Extreme heat could have affects on mail order prescriptions

STERLINGTON, La. (KTVE/KARD) —

Extreme temperature differences, whether hot or cold could have some adverse affects for mail order prescriptions if let outside too long. Since summer is the current season extreme heat will be the main concern, especially when temperatures rise in the high 90s and low 100s.

Mail order or delivered prescriptions are a new and nice way to receive your medication. It makes it easier for people who have trouble being able to go to the pharmacy or for those who don’t have time.

The U.S. Pharmacopeia recommends a storage temperature range of most prescriptions sit in between 68-77 degrees with room for a short traveling range of 59-68 degrees and 77-89 degrees. This helps most if not all prescriptions from having any adverse affects, but any temperatures out of that range that a prescription is in for a long period of time, is considered extreme temperatures.

A local pharmacist from Parkway Pharmacy LLC in Sterlington, Louisiana gave us a little more details on some of affects and solutions for this extreme heat.

The USP, they did a study and found that mail order packages spend more than two thirds of their transit time outside of the temperature range regardless of the shipping method, carrier, or the season.

Brandon Brumley | Pharmacist at Parkway Pharmacy LLC

Most won’t see any affects on their medications especially if they aren’t outside for a long time, but anything that is could some bad adverse affects. This could include pills and capsules melting together, liquid medication evaporating a little bit, aerosols or inhalers having a possible change in pressure.

Others that are left for a long period of time could some even more adverse changes like losing its effectiveness or changing the medication entirely.

Sometimes, the heat can actually change the formulation of the drug. So it could make it have another chemical reaction and actually change what’s in the medication. They could decrease the effectiveness, just due to the drug breaking down faster than it would otherwise.

Brandon Brumley | Pharmacist at Parkway Pharmacy LLC

Besides when the mail order prescription is in transit, there are some ways that you can use to keep your prescription from staying out of the sun for too long.

Delivery trucks and new methods are always being worked on to help this situation, making sure your package isn’t staying in a hot environment is the number 1 priority. You can have it delivered when you are there to pick it up, or have someone else pick it up. You can also have it delivered to your place of work to make it easier for your schedule.

Never leave it outside or in a mailbox for too long and if you have to bring your prescription with anywhere, keep it on you and don’t leave it in your car.

If you know you have something, a mail order medication coming to your house and your not going to be there, have someone pick it up for you or if your at work, maybe have it shipped to your work.

Brandon Brumley | Pharmacist at Parkway Pharmacy LLC

This isn’t bound to happen to all if any mail order prescriptions, as Brandon had said he hasn’t run into this yet, but doesn’t mean it can’t. If you fear it may have happened, you can always consult your local pharmacy on what to do.