The Front Porch Community Group

Where a group of ladies, sitting on the front porch talking over the days events in their lives.

18 Members
361 Posts
0 Online
Women's Health
/ The Front Porch Support Group

Mail delivered medications - Are they safe?

JoyceMarilyn
JoyceMarilyn
Found this article.

Q. How safe are mail order drugs after sitting in a metal mailbox during summer heat or winter cold? I take lisinopril for high blood pressure and pravastatin to lower cholesterol.

A. You have asked a question that is uncomfortable for many mail order pharmacies. That's because they have no way to protect medicines from temperature extremes during shipment.

Lisinopril is supposed to be stored "at controlled room temperature (68-77 degrees F)" and protected "from moisture, freezing and excessive heat." Pravastatin comes with instructions to "store at 77 degrees F; excursions permitted to 59-86 degrees F."

During the cold snaps this winter, many medications were doubtless frozen in unheated delivery vehicles and while sitting in mailboxes.

Liquid medicine is especially vulnerable to freezing or high heat. One reader wrote that a delivery of insulin was left on a porch for hours. She checked with the mail order pharmacy, which told her that the drug was probably fine. Despite the reassurance, she could not get her blood sugar under control for two months. She became lethargic and confused until the doctor gave her an injection of insulin in the office. Her medication seems to have been affected by the exposure.
KittyKai
KittyKai
I HAVE RECEIVED ALL OF MY MEDICATIONS BY MAIL FOR MANY YEARS, PROBABLY CLOSE TO 15 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. I PRESUME THAT YOU DO NOT PLAN ON LEAVING YOUR MEDS IN THE MAIL BOX FOR DAYS AT A TIME?? THEY USE A WATERPROOF BAG THAT IS TIGHTLY SEALED AND THE BOTTLES THEMSELVES ARE ALSO TIGHTLY SEALED. I WOULD NOT DO IT ANY OTHER WAY. SAVES STANDING IN LINE AT THE PHARMACY, NOT TO MENTION THE GAS AND THE TRAFFIC GETTING BACK AND FORTH. I EVEN MAKE APPOINTMENTS AND ASK QUESTIONS OF MY DOCTOR VIA EMAIL. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIAL WEBSITE WITH ALL OF YOUR INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT THE FLICK OF YOUR WRIST!

KK
Aust
Aust
GOOD THOUGHT JOYCE. ALTHOUGH NOT DELIVERED OVER HERE, I HAVE A MED THAT HAS TO BE KEPT IN FRIDGE. PICK UP LAST THING AT SHOPS, HOME IN 10 MIN AND BACK IN FRIDGE. THEY PUT IN SPECIAL BAG EVEN TO COME HOME. OUR HEATWAVES WOULD BE LIKE YOUR FREEZE. GIRLFRIEND IS ON INSULIN, 30-40 MIN DRIVE HOME, DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC. SHE PUTS IT IN AN ESKY TO FEEL RIGHT ABOUT IT.
ANYONE HAD TROUBLE WITH IT GETTING LOST IN MAIL?
Group Founderstarbright1949
starbright1949
GOT A LIQUID THAT MUST BE KEPT COLD AND NEVER THOUGHT OF THIS BUT THEY DO WRAPP IT IN THE WHITE PLASTIC STUFF BUT IN THE HEAT WE HAVE AND NOW THE FREEZE CANT STAND AT DOOR AND DO NOTHING BUT WATCH FOR THE MAIL MAN HE COMES ANYWHERE FROM EARLY MORN TO AFTER FOUR.

KNOCK ON WOOD NOTHING HAS BEEN LOST YET
KittyKai
KittyKai
WE HAVE SEVERAL FAMILIES IN THIS COMPLEX THAT RECEIVE THEIR MEDS VIA MAIL. ONCE I RECEIVED ANOTHER PERSON'S MEDS BY MISTAKE BUT KNOWING THAT I WAS NOT EXPECTING ANYTHING MADE ME DOUBLE CHECK THE NAME AND ADDRESS. THE GUY LIVED RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME!

