My medication is exposed to HEAT. Should I take them???

[metekrop]

I just realized that all of my medication is exposed to heat.  I have Atripla for about two months.  I used to keep it at my basement area where there were cool tempreature which I thought is nice to my medications.  

Now the temprature is getteing cool and there is a need to open the heat.  I am not home most of the time and the people in my home turned the heat on at my home.  Last weekend, when I get into the basement and take a med I feel the temprature is too hot.  And felt that my meds are heated.  When I asked my people for how long were you turning this heat, the told me that they were doing it for the last five or six days for about an hour or two.

Last night and a day before I took two tables and I take them.  But it doesn't test me the way I used to test it.  In the past I know that the med is working in about thirty minutes with all of its wird feelings. My question here is that do these meds lost their potency because of the the heat?  Do I have to take them or stop taking untill my next order which I am gonna make it towards the end of the moth?

I am just worried that the meds are getting useless and what would be my future with this life saving med?  My next lab is due in about a month time too.

Your advise is greatly appreciated.

[Ann]

met,

The only hiv med that is temperature sensitive is the Norvir gel caps. You're not on them. Atripla won't be affected by normal household heating. Just don't put them or any other med directly on top of a radiator or other heat source.

Ann

[metekrop]

met,

 You're not on them. Atripla won't be affected by normal household heating.
Ann

Thank you Ann for your advise.

I did consider that it is not a normal household heating for the medications.  I just kept the meds close to where heat is coming out.  In fact when I first touch the bottles, it feels very hot and that is why I said that the meds inside might possibly be damaged by the heat. Besides the medical discription the came with the meds says that the med should be kept at a maximum of 86 F.

Where actually when you see the tablet, their color is intact and doesn't make any change in their smell.  Any ways should I continue taking these meds?  Am Just worried.

[Miss Philicia]

Where actually when you see the tablet, their color is intact and doesn't make any change in their smell.  Any ways should I continue taking these meds?  Am Just worried.

Then call your dispensing pharmacy.

[metekrop]

Then call your dispensing pharmacy.

Before that if you have any advise from experience.  Thanks.

[PeteNYNJ]

Ditto to what Ann said.

Norvir gel caps shoulndt be exposed to heat because they will actually melt.   I believe other temperature warnings on medications are more for EXTREME heat (such as being put in closed car on a hot day). 

The basement heater wouldnt matter. 

[Ann]

I just kept the meds close to where heat is coming out.

Close to, but not directly on top of the heat source. I wouldn't worry about it. Seriously. My bf sometimes keeps his Truvada and Sustiva (same components as Atripla) on a table next to a radiator and it's never made a difference.

[Hellraiser]

I've kept my Atripla in a hot truck for days at a time ( ) and they're fine.  No need to worry about this.

[Miss Philicia]

You drive a truck? 

[Ann]

You drive a truck? 

Only when he tours his local truck stops.

[skeebo1969]

You drive a truck? 

No, he drove the driver...  and I think he deserves a pat on the back for taking his medication with him.

[metekrop]

Thank you all for your input. 

I think I should made a decision to continue with my meds despite my tanking that they are heated so much.  Like I said I will have a lab test towards the end of this month.  And I might see the result by that time.   Do you guys think this is the right decision I’m gonna make?  Every journey with this disease is a test, what can you do.

[wtfimpoz]

This is probably a relatively commen phenomen, and I'm quite surprised that it isn't addressed more frequently.  I had the same issue a month ago and emailed the OP with how I handled it.  If you didn't get my message, IM me back.  Surely plenty of people in places like phoeniex occasionally forget their atripla in their cars for an afternoon or something, so there should be some official wording on this.

Edited for grammar.

[Hellraiser]

You drive a truck? 

I actually do.

[wolfter]

I actually do.

I do too.  I must have skipped that chapter in the queers man's handbook.

[Hellraiser]

I do too.  I must have skipped that chapter in the queers man's handbook.

What no luxury car in order to express your wealth to the huddled masses?

[wolfter]

My memory isn't the greatest any longer, but I had one previous med that had to be refrigerated.  That was a real pain the ass. 

[wtfimpoz]

What no luxury car in order to express your wealth to the huddled masses?

Luxury car?  You girls are behind the times.  All the queens in The Village are driving golden chariots, drawn by albino horses.  Some pathetic twink tried to make a go of regular clydesdales, and we just laughed, laughed, laughed until we shot aged brandy out our noses all over the marble floor of The Club.

[wolfter]

I'm not a luxury car kind.  It'd be more like showing off my debt to those who don't care anyways.  Besides, doesn't everybody in Ohio and West Virginia drive trucks?  I sure hope I'm not portraying some butch image.

[whoknew]

My husband left his Atripla in the glove box of the car for 3 days over the hottest days in the summer. He took them to the chemist at thehospital who contacted the manufacturer he was told it would be fine ... he has had no problems withthem.

best to check if you are worried though.