Do 'Thyroid S' tablets need to be kept in the fridge?

[tracyd59]

Hi

I know that I have to keep T4 tabs in the fridge but would this apply to Thyroid S tablets too?

Thanks

[greygoose]

Before people start freaking out, it would be a good idea to mention that you live in Australia.

[tracyd59 in reply to greygoose]

Oh ok. So as greygoose said - I live in Australia and have always been advised to keep my Eutroxsig (T4) tablets in the fridge. So yes, just curious about whether Thryoid S tablets need to be in the fridge?

[greygoose in reply to tracyd59]

I would imagine so, yes. Are they in a bottle? Or individually in a bubble pack? If they are loose in a bottle, you need to be careful about not letting moisture in.

[tracyd59 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks greygoose. Not sure how they're packaged. I'll ask my sister who's taken delivery of them for me for when I arrive in UK.

[Hidden]

I keep them at room temperature but, it's about -5 degrees Centigrade outside so no problem...I've never heard of anyone keeping thyroid meds in the fridge in northern/central Europe.

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

No, that's why I said to specify that the OP is in Australia.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

I know, and that was a good thing or people might have freaked out as you say

[Hidden]

I keep mine in the drawer which has always been OK. I live in France and it gets pretty hot in summer around 35 degrees. You can freeze them if you want to and take out a few at a time.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

The problem with taking them out a few at a time is, as greygoose points out, precisely taking out a few at a time. Unless they are separately packaged, the ones taken out can accumulate condensation when they are removed. And the ones remaining in the freezer can accumulate frost from repeated opening up to the atmospshere. If not fully protected within the freezer, tablets could lose moisture content while being stored.

If you want to freeze, package it in approrpriately sized, totally air- and water-tight containers. Take out one container and let it fuuly defrost without opening it.

Even then, we have no scientific evidence that freezing does not affect the product at all. Or at least, none I am aware of.

[JGBH in reply to helvella]

Very confusing all this conflicting information re: levothyroxine tablets!

SO: do they need to be kept in the fridge if one lives in the uk? Have always kept mine inside a cupboard in kitchen..... Have never been told to keep them in the fridge. Please someone enlighten me... Thanks.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to JGBH]

The advice to store in refrigerator is for Australia. It was changed a few years ago - the authorities had two options:

Bring forward the expiry dates

Mandate refrigerated storage

They chose refrigerated storage. I guess the issue is that a lot of Australia is hot or very hot. At the same time, I suspect that not refrigerating is not an issue in a location that is permanently air conditioned.

In the UK, the advice is the usual cool, dry and dark place - which is great if you have such a location! Certainly avoid the cill of a south-facing window over a radiator. Or in a cupboard over an oven.

[JGBH in reply to helvella]

Thank you helvella! I've realised most people are not, or very rarely, told how to store their medicine....

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to JGBH]

In spoken words, I agree. But I have to put forward what is in the Patient Information Leaflets - in this example, for Mercury Pharma:

5. HOW TO STORE ELTROXIN TABLETS

Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original package and protect from light and moisture.

Do not use Eltroxin tablets after the expiry date which is stated on the box. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of

medicines no longer required. These measures will help protect the environment.

medicines.org.uk/emc/PIL.27...

We all of us should read the PILs for all our medicines - and keep reading them every time we get a new pack. We never know what might change...

(Do I follow this to the letter? No... Hypocrisy here, but I do look reasonably frequently.)

[JGBH in reply to helvella]

I always read the enclosed info... however must confess that I haven't read any info recently regarding thyroxine because I've been taking the tablets since 1980.... So will be sensible and will check from now on. Thanks again.

[Hidden]

Just so perfect I was wrong as usual

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

Don't take it like that.

You were right - provided you are careful!

[bd79og]

As I understand it thyroid hormones are not stable in any heat over 25 degrees C. This means treat them carefully, if you are in a hot climate keep them in the fridge. Even in the UK don't keep them near a radiator or in the kitchen cupboard next to the cooker or even in the summer in a bag on your car dashboard. I have heard it suggested that bathrooms where you regularly have hot baths or showers can become too hot and the steamy may not be good either. When I went camping last year in a heat wave I kept mine in a cool bag and worried that they had got too hot but only took enough for the days I was away so I didn't ruin the whole batch.

[Glynisrose]

I keep my NDT by the bedside.

[Ritaritarita]

I started keeping mine in the fridge once opened, but I take out enough for a month at a time then put them in a little plastic seal bag. I started taking mine at 5 am knowing there was NO food in my tummy, makes such a difference for me. I think as long as your pills don't get damp and are sealed tight you will be fine. Hope that helps

[tracyd59]

Once again, thank you all for your comments. Much appreciated!

[Kiwidel]

I'm in Canada with temps from -18 to +30 centigrade across the year so keep mine in the fridge so they stay at a consistent temp - on the box it says to store in a cool dark place, and there is a silica gel pouch in the bottle so I think the risk of moisture damage is reduced.

[CSmithLadd]

If you keep T4 tablets in the fridge because heat is an issue (as where you live in Australia), then you should most definitely keep Thyroid-S tablets in the refrigerator too.

Tablets of T4 are much harder than Thyroid-S. Thyroid-S contains T4 and fast-acting T3 in a sublingual tablet which is made to quickly dissolve under the tongue.

Thryoid-S tablets are much more sensitive to degradation by heat than Thyroxine (T4) tablets.

Oral medicines, as a rule, should not be stored in a bathroom where fluctuating temperatures and high humidity often occur.