Re: Refrigerating Synthroid-Do I need to?

[Guest guest]

If you live in a tropical climate without the A/C on all the time, you

will need to find a way to keep them cooler. For those of us who live

in non tropical climates, keeping them outside the fridge is ok unless

you crank the heat up above 85 or so. To get your question suitably

answered, you can talk with your pharmacist.

There's a lot of moisture in a fridge and my question is about the

moisture getting into the meds and messing with their effectiveness.

jane

>

> I think I read somewhere about the need to refrigerate my synthroid.

> Does anyone know anything about that? Is it necessary? And, how long

> is it ok to store the meds, do they get less effective after a certain

> amount of time??? Thanks.

>

[Guest guest]

If you live in a tropical climate without the A/C on all the time, you

will need to find a way to keep them cooler. For those of us who live

in non tropical climates, keeping them outside the fridge is ok unless

you crank the heat up above 85 or so. To get your question suitably

answered, you can talk with your pharmacist.

There's a lot of moisture in a fridge and my question is about the

moisture getting into the meds and messing with their effectiveness.

jane

>

> I think I read somewhere about the need to refrigerate my synthroid.

> Does anyone know anything about that? Is it necessary? And, how long

> is it ok to store the meds, do they get less effective after a certain

> amount of time??? Thanks.

>

[Guest guest]

If you live in a tropical climate without the A/C on all the time, you

will need to find a way to keep them cooler. For those of us who live

in non tropical climates, keeping them outside the fridge is ok unless

you crank the heat up above 85 or so. To get your question suitably

answered, you can talk with your pharmacist.

There's a lot of moisture in a fridge and my question is about the

moisture getting into the meds and messing with their effectiveness.

jane

>

> I think I read somewhere about the need to refrigerate my synthroid.

> Does anyone know anything about that? Is it necessary? And, how long

> is it ok to store the meds, do they get less effective after a certain

> amount of time??? Thanks.

>

[Guest guest]

Ya if ya really want to keep something cold/cool and dry...throw it in the freezer.

C.

Re: Refrigerating Synthroid-Do I need to?

If you live in a tropical climate without the A/C on all the time, you will need to find a way to keep them cooler. For those of us who live in non tropical climates, keeping them outside the fridge is ok unless you crank the heat up above 85 or so. To get your question suitably answered, you can talk with your pharmacist.There's a lot of moisture in a fridge and my question is about the moisture getting into the meds and messing with their effectiveness.jane>> I think I read somewhere about the need to refrigerate my synthroid.> Does anyone know anything about that? Is it necessary? And, how long> is it ok to store the meds, do they get less effective after a certain> amount of time??? Thanks.>

[Guest guest]

Ya if ya really want to keep something cold/cool and dry...throw it in the freezer.

C.

Re: Refrigerating Synthroid-Do I need to?

If you live in a tropical climate without the A/C on all the time, you will need to find a way to keep them cooler. For those of us who live in non tropical climates, keeping them outside the fridge is ok unless you crank the heat up above 85 or so. To get your question suitably answered, you can talk with your pharmacist.There's a lot of moisture in a fridge and my question is about the moisture getting into the meds and messing with their effectiveness.jane>> I think I read somewhere about the need to refrigerate my synthroid.> Does anyone know anything about that? Is it necessary? And, how long> is it ok to store the meds, do they get less effective after a certain> amount of time??? Thanks.>

[Guest guest]

Ya if ya really want to keep something cold/cool and dry...throw it in the freezer.

C.

Re: Refrigerating Synthroid-Do I need to?

If you live in a tropical climate without the A/C on all the time, you will need to find a way to keep them cooler. For those of us who live in non tropical climates, keeping them outside the fridge is ok unless you crank the heat up above 85 or so. To get your question suitably answered, you can talk with your pharmacist.There's a lot of moisture in a fridge and my question is about the moisture getting into the meds and messing with their effectiveness.jane>> I think I read somewhere about the need to refrigerate my synthroid.> Does anyone know anything about that? Is it necessary? And, how long> is it ok to store the meds, do they get less effective after a certain> amount of time??? Thanks.>

[Guest guest]

>

> Ya if ya really want to keep something cold/cool and dry...throw it

in the freezer.

>

> C.

Though I would wonder if freezing the med might change it too.

jane

[Guest guest]

>

> Ya if ya really want to keep something cold/cool and dry...throw it

in the freezer.

