Shelf life of T4 and T3 once removed from blist... - Thyroid UK

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Shelf life of T4 and T3 once removed from blister packets?

bristolboy profile image
10 Replies

I've recently started adding T3 to my existing T4. I've been doing it very slowly (on advice from you good people here), so I have needed to cut my T4 and T3 pills into quarters or halves. Due to a couple of short trips away from home, I bought myself a weekly pill organiser to organise my cut pills. The pill organiser isn't airtight. Is there any evidence that pills lose their efficacy once they are removed from their blister packets? So far, I don't anticipate having pills out of their blister packs for longer than 2 weeks at a time (ie when away on holiday).

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bristolboy
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10 Replies
Nico101 profile image
Nico101

Good question! I was going to ask that, as I do the same with my NDT and the older bits are a darker colour than the fresh cut ones.

bristolboy profile image
bristolboy in reply toNico101

I can’t say my cut bits of t3 and t4 look any different to the original bits, but I’ll be interested to see if there’s a known answer to this one.

Stumpy57 profile image
Stumpy57

I fill up a pill box each week, cutting T3 tablets in half. This doesn’t seem to be a problem. However, it didn’t work on holiday in Laos. The humidity made the cut and uncut tablets crumble. So I’d say, just be mindful of the ambient conditions.

bristolboy profile image
bristolboy in reply toStumpy57

Hmm, yet another factor to complicate the choosing of the holiday destinations. Thanks though :-)

Stumpy57 profile image
Stumpy57 in reply tobristolboy

Don’t let that stop you going somewhere. Just cut daily. I’ve just retired (a bit early cos I’m too tired to carry on) and intend to travel to all the bits I’ve missed. 😀🌎🌍🌏

bristolboy profile image
bristolboy in reply toStumpy57

Me too - recently retired early as too tired to carry on. As you say, cut them daily if necessary. Happy holidaying!!!

Stumpy57 profile image
Stumpy57 in reply tobristolboy

You too!!

Nico101 profile image
Nico101 in reply tobristolboy

What about getting some of those small packets of silicon (I think that's what's in them) that preserve pills whilst in storage, as they absorb humidity? I thought about this last night and I'm going to start saving the tiny ones from all the supplements I take instead of just chucking them out. I can then put them in my pot of cut up NDT.

bristolboy profile image
bristolboy in reply toNico101

Definitely worth a try :-)

Stumpy57 profile image
Stumpy57 in reply toNico101

Good suggestion. Thank you.

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