Hi all,
I am curious which pharmacy ships everyone's Ibrance? I cannot think of any good reason why mine would have been taken out of the sealed Ibrance bottle from Pfizer and put in an unsealed bottle. Caremark Specialty Pharmacy is the company my insurance requires me to use. They know that I am an advocate for shipping drugs as the manufacturer and FDA require. Blessings Hannah
Is this the first time this has happened? Mine come mailed to be every month in a sealed bottle. If it is different than usual, I would contact them. Elaine
This is the first time it hasn't been in the sealed Pfizer bottle. They have had to replace many of my prescriptions, but they have all been in the sealed Pfizer bottle. All of the other replacements were because they were shipped way outside of the recommended shipping ranges. They argue, but I go by Pfizer shipping ranges on the bottle. If Pfizer changes their recommendation on the bottle and their website then I will go with that. I will not except anything that isn't in their literature. They have had me go on three way conversations with Pfizer or the FDA many times. I record all conversations and let any person entering the conversation know. I have a mistrust of mail order pharmacies because they frequently ship way out of ranges. Too cold can be as dangerous as too hot. Sorry for the rant. There are sad stories all over the internet regarding this subject. I spoke at the Florida Board of Pharmacy this past August and was going to speak at the National Board of Pharmacy in Boise, Idaho this past fall, but couldn't find a flight that would get me there without it being a 12 hour day. I knew I couldn't hold up that long. There are many people involved in the growing movement to require drugs to be shipped in climate controlled vehicles. People are speaking at Boards of Pharmacies all over the U.S. I met the founder of a non-profit in Missouri when I spoke at the Florida Board. She also spoke and it was her second time speaking to them. She also speaks to pharmacy schools and to boards in other states. It will change one day. I just hope it is in my lifetime. Hugs and Blessings to all. Hannah
In the summer, my Ibrance comes with a cold pack and they tell me which day they ship and which day it will arrive, so I will know if it takes too long. The only time it was delayed when there was a big snowstorm so I suppose it could have gotten too cold, but that was only once in 2 years. My shipping pharmacy is really responsive and will mail it to different addresses or at different times because I am traveling. I really haven’t had any complaints.
I’ve never had a cold pack with mine. I don’t know why you would need it. My Ibrance is capsule form isn’t yours?
My medication is sent from Atlanta, Georgia so I assume the cold pack is to keep the medication from getting hotter than the recommended temperatures.
When you say yours are shipped outside of the recommended temperatures are you saying that the outdoor temps are higher or lower than recommended?
It needs to be kept at room temperature with 59 - 86 F range for shipping. The accepted temperatures are in the literature. There should be lots of protection between cold pack and Ibrance. When I receive mine, I take Ibrance out and put thermometer in its place and check temps a little later. Blessings Hannah
I’m sorry that this has to be a concern. The stress can’t be good for you, though having a cause may offset that! Thanks for your efforts to keep these expensive drugs safe!
I have mine shipped to CVS so it never has to sit outdoors (as far as I know). It always comes in a Pfizer bottle, though I used to get it in a different bottle from ExpressScripts. I’ve been on it for almost 4 years.
I would check shipping route. I live in Florida and mine have shipped through numerous states and had to be replaced because of cold temperatures. I can protect from heat but not cold but I am curious still trying. The UPS shipping bag and box doesn't protect from extreme weather. Blessings Hannah
So would I.
My bottles are always sealed then placed in a plastic up lock bag that has the chemo label on it. Then it’s in a box with the styrofoam peanuts in and around it and it’s sealed and ups delivers mine.
Mine comes exactly like that except for the addition of a cold pack in the summer.
The drug itself needs to be kept at room temperature. When outdoor temperatures are unfavorable, you need to check with thermometer and read the tracking. They have frequently shipped mine from Tampa to Pennsylvania and then to Georgia and back to me in Florida. It goes in very low temperatures then. I try to recreate the same temperatures and packing with my fridge. I have also returned because frozen ice packs were touching it. I don't want to frighten anyone but you are your best advocate. Blessings Hannah
I get mine from my oncologist office at my monthly visit in a sealed bottle from Pfizer.
