Storing Medication
 

Many may need regular doses of life sustaining medication such as thyroid or diabetic medication and in an emergency or if things go really bad and the supply dries up could run into real trouble. I convinced my doc (mention FEMA and supply chain issues) to write up a 9 month supply besides my normal and have been trying to hoard when changing health plans, docs or going from 30 to 90 day supply. I can stretch my supply by maybe 2 years from what I have now but is still not very long when all goes wrong and no one makes the stuff anymore. Will keep hoarding when the opportunity knocks.

I just store my extras in a dark room temp cabinet in their presciption plastic containers. I heard somewhere that the gov. tested meds for effectiveness far beyond experiation date and the meds still seemed potent. Not sure which ones but probably dry caps or tabs.

Should I be maybe vacuum packing these extras to make give them even more shelf life? Moisture I know would ruin most of my meds in short order. Maybe just put them in ziploc bags?? Any suggestions would be helpful.

Re: Storing Medication
 

Hi Perl-

I have thought about this issue.
Maybe I will talk to my doc about
prescribing a stockpile.

I don't know if tetracycline is prescribed
for long term treatment these days.
I worked with a guy that took it every day
for many years. 'Don't have time to look it
up, but I think it is one of the antibiotics
that has a very limited shelf life. It starts
becoming toxic within a year or two?

Re: Storing Medication
 

Re: Storing Medication
 

Not on topic but related.
This applet(?) is really cool.
It has come in handy several times.

Requires registration.
I am not a health or medical professional,
but I was able to register several years ago.

drug interaction checker

dtnwn

Re: Storing Medication
 

If my life depended on such medicines I would find a way to manufacture the needed drugs myself. I'd become a chemist if I had to.

Speaking of which, chemistry would be a good hobby to take up.

Re: Storing Medication
 

Easier said than done, Rev.

I exaggerate my symptoms. I'm not kidding. I get prescribed 3, I take 2, and set the extra aside. Nothing I have is perishable, though.

Re: Storing Medication
 

Thanks SAM for the link. Thanks others of their input too. That is the study I had heard about. I think I am going to vacuum pack mine if possible and put them in the original containers and stick them in the fridge. So as long as I have power I should be extending the life. Most of mine are tablet so should be stable. I also try to get prescribed more than I really need. If I keep my diabetes under control with diet and exercise I can skip doses. But in bad times when food is scarce I would say my blood sugar will be in good control :rolleyes:

Re: Storing Medication
 

cinnamon
___________________________________

Somewhat off topic, but related:
Do an Amazon.com book search on keywords
[medicine for mountaineering]

dtnwn

Re: Storing Medication
 

I do take cinnamon!! Good link. I try to use as much alternative/supplement medecine I can. Thanks. Hopefully someone else with my condition can benefit from this info. :yippee: Great site isn't it!!

Re: Storing Medication
 

Hi, I'm not Fixture... I'm Fixture's wife. Happen to read your post and thought I'd respond. I'm a Pharmacy Tech and have been for over 8 yrs. I've asked this same question to many of the Pharmacists I have worked with. Their answer has been... Yes you can store many of your meds passed the expiration date and if kept sealed from air & moisture, will lose only slight potency through the years. Tetracycline is the main drug to never use past the expiration date. It in deed will become toxic and will poison your system if taken.
So, if the tshtf, as far as pharmaceuticals go, if your Dr will write a prescription for 90 day supplies at a time and you are willing to pay cash for them instead of trying to use your insurance, you can have a nice supply stored for the future.

Re: Storing Medication
 

Mrs Fixture- Thanks!
____________________

It was so long ago, I don't remember if I lost my
albuterol or hadn't started it yet. Anyway, very
strong coffee got me through a moderate asthma
episode. Otherwise I prolly would have gone to ER.

BTW my doctor told me that growing numbers of
people that "grew out of" childhood asthma are
starting to suffer relapse in middle age.

Good luck to perl and all!

dtnwn