LymeNet Flash: Oh Sh*t! I left the Bicillin out of the fridge!

This is topic Oh Sh*t! I left the Bicillin out of the fridge! in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Ellie K (Member # 12056) on :

Last night I came home from the pharmacy and began to unpack my purchases. In typical lyme brain style, I left my brand new $500 box of ten Bicillin injections sitting on the kitchen table overnight.

I just discovered them, over 24 hours later. It's about 70 degrees in my house. The box says store 36-46 degrees F.

Are they worthless? Did I just make a $500 mistake? Oh God, I'm so frustrated with my own stupidity and recklessness. [bonk]

I pay out of pocket. I think I will have to use them this month and just pray really hard that they have some active ingredients remaining. [Frown]

Does anyone have any information about a situation like this, eg infro pertaining to exactly how compromised the meds are right now?

Thanks everyone.

The idiot,

ellie

Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :

Sorry this happeed!

I can tell you that when I worked at the animal hospital we would leave the bottle out the entire 8 hour shift because so many animals would be getting the injections after surgery.

I bet they are just fine, but you could call the pharmacist or even better the company to check.

put them back in the fridge until you decide what you are going to do!

best of luck~
Melissa

Posted by AutumnDay (Member # 9532) on :

Hi Ellie K,

I was very concerned for you when I saw your post. I found this site www.rxmed.com
look up bicillin and go to very bottom of page.

If this is the same bicillin you are using, it can be out of refrig for 7 days at 30 degrees C, which is 86 degrees F. But please, please call the pharmacy and double check, ok?

Just wanted to make you feel a little better for now.

Autumnday

Posted by lymebytes (Member # 11830) on :

Ellie -
Asking the pharmacist I've received some very wrong responses about medications. Instead call King, they are excellent at answering questions like this.
http://www.kingpharm.com/kingpharm/contact/default.asp

As greedy as pharmaceutical companies are, I wouldn't doubt they'd say they were bad just so you had to buy more.

Doesn't seem like they would be bad, even if you left milk out that long it would be ok, I just don't know if I'd drink it. Who knows...call them and make sure.

Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :

You're fine. I did the same thing with $1,000 of Bicillin and left it out all weekend during a holiday. And, yes, I had paid out of pocket and couldn't afford to buy more.

I called King Pharmaceuticals and they have a study that showed how long you can leave it out and at what temperature. Call them because I am trying to do this from memory.

From what I recall (and this was a year ago), it is still effective for about 7 days at room temperature, and effective for one day at over 100 degrees. She said to put it back in the fridge and it was fine. I used all those batches and had no bad reaction.

But call their technical support and they will read you the specifics.

Jill

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