topic Re: Medication question in Community Chat

Medication question

FranandZoe — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 14:13:55 GMT

My husband picked up my Atorvastatin (generic Lipitor) on Friday - left it in the car for 6 hours with outside temperature around zero. Pharmacist says no harm in taking it but may not be effective in doing what it's supposed to do. I have an old bottle that expired in 12/18. They told me the same thing about the expired medication. So which do you think would be better to take/more likely to be as effective as usual? I'm thinking the expired one. It's unlikely that it would be bad the next month or a few months after the expiration date. (My insurance won't pay for another bottle.) Thanks.

Re: Medication question

Shelbelle — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 14:20:15 GMT

I am not a health care pro, but as far as I am concerned any med dated 12/18 is perfectly fine. I have had docs tell me those dates are just put on there because the law says they have to as a formality to protect the drug company, but the meds are perfectly fine for quite a bit longer.

Re: Medication question

Still Raining — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 14:26:52 GMT

Generics are usually really cheap. Another option is to just get a refill and pay yourself. Hanging my head - don't ask how I know.

Re: Medication question

Boehm Collector — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 14:52:30 GMT

@Shelbelle wrote:
I am not a health care pro, but as far as I am concerned any med dated 12/18 is perfectly fine. I have had docs tell me those dates are just put on there because the law says they have to as a formality to protect the drug company, but the meds are perfectly fine for quite a bit longer.

@FranandZoe and @Shelbelle ... my Dad was a physician. He always told us that prescription meds were usually good for a few months after their expiration dates. But I don't remember for how long.

Re: Medication question

millieshops — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 14:57:08 GMT

@FranandZoeI'd take my pharmacists' answers and use either med, probably both.

First of all, the date on the expired med is most likely a sell by date, no?

Of course, what I don't know at all is how you'll know whether the "cold" med is effective. Will there be a quick and recoverable effect? Knowing that would affect my decision. I just know I have gotten to old age here following advice from my medical professionals - but I don't take Liptor. I do take a sratin though, and I know I've used "expired'" and the vascular surgeon I see regularly has seen no change in the last 3 years. That's my hurrah.

Re: Medication question

Nataliesgramma — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 14:57:45 GMT

We get some prescriptions by mail and they are out there in all kinds of wearther.....

Re: Medication question

CelticCrafter — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 15:01:58 GMT

@Nataliesgramma - you're right, if people work they could be sitting out there for more than 6 hours.

Re: Medication question

Shelbelle — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 15:15:42 GMT

@Nataliesgramma wrote:
We get some prescriptions by mail and they are out there in all kinds of wearther.....

So correct, mine are delivered in extreme summer heat and extreme cold, had one delivered last week in way below freezing temps.

Re: Medication question

MaeE — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 15:22:29 GMT

Personally, I never take statin drugs..I think they do more harm than good..personal experience

Re: Medication question

SahmIam — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 15:24:15 GMT

@FranandZoe Most medications are good for a few years past their expiration date. I say most because there are always excepetions.

If you don't feel comfortable with that, than understandably discard it and ask for a generic version (if cheaper) or a new refill. With the date that was mentioned, no issue. Also, as others have said, medications are delivered in trucks with NO AC or heat and they sit in them as well as docks/warehouses that also are not heated or cooled. Unless it states it MUST be stored at XYZ temp, I wouldn't worry about it. : )

Re: Medication question

VaBelle35 — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 15:25:01 GMT

Lipitor is a serious medication. Unless you are taking this proactively to ward off high cholesterol vs treating high cholesterol, then I think you need to fork over the money for a new prescription and eat pasta for the month to cover the cost ;o)

For me, I would not mess around with taking something that may not be as effective as it should be if I was treating a serious condition.

I understand it's expensive, but you are talking about your life here. Do you really want to risk your cholesterol rising over 30 days to an unhealthy level that can lead to a more serious issue? And then how long will it take to correct once you get back on the proper levels?

You are taking a big chance with your health that will cost you much more than money in the long run.

Re: Medication question

Carmie — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 15:32:54 GMT

I'd take either drug with no problems. We waste too many products in America with sold by dates, use by dates and general concerns over nothing.

Your pharmacist confirmed that it is safe. It is probably at full potency too. Six hours is not a long time and since it was a tablet and not a liquid it didn't freeze.

Re: Medication question

FrostyBabe1 — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 15:53:20 GMT

I spent the bulk of my career working for a pharma manufacturer. Before that drug got to your pharmacy, at the very least, it was shipped by truck from the manufacturer warehouse to the wholesaler warehouse. From there it went by truck to your pharmacy. If you bought it from a large chain, it may have even made a stop at the pharmacy warehouse/distribution center. Those cargo trucks aren't heated - drugs that require strict temperature controls are shipped seperately. It could've very well spent far more than 6 hours in sub freezing temps. It's fine.

Re: Medication question

Deanie — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 15:56:19 GMT

yes @Carmie I agree. Do you recall when there was a Rx shortage of particular drugs in California, they used expired ones claiming they were ok. Also, it is my understanding that many expired meds are sent overseas to be used.

Re: Medication question

SilleeMee — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 16:38:15 GMT

I would be more concerned if the statins were exposed to light. Statins are very sensitive to light, including fluorescent and sunlight.

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/search/#query=lovastatin%20stability

Re: Medication question

chrystaltree — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 16:38:12 GMT

I would take the expired one. It's only a few weeks over the expiration date and my opinion is that it hasn't lost any of it's effectivens in a few weeks. I'm sure they fudge those expiration dates anyway. I would not use the one that froze because it is indeed likely that the chemicals might have broken down from cold. In fact, there was an article in our local paper that talked about the things we should not leave in our cars over night in frigid cold weather and prescription medications was on that list.

Re: Medication question

ID2 — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 16:45:54 GMT

@MaeE wrote:
Personally, I never take statin drugs..I think they do more harm than good..personal experience

Does your response actually help the OP? It doesn't address her problem whatsover.

Re: Medication question

FranandZoe — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 16:58:23 GMT

Thanks so much everyone! Well almost everyone lol.

Great info on the temperature control & expiration dates - I appreciate it.

And no I don't have high cholesterol. I'm high normal/borderline but since I'm diabetic I'm on the statin for prevention. But thanks for the concern.

And I wasn't asking for an opinion about statins.

Thanks again!

Re: Medication question

mom2four0418 — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 18:13:58 GMT

@FranandZoe wrote:
My husband picked up my Atorvastatin (generic Lipitor) on Friday - left it in the car for 6 hours with outside temperature around zero. Pharmacist says no harm in taking it but may not be effective in doing what it's supposed to do. I have an old bottle that expired in 12/18. They told me the same thing about the expired medication. So which do you think would be better to take/more likely to be as effective as usual? I'm thinking the expired one. It's unlikely that it would be bad the next month or a few months after the expiration date. (My insurance won't pay for another bottle.) Thanks.

Have you considered calling the doctor who prescibed it?

Re: Medication question

Sage04 — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 18:46:56 GMT

Why call the Dr who prescribed it? The Pharmacist knows more about drugs than the Dr. If it werent for my Pharmacist, I would have had a lot of problems from a drug my Dr prescribe which would have counteract with another drug that my Dr previously prescribed.

I would take both (the one from last year and then the one that was left out in the cold).