Active drugs used in medications are temperature-sensitive. When stored in hot or cold places, they can become unstable and even degrade, posing a risk of negative side effects and decreasing their effectiveness.
Drug companies are required to strictly control temperatures during manufacturing. And most medications must be stored at a controlled room temperature of around 68 to 77 degrees F once you get them.
This article covers how to protect your medications from a variety of elements and what to do if they are exposed to potentially harmful temperatures.
Temperature-Sensitive Medications
Few medications remain stable in warmer climates of 93 degrees or higher.Temperatures in many parts of the world can surpass this, depending on the season.
If you are traveling or moving someplace hot, you will need to find ways to keep your medication cool.
Most antibiotics are temperature-sensitive. According to one review, only three antibiotics have shown stability in warmer climates:
On occasion, a medication may need to leave its recommended temperature range, for example, while being shipped. This is known as a permitted excursion. Depending on the medication, this may be permitted when necessary, but only for a short and specific period of time.
Temperatures for Medication Storage
Storage recommendations and any excursion information should be labeled on the drug product’s packaging or information sheet.
Examples of temperature-sensitive drug recommendations include:
Compounding Pharmacies
If you are getting your medication from a compounding pharmacy, your healthcare provider has prescribed you a specific formulation that is not readily available.
These medications are prepared individually for each person, not in high volume like most commercial drugs.
Pharmacists must follow strict protocols. Often, especially with liquid or injectable compounds, these formulations require highly-controlled storage and transport temperatures. Otherwise, they may not last as long as most medications.
Risk Factors for Temperature-Sensitive Drugs
There are a number of factors that can expose your medications to dangerously high temperatures.
How to Protect Your Medication
You can take some steps to prevent heat-related degradation of your medications.
What to Do If Your Medication Has Been Exposed to Excessive Heat
If your medication has already been exposed to high temperatures, talk to your pharmacist to see if you need to replace it.
Your next step should be a call to your health insurance company or HMO, who may be able to replace your medication at no cost or reimburse you for a replacement prescription.
Finally, if your pharmacy and insurance company are unable to help you, contact the manufacturer through the consumer hotline. Many manufacturers will allow you to return the medication in exchange for a replacement.
Summary
Active chemicals in most OTC and prescription medications react strongly to high temperatures. Exposure to high temperatures for too long can cause a medication to degrade and become ineffective or even harmful. If your medication has been exposed to a high temperature, contact your pharmacist or healthcare provider before using it.
A Word From Verywell
Medications should always be kept in a cool, dry place. If you find yourself in a situation where you simply cannot manage to keep your medication cool and dry, you’ll need to make accommodations. For traveling, spending a day outdoors, or any other warm occasion, consider bringing an insulated cooler bag with you to carry your medication. Add a few ice packs to keep the bag cool, making sure that your medication also stays dry.
How to Travel With Medications
1 SourceVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.John Perks S, Lanskey C, Robinson N, Pain T, Franklin R.Systematic review of stability data pertaining to selected antibiotics used for extended infusions in outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) at standard room temperature and in warmer climates.Eur J Hosp Pharm. 2020 Mar;27(2):65-72. doi:10.1136/ejhpharm-2019-001875Additional ReadingBate R, Tren R, Hess K, Attaran A.Physical and chemical stability of expired fixed dose combination artemether-lumefantrine in uncontrolled tropical conditions.Malar J. 2009 Feb 25;8:33. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-8-33.Hodel EM, Kaur H, Terlouw DJ.Stability of Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine Tablet Halves During Prolonged Storage Under Tropical Conditions. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2017 Feb 8;96(2):338-340. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0759. Epub 2016 Nov 28.Wempe MF, Oldland A, Stolpman N, Kiser TH.Stability of dronabinol capsules when stored frozen, refrigerated, or at room temperature. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2016 Jul 15;73(14):1088-92. doi: 10.2146/ajhp150501.
1 Source
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.John Perks S, Lanskey C, Robinson N, Pain T, Franklin R.Systematic review of stability data pertaining to selected antibiotics used for extended infusions in outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) at standard room temperature and in warmer climates.Eur J Hosp Pharm. 2020 Mar;27(2):65-72. doi:10.1136/ejhpharm-2019-001875Additional ReadingBate R, Tren R, Hess K, Attaran A.Physical and chemical stability of expired fixed dose combination artemether-lumefantrine in uncontrolled tropical conditions.Malar J. 2009 Feb 25;8:33. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-8-33.Hodel EM, Kaur H, Terlouw DJ.Stability of Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine Tablet Halves During Prolonged Storage Under Tropical Conditions. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2017 Feb 8;96(2):338-340. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0759. Epub 2016 Nov 28.Wempe MF, Oldland A, Stolpman N, Kiser TH.Stability of dronabinol capsules when stored frozen, refrigerated, or at room temperature. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2016 Jul 15;73(14):1088-92. doi: 10.2146/ajhp150501.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
John Perks S, Lanskey C, Robinson N, Pain T, Franklin R.Systematic review of stability data pertaining to selected antibiotics used for extended infusions in outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) at standard room temperature and in warmer climates.Eur J Hosp Pharm. 2020 Mar;27(2):65-72. doi:10.1136/ejhpharm-2019-001875
Bate R, Tren R, Hess K, Attaran A.Physical and chemical stability of expired fixed dose combination artemether-lumefantrine in uncontrolled tropical conditions.Malar J. 2009 Feb 25;8:33. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-8-33.Hodel EM, Kaur H, Terlouw DJ.Stability of Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine Tablet Halves During Prolonged Storage Under Tropical Conditions. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2017 Feb 8;96(2):338-340. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0759. Epub 2016 Nov 28.Wempe MF, Oldland A, Stolpman N, Kiser TH.Stability of dronabinol capsules when stored frozen, refrigerated, or at room temperature. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2016 Jul 15;73(14):1088-92. doi: 10.2146/ajhp150501.
Bate R, Tren R, Hess K, Attaran A.Physical and chemical stability of expired fixed dose combination artemether-lumefantrine in uncontrolled tropical conditions.Malar J. 2009 Feb 25;8:33. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-8-33.
Hodel EM, Kaur H, Terlouw DJ.Stability of Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine Tablet Halves During Prolonged Storage Under Tropical Conditions. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2017 Feb 8;96(2):338-340. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0759. Epub 2016 Nov 28.
Wempe MF, Oldland A, Stolpman N, Kiser TH.Stability of dronabinol capsules when stored frozen, refrigerated, or at room temperature. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2016 Jul 15;73(14):1088-92. doi: 10.2146/ajhp150501.
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