>

> C.

Though I would wonder if freezing the med might change it too.

jane

[Guest guest]

>

> Ya if ya really want to keep something cold/cool and dry...throw it

in the freezer.

>

> C.

Though I would wonder if freezing the med might change it too.

jane

[Guest guest]

I suppose the best thing would be to ask a pharmacist but I put all manner of stuff in freezer and it doesn't actually freeze.....just stays fresher, like even cigarettes.

C.

Re: Refrigerating Synthroid-Do I need to?

>> Ya if ya really want to keep something cold/cool and dry...throw it in the freezer.> > C.Though I would wonder if freezing the med might change it too.jane

[Guest guest]

I suppose the best thing would be to ask a pharmacist but I put all manner of stuff in freezer and it doesn't actually freeze.....just stays fresher, like even cigarettes.

C.

Re: Refrigerating Synthroid-Do I need to?

>> Ya if ya really want to keep something cold/cool and dry...throw it in the freezer.> > C.Though I would wonder if freezing the med might change it too.jane

[Guest guest]

I suppose the best thing would be to ask a pharmacist but I put all manner of stuff in freezer and it doesn't actually freeze.....just stays fresher, like even cigarettes.

C.

Re: Refrigerating Synthroid-Do I need to?

>> Ya if ya really want to keep something cold/cool and dry...throw it in the freezer.> > C.Though I would wonder if freezing the med might change it too.jane

[Guest guest]

Thyroid hormones are extremely sensitive to temperatures... most brands need to be kept between 59 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.... to bring them outside that temp range reduces shelf stability and potency.

There is the added hazard of moisture absorption by tabs that are kept outside temp ranges. Tabs kept in the fridge or freezer and removed from their bottles while still cold will absorb moisture from the air, condensation. That absorbed moisture reduces the shelf life and potency of the tabs too.

The best way to store meds is at their proper temp range. Dry. Away from light. And in a location where the temp fluctuations are minor.

Personally, since I buy most of my stuff in bulk, in bottles with quantities of tabs or caps in the hundreds, and have for decades now.... I have a system that has worked well for me.

The large bottles have home made desiccant packs added to them (simply little thing made with tissue and corn starch). I take pills from the large bottles and put them in smaller bottles, generally with enough pills to last about 30 days.... I also put home made desiccant packs in those.

The large bottles are only opened to refill the smaller bottles and then left sealed tightly. The smaller bottles are kept in a plastic parts bin that has home made desiccant packs in it too.....

What happens if you don't treat the pills properly? Well, along with the crumbling part... or the fact that the potency drops..... you get fun things like what happened to me..... the reason that I am now sooo picky about taking proper care of my pills.

Hot summer day, high humidity. No air conditioning. New bottle of pills.

I opened the bottle and shook out my morning dose of Synthroid. It looked funny... It should have been pink, but it was off.... I looked and the other pills in the bottle... they were greenish... I dumped them out and they were turning moldy!

I drove to the clinic pharmacy where I had gotten them just two or three days before and said that I wanted them replaced, that they were mouldy.. the pharmacist starting give me crap... they don't get mouldy, he's not giving me another bottle of free pills.... yada yada yada.... I pulled the bottle out of my pocket, opened it and dumped it out on the counter.... in just that short time they had turned into a green gooey mass of uggggh. All the fine folks in line behind me got to see when I stepped aside.....

He went to get me another bottle. Another of those refill bottles the pharmacies use so that they can buy it bulk and then re bottle for your prescription. I told him to make sure to put a desiccant pack in it this time, like he should have in the first place... he said that they don't do that... they are too expensive.... I demanded a desiccant pack and he refused.....

I left.... with several people following behind. I never used that clinic pharmacy again.... From that day on... if a prescription that I pick up is a repack. I check for content, to make sure it's the right pill, to make sure it's the right dose, and that it has a desiccant pack in it.... etc.... EVERY bottle. EVERY time. While standing at the counter.

If anything is wrong I'm still at the counter and the pharmacist fixes it right away or my voice will get louder and louder until he does.

I've learned that you don't step out of line before checking..... because then they will claim that you swapped pills or all kinds of things, in an attempt to get more free pills.... So I check right in front of them with witnesses (the other people in line behind me) watching what I'm doing....

It's amazing to see how many of those people follow my example!