KK
Aust
Aust
WAS HE SHOCKED YOU RECEIVED HIS MEDS? NOT EVERYONE IS AS HONEST AS YOU KK.
JoyceMarilyn
JoyceMarilyn
I CHOOSE TO GO PICK UP MY MEDS...CONTROL THING MORE THAT ANYTHING! BUT HUBBY GETS HIS DELIVERED FROM THE VA. IF YOU HAVE EVER DEALT WITH THE VA YOU KNOW HOW LONG A WAIT IT CAN BE WHEN YOU GO THERE. IN TH SUMMER SOME OF THE MEDS COME WITH A FREEZE PAK.
ZECILKL
ZECILKL
I like getting my Rx. at the drugstore. Mailing can be convenient but sometimes it's not worth having to wait and worry that you will run out. Plus , If you change medications it's a pain... you have one med for a short time then realize it's not the right one. Now , if you take the medication for a long time it's working for you and the rx is less expensive by mail... (no problems with temp,, medications that have to be at a certain temperature , didn't think of that one. that is a good point JM) Then go for the mailing .
KittyKai
KittyKai
NO AUST, HE DID NOT SHOW ANY SURPRISE OR AWE. THIS IS A CLOSED, GATED COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE ARE PRETTY UNDERSTANDING ABOUT SUCH THINGS. MY GOODNESS, WHAT WOULD I DO WITH SOMEONE ELSE'S MEDICATION??!!

KK
Group Founderstarbright1949
starbright1949
TODAY THE MAILMAN WAS RUNNING REAL LATE. HE RANG DOORBELL DAUGHTER WAS HERE SHE WENT TO ANSWER THE DOOR BUT HE WAS ALREADY BACK IN TRUCK AND DOWN THE STREET. HE LEFT A BROWN BOX ON PORCH SHE PICKED IT UP WAS FROM VA BUT FOR A MAN A STREET OVER FROM US. SHE TOOK IT TO HIM BUT NOW AM WONDERING HOW MANY TIMES NICE NEIGHBORS HAS BROUGHT HUBBYS TO US??YES I HATE GOING TO VA HOSPITAL TO GET MEDS. TAKES HOURS AT OUT SO SMALL
tgik
tgik
WE GET OUR MEDS MAILED TOO. MY HUSBAND GETS HIS THROUGH THE VA AND I GET MINE FROM MEDS BY MAIL THROUGH CHAMPVA. I GET THAT THROUGH MY HUSBAND. I'M ALSO ON MEDICARE THROUGH SSD. ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE REFRIDGERATED IT COMES OVERNIGHT AND IN AN INSULATED BOX OR IS PACKED IN A STYROFOAM CONTAINER WITH ICE PACKS INSIDE.
concettah
concettah
MY INSURANCE IT TRYING TO FORCE MY HAND INTO MAIL ORDER FOR YEARS, NOW THEY ARE GETTING UGLY BUT IT JUST SO HAPPENS RIGHT NOW I CAN TOO!!! MY PHARMACY IS WORKING WITH ME TO KEEP THE PRICE DOWN. I DO NOT TRUST MAIL ORDER ALTHOUGH MY HUBBY GETS HIS FROM VA. ALL IT WOULD TAKE WOULD BE A SHUT DOWN IN THE POSTAL SERVICE AND BAM YOU ARE SCREWED. NOTHING AGAINST ANY OF YOU DOING IT JUST AFRAID OF THE THINGS THEY ARE MAKING US DO TODAY.
Wancy
Wancy
I have had home delivery via my mailbox for years and here's a tip I discovered when caring for my Mom in a different city. Get the app and become a member of the United States Postal Service. In doing this you can sign up to be notified via text message or email when you're package (of meds) is scheduled to be delivered. Then you can make sure you're home or can set up someone to pick up your mail at that date. You can go so far as requesting specific delivery time and they'll text or email you when they've left the Post Office and started their delivery route. It's REALLY convenient when expecting meds on days that it's 100 degrees or 1 degree. I'm also set with UPS this way because some of my meds come overnight through them and are liquid and can't be exposed to extremes for extended periods of time. Plus, this service with the US Postal Service, UPS, and (I happen to know) Fed Ex is FREE. Try it! Knowing exactly what day and sometimes even they'll give you a 4-hour range of when my meds were being delivered sure helped me when caring for my Mom while still maintaining my own townhouse. By the way, rarely are the estimated time/date of delivery wrong. Hope this info assists!
KittyKai
KittyKai
Hi, I have been absentee for a long while, back once again. I wanted to tell you that I receive ALL of my medications via mail! And it's never been a problem. I hope this helps!
Group Founderstarbright1949
starbright1949
We get hubbies med thru mail. His comes from VA. Am wondering if I cld get mine thru mail also. Just BP and colestrol meds.??????