something.
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: james3000 on July 20, 2011, 06:21:12 pm
Dear Miss P

Please Take a Taxi or make a date for a cooler time.
Tomorrow is not a good day to be going out.
What if the power goes out and your stuck in the subway car ?
You should be in A/C all day.
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: mecch on July 20, 2011, 10:14:38 pm
Butter doesn't always go in the fridge?
I put bread in plastic in the fridge, it doesn't dry out.  It's dense dark german gruel bread though.  :-\

I'm sure there is an answer to this that doesn't require millions to find/buy some 60 degree cooler... Hope so anyway.
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: james3000 on July 20, 2011, 10:20:08 pm
The wine cooler was $199 from home depot
now holding $5,000 worth of HIV meds
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: mecch on July 20, 2011, 10:24:40 pm
Well, I'm glad you found a good solution.  And get some delicious wine in there, too!
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: wolfter on July 21, 2011, 12:16:20 am
 :D  So purchasing all these climate controlled energy absorbing machines is the correct way to save costs associated with cooling the air?  Who'd have thought?

I might consider it if I can can find a temperature sensitive shoe box.  Can't have fine leather cracking up.

Greg (who just turned the air down to a crisp 66 in preparation for a good sleep)
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: Grasshopper on July 21, 2011, 01:24:38 am
Don't you folks have a "fresh zone" in the refrigerator, where you keep fresh produce cool but not cold ? My parents live in the Caribbean, we visit a couple of times per year and never had any problems with storing meds due to the heat, not even with the Kaletra and Norvir gelcaps in the dark ages. So to look for another cooling appliance seems to me a bit redundant.

Like Mecch wrote earlier; I too freeze bread in sealed bags, otherwise the bread dries out and becomes dogfood. Once defrosted the bread's texture and taste is perfect (and I refuse to eat stale bread!).

Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: J.R.E. on July 21, 2011, 09:10:45 pm
Randy ,

I bet, with a little bit of testing and a thermometer, one of those miniature igloos, with some blue ice could keep those meds at the right temp.   ;)  but for now, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Ray 8)


Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: randym431 on July 26, 2011, 09:07:06 am
I brought this up with the lady in the pharmacy at my local Walgreens. She said she believed the recommended storage temps are more for mass truck transportation and factory storage of drugs. She said temps in the 80's range for home storage should be ok, especially if it is a 30 day supply where the drugs are used up within 30 days.
Then she added something strange " don't be concerned unless they are melting and sticking together".
WHAT YOU SAY !?!? hmmmmm

Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: Betelgeuse on July 26, 2011, 02:32:23 pm
Come move to Seattle!  :)

Mild winters, mild summers.  

My assignment for work takes me to Chicago every week, and I think to myself, I'm kinda glad I don't live there.  I couldn't handle all that snow but even more so the heat/humidity in the summer.  Feels like Houston sometimes.  

For you guys that live in really hot summery places, the fridge is not an option?  Is it worse to keep it out in 90-something degree heat or store it in the refrigerator?  What kind of damage does a fridge in the 33-41 degree range do to medication?
Title: Re: Storing meds at home in the Summer heat
Post by: Ann on July 27, 2011, 09:19:12 am

Then she added something strange " don't be concerned unless they are melting and sticking together".
WHAT YOU SAY !?!? hmmmmm



She was probably referring to the gel-cap version of Norvir. Gel-cap Norvir will melt and stick together when exposed to heat. Unless you're on gel-cap Norvir, you're worrying for no good reason.

If a hot climate affected hiv meds as much as people here fear they do, people who live in climates that are hot most of the year-round would be failing their combos left, right and center. They're not, so relax already!

Storing meds in the fridge opens the possibility of them being messed up through condensation moisture. When I lived in the states and experienced hot summers, I started keeping my vitamins in the fridge. Twice, by the time I got half-way through the bottle, they were starting to become discoloured and a bit mushy around the edges due to condensation. It took me two times to figure out what was going on because the first time I just thought I'd gotten a faulty bottle or accidentally got some water inside the bottle. When it happened again after being careful about getting them wet, I had an "ah-ha!" moment.

I stopped putting them in the fridge and never had a problem with them being exposed to temperatures in the 90s. I still kept my gel-cap vitamin E in the fridge though, because otherwise they'd start sticking together.