As summer swelters on, we search out any way possible to conquer the heat. But we aren’t the only ones needing cooler conditions. In your pharmacy, some medications require refrigeration or even freezing to maintain their integrity.
As you know, storage at the wrong temperature can alter the potency, shelf life and physical composition of a drug. Summer is the perfect time to review your refrigeration policies and educate patients on proper handling of their prescriptions.
Proper storage of refrigerated products both before and after dispensing is important to keep medications safe and effective. Here are some general rules for storing refrigerated medications or frozen medications.
Know how to store frozen medications
Frozen medications should be stored at 5F (-15C) or colder.
Know how to store refrigerated medications
Refrigerated medications should be stored at temperatures between 35F and 46F (2C and 8C).
Maintain refrigerator settings
Refrigerator settings should be mid-range, at 41F (5C), to allow the largest safety margin or level of fluctuation within the acceptable range.
Understand what doesn’t require refrigeration
Never store medications in the refrigerator or freezer unless they are meant to be stored this way.
Find a balance
Temperatures that are too warm or too cold can harm drugs.
Keep a chart
Post a chart of the medications that require either refrigeration or freezing somewhere in your pharmacy, preferably near or on the fridge. This can limit improper refrigeration errors from you and your staff.
Stand-alone units are best
Avoid using the refrigerator-freezer combinations that are popular in households or dorm-style fridges. These styles are more likely to have significant fluctuations in temperature. This is especially true if you are storing vaccines. You should always use a stand-alone freezer to store frozen meds. The refrigerator only of a combo unit can be used to store vaccines if absolutely necessary, but a stand-alone refrigerator unit is best.
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Maintain original packaging
Store refrigerated medications in their original packaging. This helps protect them from light and keeps them visually distinct to avoid mix-ups. For medications with similar names or packaging (e.g. insulins, adult and pediatric vaccines), use shelf tags or store in different locations within the refrigerator.
Avoid overcrowding
Don’t crowd drugs in the refrigerator. Leaving plenty of space for air circulation between items results in more consistent temperatures.
Keep everything in the center
Store products on the central shelves of the fridge, not in bins or door compartments. Also, keep medications at least two to three inches away from the floor, coils, walls, ceiling, and vents to limit fluctuations in temperature.
Don’t store personal items
Don’t store items unrelated to pharmacy, such as personal food and beverages, in the same refrigerator as medications. There may even be regulations against this practice in your area.
Check temperatures regularly
To keep temperatures stable, regularly check the seal on your fridge and the amount of frost build-up in your freezer. Set up a schedule for cleaning and defrosting this equipment.
Put away refrigerated medicines immediately
Always examine arriving orders for refrigerated packaging, and unpack these items immediately.
Log temperatures regularly
Develop and follow a pharmacy policy for checking and logging the refrigerator temperature. This should be done twice daily.
Set a policy for out-of-range temperatures
Create and adhere to a pharmacy policy for dealing with out-of-range temperatures. If drugs are exposed to conditions that are too hot or cold, you may need to take action, such as checking with the drug manufacturer to find out if a medication should be discarded.
Help patients understand
When dispensing the medication to patients, be sure to provide thorough information on the use of their refrigerated medication. Some drugs no longer need refrigeration once the customer picks them up, but these often have a shorter lifespan, so make sure the expiration date is apparent. For drugs that require continued refrigeration, educate the patient on safe practices, such as not leaving the meds in a hot car or what they should do if they forget to refrigerate their prescription.
Note: Please view this article only as a refresher or reference tool, not as an exact procedure. Essential points may be missing.
For more comprehensive information about medications that require refrigeration or freezing, check out this list from the Therapeutic Research Center.
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