Considering that this not only involved my own prescriptions.. .but the dozens and dozens that I filled when I was a caregiver, or getting prescriptions filled for family members.... I was doing this a LOT for many years....

Just my 2 cents.

Topper ()

On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 08:07:50 -0600 " Cody" writes:

I suppose the best thing would be to ask a pharmacist but I put all manner of stuff in freezer and it doesn't actually freeze.....just stays fresher, like even cigarettes.

C.

[Guest guest]

Thyroid hormones are extremely sensitive to temperatures... most brands need to be kept between 59 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.... to bring them outside that temp range reduces shelf stability and potency.

There is the added hazard of moisture absorption by tabs that are kept outside temp ranges. Tabs kept in the fridge or freezer and removed from their bottles while still cold will absorb moisture from the air, condensation. That absorbed moisture reduces the shelf life and potency of the tabs too.

The best way to store meds is at their proper temp range. Dry. Away from light. And in a location where the temp fluctuations are minor.

Personally, since I buy most of my stuff in bulk, in bottles with quantities of tabs or caps in the hundreds, and have for decades now.... I have a system that has worked well for me.

The large bottles have home made desiccant packs added to them (simply little thing made with tissue and corn starch). I take pills from the large bottles and put them in smaller bottles, generally with enough pills to last about 30 days.... I also put home made desiccant packs in those.

The large bottles are only opened to refill the smaller bottles and then left sealed tightly. The smaller bottles are kept in a plastic parts bin that has home made desiccant packs in it too.....

What happens if you don't treat the pills properly? Well, along with the crumbling part... or the fact that the potency drops..... you get fun things like what happened to me..... the reason that I am now sooo picky about taking proper care of my pills.

Hot summer day, high humidity. No air conditioning. New bottle of pills.

I opened the bottle and shook out my morning dose of Synthroid. It looked funny... It should have been pink, but it was off.... I looked and the other pills in the bottle... they were greenish... I dumped them out and they were turning moldy!

I drove to the clinic pharmacy where I had gotten them just two or three days before and said that I wanted them replaced, that they were mouldy.. the pharmacist starting give me crap... they don't get mouldy, he's not giving me another bottle of free pills.... yada yada yada.... I pulled the bottle out of my pocket, opened it and dumped it out on the counter.... in just that short time they had turned into a green gooey mass of uggggh. All the fine folks in line behind me got to see when I stepped aside.....

He went to get me another bottle. Another of those refill bottles the pharmacies use so that they can buy it bulk and then re bottle for your prescription. I told him to make sure to put a desiccant pack in it this time, like he should have in the first place... he said that they don't do that... they are too expensive.... I demanded a desiccant pack and he refused.....

I left.... with several people following behind. I never used that clinic pharmacy again.... From that day on... if a prescription that I pick up is a repack. I check for content, to make sure it's the right pill, to make sure it's the right dose, and that it has a desiccant pack in it.... etc.... EVERY bottle. EVERY time. While standing at the counter.

If anything is wrong I'm still at the counter and the pharmacist fixes it right away or my voice will get louder and louder until he does.

I've learned that you don't step out of line before checking..... because then they will claim that you swapped pills or all kinds of things, in an attempt to get more free pills.... So I check right in front of them with witnesses (the other people in line behind me) watching what I'm doing....

It's amazing to see how many of those people follow my example!

Considering that this not only involved my own prescriptions.. .but the dozens and dozens that I filled when I was a caregiver, or getting prescriptions filled for family members.... I was doing this a LOT for many years....

Just my 2 cents.

Topper ()

On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 08:07:50 -0600 " Cody" writes:

I suppose the best thing would be to ask a pharmacist but I put all manner of stuff in freezer and it doesn't actually freeze.....just stays fresher, like even cigarettes.

C.

[Guest guest]

It's not necessary at all to refrigerate synthetic T4, just to keep it in a

cool dry place, away from humidity and places like the bathroom and kitchen.

It's also not necessary to refrigerate Armour Thyroid either, and I don't

understand where this info came from. In fact, the moisture that comes from

the refrigerator or freezer is detrimental to thyroid hormone in either

form.

Refrigerating Synthroid-Do I need to?

> I think I read somewhere about the need to refrigerate my synthroid.

> Does anyone know anything about that? Is it necessary? And, how long

> is it ok to store the meds, do they get less effective after a certain

> amount of time??? Thanks.