Just got a years supply of my meds. I've read that all meds loose their potency after a while and somewhere I read that I could freeze mine to stop the loss---HOWEVER---I asked my pharmacist(who thinks I am nuts) and he sorta brushed me off and told me to store them in the linen closet!!!!! Is there a thread somewhere or a doc here lurking that could aim me in the right direction--I'm taking Synthroid, Tenormin and Ogen. And yes it cost a bundle and no my insurance will not cover it much.

-- catherine plamondon (souldancer@us.west), July 21, 1999

Answers

Freezing is NOT USUALLY a good idea, due to the changes in some of the chemicals.

He was REALLY pretty close to the best place, as it will be dry, dark and probably as cool as you are going to get.

C

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), July 22, 1999.

I'd heat-seal them in a plastic bag, with an oxygen absorber and maybe a dessicant. Don't vacuum seal - the pressure drop could pop capsules open. Then keep cool and dark. The medicine, that is.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), July 22, 1999.

My pharmacist told me that the vast majority of meds keep from 2-4 years in cool, dark, dry conditions. Bubble packed meds last longer than vials of meds. There are some exceptions, of course, the most obvious being insulin. I was told that if the medicine comes in a very small, dark container, the odds are it has a short shelf life. The pharmacist advised when you buy your meds, ask the dispenser to tell you the date shown on the package it was taken from. If you know your pharmacist, you might be in a position to persuade him/her to take your meds from the freshest pack.

My Glucophage and Lotensin are both good for at least two years under cool, dark, dry conditions, possibly four, depending upon the date on the original package. Cool? The pharmacist says that means not in the glove compartment of your car parked in the summer heat or sun, not in a pocket next to your body, and not in a purse set near a heat source.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), July 22, 1999.

PS catherine, next time you ask a question, could you click the little "No" button where it asks about notification? My mailer daemon doesn't seem to like us.west as a valid address and kicks back to me every time I post here. I'm pretty sure this is the casse for the rest of us.

chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), July 22, 1999.

Thanks all---will get at it right away. whew---one detail(of millions) off my mind.

-- catherine plamondon (souldancer@pop.spkn.uswest.netuswest), July 22, 1999.