Yes Calif
Hi Hannah, Accredo Specialty Pharmacy had been shipping my pills for 2 years. First Vercenio then Ibrance, now Xeloda.They text me when I need a refill. When I phone they recognize my phone numberWhich gives them all my personal info on file. They Let me know which day for FedEx delivery.Blessings back to you, Mary
Depends on your insurance; mine uses Walgreen. Shipped in special packaging; original bottle, sealed.
I also use Caremark but have always received Rx in a sealed Pfizer bottle.
Hello. I receive Xeloda directly from Ochsner Specialty Pharmacy in New Orleans, Louisiana. I live about 60 miles north of The Big Easy.
My shipment is delivered on time via FedEx.
The pharmacist (s) call me at least twice during the 21 day Xeloda cycle.
The meds come in tamper proof bottles and are labeled at the pharmacy.
On a side note: side effects of Xeloda are tough and relentless. Will be end of 3 months trial on February 27. Then a PET scan to see if it is helping at all.
I’m in Australia. Mine comes in a sealed box and three weeks of packaging.
I have Kaiser HMO coverage and they do not ship my Ibrance because it is considered chemotherapy. I have to pick it up each month from the pharmacy. That said, mine also was in an unsealed, regular rx bottle this time instead of the sealed manufacturer's bottle as it had been up until now. I asked the clerk why the change but she didn't know & I didn't pursue it. Since I'm picking it up at the pharmacy, I wasn't too concerned.
Mine did come from Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy in Flint Mi until last December. Now it comes from Alliance Walgreens out of metro Detroit. Comes by FedEx or UPS and is left on front porch most times. Comes packaged Ina cardboard box that is excessive packaging, but oh well...
You need to sign for it. If someone stole it, I don't know if they would replace it free of charge. Blessings Hannah
You are correct hdhonda. Mine is shipped from my oncologist pharmacy shipped by Fedx and signature required. Also are in sealed bottles. Once Fedx delivered my monthly meds but they went to next door neighbors (don't know why but the neighbors are actually my brothers son) and for some reason the package was laying on garage floor. Driver must have got scared of the dog and they dropped the package and ran. The son brought me the package and he told me where he found it. I looked up the tracking number and they had put on delivery record that I signed for it. I hit the roof. I first called the pharmacy and asked them if they had requested a signature b4 delivery. And they did. I let them know what happened. She noted in system to that effect. Next I called the carrier's shipping manager. I told her that it was laying on garage floor at next door neighbors. I did not sign for it. Plus, it was a wonder that the dog (a boxer) didn't tear up package and destroyed it or if the dog digested the meds and made him sick. I told her that this could not happen again. She wrote out a complaint form and she would find the delivery person and straighten it out. Nothing like that has ever happened b4. Strange. This hasn't happened again.
I also strongly believe that we need to sign for chemo drugs. The drug company is going to say deal with the carrier. Ibrance is just too expensive to risk having to pay for a replacement. Also, a dog, child, etc. Could get a hold of it. Blessings Hannah
I haven’t ever needed to sign for it.
Acaria Pharmacy ships mine. This last shipment has a bubble pack for tablets instead of the usual capsules. My understanding is that they are replacing capsules with tablets. Maybe your pharmacy was using up samples. The new form requires that stay in the package until used each day.
The bubble pack? Isn't that the kind that you don't need to eat food with? I know that I had to eat food with the capsule.
Dear Merma,
Yes, it is. I like it better even though it is a little hard to get out of package. Blessings, Hannah
They changed my capsules to pills in bubble packets. I don't think they require the Temps needed for t he capsules. I have not had dry ice in a very long time. I get mine from CVS Specialty Pharmacy. I have been getting it from them for 5 years. I don't think I checked the temp. in al l that time. Andrea
Andrea, check the paperwork. It needs to stay at room temperature. It should not get cold or hot. It can degrade the drug. You cannot trust them. NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt did a story a few months ago. It was called the dangers of mail order shipping. We need to be careful. Extreme temperatures can make some drugs lethal. Do some research on it. Blessings Hannah
I go through the Pfizer Assistance Program and they ship it directly to me. Mine is in capsule form and comes in a capsule pack. When I call for a refill, it gets to me within 2-3 days.
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