Heat having an effect on Coumadin and Dig

[John & Joann]

We read in Bottom Line that heat will have a negative effect on Coumadin and Dig. They cautioned about having this medication shipped during the heat of the summer.

Our PBM (Prescription Benefit Medication) the famed and useless Caremark is based in Birmingham, Alabama. We must get our prescriptions from them due to retirement contract.

How much of a risk is the heat when the medication is shipped via U.S. Mail?

Perhaps Al can address the medical and someone else that knows the USPS can address the heat issues.

Always something new!

 

[Guest]

The answer is that nobody knows for sure. The manufacturers only have to run tests that simulate the effect of heat over time. Then the requirements are set very conservatively. The packages say to store at temperatures below 85 degrees F. I doubt that a few days in the mail will make much difference. After all, how did Caremark (or anyone else) get their supplies. The VA ships thousands of prescriptions every day and I don't know of any trouble they have found associated with that. It seems that a caution this makes a better news story than actually digging around and finding out if it really makes any difference. They can't write a story "Disregard FDA storage requirements for heat exposure of drugs". It scares people much better when they say "Don't get prescriptions by mail during the summer" Scare sells - reassurance does not.