Does anyone use a mail order pharm. for a med. that must be KEPT COLD?

[luvwinnie]

HOw do they package and ship it? I'm starting on Enbrel for psoriatic arthritis and it MUST BE KEPT COLD. THis is a really expensive medication...I'm sure the last thing they want it to ruin it and be held responsible, but I'm worried about it. I will have to call them and hope I can get someone with a brain.

 

[Cruise04]

One of my secretaries granddaughters has to take medication for growth and it has to remain cold. It gets shipped overnight I believe and is always cold when it arrives. I've never asked how they ship it. Oh, and they have to call directly to the pharmaceutical company each month and tell them when they need more.

 

[jel0511]

Usually when anything has to be kept cold, it is always shipped overnight and packed on dry ice.

 

[Lewisc]

Insulin is packed in an insulated bag/envelope with the type of chemical ice in a bag that you sometimes use in a cooler.

They used to use dry ice but the found it was overkill. I suspect they may still use dry ice for more critical medicines. Don't cut it short usually they'll only ship in the beginning of the week. They don't want to ship it Th or Fr and have it laying around over the weekend.

 

[Leota]

A drug I take is only available thru one pharmacy (out of state for me) It is shipped overnight, in a styrofoam cooler box & packed with the chemical ice bags. I've never had a problem with it, even in the heat of summer.

 

[jennyl772003]

My son's growth hormone was shipped over night. In a cardboard box, they put a styrefoam box. In that they had the vials of medicine and ice packs. It was always cold when I got it. You might want to make sure they have an address for you that someone will be at so that the meds are not left out in the sun or whatever. Work, or a neighbor etc.

 

[luvwinnie]

Thanks, I think having it delivered to work is a good option.

 

[piratesmate]

Umm...I'm wondering if it depends on the company you use? I had insulin shipped on Monday that was in a mylar shipping bag with bubble wrap & 2 of those chemical gel packs. I took it directly from the UPS guy's hands & opened it to put it in the frig. It was at body temp. I know it was in the 80s both days, but I won't use their service again.

 

[luvwinnie]

I use Express Scripts...we have no choice with our insurance.

 

[tkd lisa]

When DH was on his hepatitis treatment it had to be cold. The VA provided it, and it was shipped in styrofoam with the cold packs. When he travelled, we used those same boxes, and pre-coordinated with his hotels to provide a frige.

If you have a service that doesn't deliver them cold, report them to the pharmacy you order from. I think they pay extra for that type of shipping.

 

[mrsmom]

My son has to take growth Hormone meds that have to be kept cold, they delivered them in a cardboard box with a styrofoam cooler inside and an ice pack underneath the meds and above them., Sometimes i wasn't home when they delivered them ,but it stay cold for 4 hours outside the cold packs didn't melt.
Kim

 

[Figment22]

Originally posted by luvwinnie
How do they package and ship it? I'm starting on Enbrel for psoriatic arthritis and it MUST BE KEPT COLD. This is a really expensive medication...I'm sure the last thing they want it to ruin it and be held responsible, but I'm worried about it. I will have to call them and hope I can get someone with a brain.

DH is on Enbrel also and we always have it delivered mail order. We have used both Merck-Medco and AdvanceRx.com with no problems. The M.O. pharmacy will call you in advance to schedule a convenient date for delivery. It is shipped overnight (usually FedEx) and packed in coolers (or cooler bags) with those chemical ice packs. (I now have a great collection of these and use them in my collapsable cooler all the time!!) We have not had any problems with having it arrive at the proper temperature and we've been ordering it through mail order pharmacies for about five years now.

If you have any other specific questions, please feel free to PM me.

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by luvwinnie
HOw do they package and ship it? I'm starting on Enbrel for psoriatic arthritis and it MUST BE KEPT COLD. THis is a really expensive medication...I'm sure the last thing they want it to ruin it and be held responsible, but I'm worried about it. I will have to call them and hope I can get someone with a brain.

We use Express Scripts too, and they ship my DH's insulin in a styrofoam cooler with ice packs, and they ship it "overnight". It's always been cold upon arrival.