Mini Fridge For Meds?

[Claireybee]

Hello All,

I’ve recently been prescribed Benepali, but I’m yet to start it due to a chest infection/issues with breathlessness. I had my first batch stored in the fridge and bought a thermometer so I could check the correct temp. Anyway, we had some friends stay at our house while we were away last week and on return we found that the fridge door had been left ajar. The thermometer read 12 degrees. I’m not sure how long they had been at that temperature but I suspect the door had been ajar for at least 8 hours. I am guessing these are now spoiled and cannot be used although I’m waiting for a healthcare at home pharmacist to call me back and advise me.

Anyway, with all this in mind I think it would be wise for me to buy a small separate refrigerator to store my pens in. Can anyone recommend one that doesn’t cost a fortune or take up too much room? Do you think I would be able to get one VAT free as I am in receipt of PIP?

Many thanks in advance 😊

[helixhelix]

if you look at the leaflet that comes with Benepali I think you will see that it says that they can be stored out of the fridge at room temperature (under 25 degrees) for up to four weeks. So you should be able to use most of them. What you mustn't do is put them back in the fridge once they've come to room temperature or freeze them.

[Claireybee in reply to helixhelix]

Hi, thanks very much for the reply. Unfortunately, it was 3am when we got back from hols and I wasn’t thinking straight so I just closed the fridge which will have chilled them down again 😏. H@H pharmacist has been helpful but have had to refer it through with the batch and exp date to the hospital for a decision on whether they can still be used. Xxx

[James53]

Be sure it’s a small fridge and not the very small ones used to keep drinks cold as these don’t go to a low enough temperature

[Claireybee in reply to James53]

Thanks 😊

[dbestdeb]

I have a mini fridge that I purchased new a year ago. I have not found it to be reliable enough to store my meds. Sometimes it cools just right, other times things feel a bit warm, and yet other times I have frozen items to deal with. Maybe others have better luck with theirs than I did, but I regret the purchase and store my meds elsewhere.

[Claireybee in reply to dbestdeb]

Thanks for this, it’s good to know, but sorry you didn’t have a good experience. Was it one of the drinks fridges? It’s helpful to know what to avoid. My current fridge (Smeg) seems to fluctuate between minus 2 and 8 so I’ve no confidence in that one either! I’ll defin need to find a better solution. Thanks for taking the time to reply xx

[dbestdeb]

No, it isn’t a drinks fridge. I live in a small apartment on my daughter’s property and I thought a regular mini fridge like used in dorm rooms would do for my needs, since I also have access to her regular sized fridge. I was very wrong. Fresh veggies and drinks froze while things I would have wanted to freeze, never did. I would not recommend them for anything other than anything that couldn’t go bad or be a problem if frozen. I’m not sure if you have the same brands in the U.K. as we do in the US but the brand is Tramontina, which I purchased at Sam’s Club.

[Claireybee in reply to dbestdeb]

I’ve not heard of that one, but thank you for sharing your experience 😊