I read with great interest many of you questioning the hot weather and the shipping of Ibrance. I called Pfizer and their drug safety department. 800-438-1985 option#1. They said that their responsibility ends when the medication goes to the distributor.
Ok. I called accredo my distributor and they said Ibrance is stable to 104 degrees. Ok. The Ups trucks are not air conditioned and can get up to 140 to 152 degrees.
I called accredo and spoke to Natalie and they are overnighting me a new bottle in a box with ice. Her number is 877-783-2262. I asked her to get me in contact with their General Counsel - Lawyer. Let’s all reach out to get our expensive life saving meds shipped properly to all of us. If they can send those meal kits in ice why not our Ibrance? To our health. Love you all. Reenie
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I first found out that Ibrance needed to be shipped in a cool pack when it was hot out a year ago on this site. My former drug company, Express Scripts, never shipped in a cooler and it was often outside for hours in the summer. My plan switched to Briova, who does ship in a cooler during the warmer months. I was shocked that such an expensive drug was treated so casually and worse, that a drug company would jeopardize its efficacy. Please make sure your drugs are stored, shipped and administered correctly.
Accredo is express scripts. I will change vendors. I have been in the fulfillment business for 46 years. No excuse for their system. I want to get to their lawyer. Thanks again Reenie
I get mine thru Blue Cross/Blue Shield and they also ship with ice in the summer. The ice is usually melted but the water is still cool on arrival. They state in the package that melted ice is okay.
I guess I'm lucky that the Yale specialty pharmacy hand delivers my Ibrance. They bring it right to my door and I sign for it. So it is transported in an air conditioned car.
Thank you for sharing! Very good to know. I use IngenioRx. BCBS Anthem switched to them last month. They do not send it via a cold pack. I will make sure it is for the next shipment!
I cannot get my Ibrance by mail. I must pick up at pharmacy. I’m with Kaiser in California. I thought it was because my onc has to approve after lab results.
Wow!!! I have been advocating for safe shipping since last September. My husband and I attended the Florida Board of Pharmacy meeting in Tampa August 5th. We both spoke to the board along with others. You can go to the website and then to meetings. The shipping segment is first section, but the first two minutes is before the meeting starts and it is just voices talking over each other and then the meeting starts. Loretta who founded a non profit about this very subject spoke, then me, then my husband. The next man who spoke is on the pharmacy side. The board is heavily weighted with corporate level pharmacist and not on the consumer s side. For instance the chairman of the board is a pharmacist and attorney whose day job is Senior Legal Counsel for CVS Drugs. The only solution to this problem is to ship in climate controlled trucks. Drugs degrade in temperatures too cold too. Dr. Nancy Mabie with the FDA said that they insure climate controlled shipping from the manufacturer to the pharmacy warehouse. At that point it is under individual state regulations which are all over the place and mostly do not protect consumer interests. I suggest called mfg. and FDA for guidance on taking a drug that you believe has been outside the recommended temperatures. I won't be back on the board for the rest of the day as I will be writing letters regarding this subject. Blessings Hannah
Hannah, do you happen to know if it is okay to keep ibrance in the fridge? they say between sixty-eight and 78 degrees is recommended temp, but was wondering if you found out at what cold temp it degrades? thanks!
The instructions I get say not to refrigerate. I keep it in my kitchen in a cupboard away from the stove and high enough that my young grandkids don’t get at it.
Hi, I also was worried about the heat as I live in the southeast . I called Pfizer and talked with the pharmacist there. They told me also that it’s ok, but as express scripts used ups and they didn’t get to my home till late afternoon, I argued that I didn’t think it was good for the efficacy of the meds. So I switched to fed express and they got her early in the am. Also, as a warning to you ladies, don’t let them just leave it on your front porch. They told me if I did not sign for them and they were stolen, I would be liable for the 10,000$. Ouch!
Plus you would get some fool who would steal the package and then open it up and see drugs and may stupidly take them. I live in a doorman building so he signs for them and holds them.
Interesting. I never wondered or thought about it. When I was on Ibrance it was delivered federal express in a box and I never thought anything of it. Once though I had three pills left and very stupidly put it near my oven. Of course they were all stuck together bc of the heat and I tried to break them apart and of course two opened up but I was able to save one pill. Other than that when delivered via federal express, they were always loose and not stuck together. Curious, what made you think about this?
Express Scripts (Accredo) will overnight it to you. They use an insulated package but request an ice pack and request it be delivered only with a signature. Also, if you get your Ibrance from your oncologist's pharmacy, don't assume it is shipped to them in a temperature controlled environment. Most have the last leg of delivery by a UPS truck that is NOT temperature controlled. Ask your pharmacy how they get it delivered.
Blimey. I've never even thought about this. I just get mine from hospital after each Onc visit. Store in kichen cupboard. Summers we usually get in UK Probs means we dont have to worry too much although we have had a couple of hot days.
We've switched the delivery of Ibrance to Accredo to protect against high temperatures. They will overnight it via UPS or FedEx and ship with ice packs, if requested. They are asking me how many ice packs should be included. DOes anyone have any guidance? We live in central Texas where the temperature is above 100 regularly.
I am in upstate New York. They put one ice pack in a styrofoam box. You can ask for more there is plenty of room. It’s already starting to be fall. The temperature is dropping. Best wishes. Reenie
We all need to call Pfizer and FDA for guidance if we believe our medication has been in temperatures outside the recommended ranges. Do not call your pharmacy until you have called the other two.
Mine Ibrance was shipped by FedEx . When I tracked it, I could see that it had been in heat to high. I went down to FedEx the next a.m. They said it had likely been in temperatures above 110. I called Pfizer and they said not to take it. My specialty pharmacy replaced it but didn't ship in a cooler.
Fortunately for them they overnighted it with early delivery. We have to advocate for ourselves. Shipping Ibrance on ice is not good either. Mail order drugs should be delivered in climate controlled trucks. Sorry for ranting but this subject is close to my heart. Blessings Hannah
Yes, yes, yes. Not only Ibrance but other temperature sensitive medications are not shipped properly. Who do we contact? They are jeopardizing our health and need to be held responsible.
Is there a protocol for this type of medication.
My son is a type one diabetic and we pick up his insulin and libre at CVS. They are in the refrigerator. I trust they are delivered to the pharmacy properly.
We need to work together to ensure the safe travels of our life extending medications. What are your thoughts? Reenie
I recently got information from Pfizer that the study showing Ibrance stability from -4 degrees F to 104 degrees F was done by an unpublished source and is not reliable. They do not recommend anything outside of their published recommendations. I got a medical professional to get it for me. Blessings Hannah
We need to keep reminding our sisters and brothers that the medication can go bad if it is not treated properly by the shipper and even in our home. These meds keep me alive, and so many others.
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