5 replies to this topic

[cmljax]

I take Tasigna and the package says it must be stored at 68 - 77 degrees fahrenheit with excursions permitted between 59 and 86.  It doesn't say how long excursions can be. My medicine comes overnight from Briova specialty pharmacy and there is no special packaging to insure adherence to the temperature guidelines.  I questioned Briova about this and they sent me a letter from Novartis (manufacturer of tasigna) marked "For informational purposes only".  The letter said that no significant change in the assay of Tasigna capsules or dissolution results were observed after 6 months of storage at -4 degrees F or after 6 months of storage at 104 degrees F or after 3 months of storage at 122 degrees F.  These ranges are a huge difference from what the official Novartis literature says, but my insurance company says that this informational purposes only letter is why they do not provide special packaging when they ship it.

 

It is already starting to get hot in Florida where I live.  Even with overnight delivery, the medicine will be exposed to temperatures in the 90's and maybe even the 100's once we get into June, July, August and Spetember.  Should I be concerned? Do the other primary TKI's have similar temp ranges for storage? Do others get their medicine in protective packaging designed to keep it at the correct temp range?

 

This is all very baffling to me, but I want to make sure my medicine is at full efficacy when I get it and take it.

 

 

[scuba]

Tasigna is a salt (as is Gleevec and Sprycel and probably the other TKI's). As such it is quite stable. The salt nature of the medicine is why it absorbs so readily through our digestive system. A little moisture will cause it to ionize and become soluble.

 

The most important thing you can do to keep Tasigna stable is to keep it dry. Temperature does not much matter. The easiest way to keep it dry is to keep it stored in its container with anhydrous packets that are usually supplied with the medication (reduce humidity).

 

Reality is these compounds can last years stored in a dry typical home location. 

[tiredblood]

I got the same info when CVS Caremark failed to pack my Tasigna with a cooler/coolant. It set out in the sun on a day we had a 107 degree heat index. They would not replace it so, I was forced to take it. Didn't have any problems from it, but I thought it was very irresponsible on their part. It came cooled all other shipments.

[hannibellemo]

Those instructions are to keep the lawyers happy, IMHO.

[DebDoodah22]

I live in Texas and work full time, after a couple of months of having FedEx leave my meds on my 100 + degree porch, i began having CVS Specialty drop ship to my local 24 hour CvS retailer. If you are concerned about shipping temps maybe you could try that,

So, that gets it here in one piece, but day to day meds are exposed to temp fluctuations as I travel or find myself in situations that require me to take the meds along with me. I've never considered the meds to be that fragile. I agree with Pat seems like a lawyer thing.

[tiredblood]

Truth is we don't know what temperatures our meds are exposed to in air transit.