I don't refrigerate my Norvir.

[LiveWithIt]

I've been on it for several years.  I refuse to put it in the fridge when someone may find it.  Even though I usually don't have people over.  I wonder if that's why I get diarrhea sometimes from it, and I am close to undetectable, but never quite there.  I wonder if I should switch that med.

[Matty the Damned]

You don't need to refrigerate ritonavir provided you keep it below 25 degrees celsius and use it within a month.

MtD

[WillyWump]

I don't refrigerate mine either. Doc says so long as you use it within 30 days no need to refrigerate. Of course you need to keep it from extreme temps both hot and cold, but if you run your AC and heater then you should be fine.

-Will

[Miss Philicia]

If you read your patient prescription insert you'd see these instructions.  If you order a 3-months supply all at once then yes you should keep the last two months supply in the fridge.  The current month that you are consuming can be kept elsewhere.  If you're worried about a nosy friend finding it then you really should be prudent and find a way to hide it.  Frankly I've never had someone go rummaging in my fridge, but whatever.

As far as LiveWithIt goes, your older posts show that you've been on Norvir since at least March of 2008.  Isn't it a bit concerning that almost two years later you're not yet undetectable?  Exactly when did you start HIV treatment?  What numbers does "close to undetectable, but never quite there" really mean?

[Assurbanipal]

There's been an announcement of a new formulation of Norvir that would not need refrigeration, and it is now on the list at my drug plan (must have gotten on sometime in the last week, since it wasn't there last week).

Check and see if you can move from the capsule to the tablet.   If you move to the tablet form instead of the capsule, it does not need refrigeration even if you have more than a 30 day supply.

[mecch]

Well there will be non refrigerated norvir in the future.
In the meantime, why don't you just put it in a vitamin bottle if the only reason its not in the fridge is discretion?

[LiveWithIt]

atever.

As far as LiveWithIt goes, your older posts show that you've been on Norvir since at least March of 2008.  Isn't it a bit concerning that almost two years later you're not yet undetectable?  Exactly when did you start HIV treatment?  What numbers does "close to undetectable, but never quite there" really mean?

My viral load is usually around 50.  It's been as high as a million (I think if I recall correctly) when I was off meds for a study a few years ago.

I do have a few month supply and they are kept in a dark are where it is not cold or hot.  They do tend to stick together.  It is hot and humid where I live most of the year.

I'm gonna skip next months refills because my copay went up this year and I will still have more than 1 month supply.

[LiveWithIt]

Well there will be non refrigerated norvir in the future.
In the meantime, why don't you just put it in a vitamin bottle if the only reason its not in the fridge is discretion?

Great idea.

[Miss Philicia]

I do have a few month supply and they are kept in a dark are where it is not cold or hot.  They do tend to stick together.  It is hot and humid where I live most of the year.

Not a good idea frankly.

[rachel2008]

My doctor stated the medication is safe for 30 days if kept at room tempature - Norvair will explode if left in the sun - 70 + degrees - learned from an accidental experience

[madbrain]

A couple years ago my bf and I took a drive down to San Diego. He was short a few days of meds for the trip, and his regimen included Norvir, so we picked it up at the pharmacy before leaving. Most of the Norvir in the refill bottle all turned into one big mush. Temperatures must have gotten pretty high in the car. But the Norvir capsules that were in the daily pillbox were fine. It was a major inconvenience to be on Norvir since it couldn't be mailed out from the pharmacy, and always had to be picked up due to the temperature issue. My bf is back on Atripla now which is easier.

[LordBerners]

You don't need to refrigerate ritonavir provided you keep it below 25 degrees celsius and use it within a month.

MtD

Great to know.  Up till now I've gotten a 3 month supply, and while I always refrigerated it for storage, it has to travel about an 8 hour journey by bus from Bangkok to my home when I first get it (in an extremely cold, air-conditioned night bus).  In addition to this I tend to keep the day's pill on me for 2-3 hours often in quite warm weather while I'm out and about because my pill-taking time is ten to eleven PM and I'm usually out for several hours before that, being unable to return to the house.  I guess it will be OK.

[newbieguy]

I have roomies so I know your dilemma....I didnt realize about Norvir needing to be refrigerated until after I already got a 3month supply lol...But I just poured my last two months' bottles in a vitamin bottle and put in the fridge, totally incognito now . 

[mecch]

As far as LiveWithIt goes, your older posts show that you've been on Norvir since at least March of 2008.  Isn't it a bit concerning that almost two years later you're not yet undetectable?  Exactly when did you start HIV treatment?  What numbers does "close to undetectable, but never quite there" really mean?

Ditto.
Hey don't worry about your storage practices but what's with the not undetectable?? This is the important matter to get to the bottom of.

[Sweet_C]

Hi Livewithit,
  If you take the Norvir with a little food it should help with the diarrhea.  I don't think it has anything to do with leaving it out because I haven't been very good about refrigerating mine either.  I used to get diarrhea randomly when taking the Norvir and couldn't figure out why.  Since I started taking it with food, I haven't had any diarrhea since.

[Matty the Damned]

Ditto.
Hey don't worry about your storage practices but what's with the not undetectable?? This is the important matter to get to the bottom of.

Thread necromancy gets you sent to Hell.

MtD