Left Humira out of fridge for 90 minutes - ok per Humira nurse

[Mark in Seattle]

I recently left my Humira pen out of the fridge for 90 minutes in my 70 degree faranheit home. I searched the web to see if this was ok, but did not find anything conclusive. I called Humira and they put me in touch with their special section which deals with this issue. They asked me if the pen had been in the sunlight and how warm my home was. They concluded that it was fine and that the med would not be inactive as a result of my having left it out. It would be ok to either take the med or put it back in the fridge and take it later. I asked if they would share their calculation methodology with me so that I could perform my own calculations rather than call them in the event that I happen to leave the pen out for more than 90 minutes or if my home is warmer than 70. They declined; they advised me to call back each time. It seems they don't want folks like me to have their proprietary info. Oh well.

 

[IAmTheWalrus]

I left mine out for about two hours, in my bedroom, where it was quiet warm because the heating was on and had no problems, that was about 3-4 months ago.

Did you decided to take it?

 

[heisenberg]

Most antibodies like humira are stable at room temperature for a quite number of hours, probably even longer. However like all pharmaceuticals that degrade over time unless stored in the fridge, they will always be very strict and tell people that it has to be in there at all times, otherwise if they didn't, and told them that it was ok out of the fridge for a few hours, you would get loads of people (both patients and pharmacists/delivery people) leaving it out for ages, which could have potentially disastrous consequences.

 

[DougUte]

90 minutes should not be a problem as long as it is not in direct sunlight.

 

[Sunnylight]

I recently left my Humira pen out of the fridge for 90 minutes in my 70 degree faranheit home. I searched the web to see if this was ok, but did not find anything conclusive. I called Humira and they put me in touch with their special section which deals with this issue. They asked me if the pen had been in the sunlight and how warm my home was. They concluded that it was fine and that the med would not be inactive as a result of my having left it out. It would be ok to either take the med or put it back in the fridge and take it later. I asked if they would share their calculation methodology with me so that I could perform my own calculations rather than call them in the event that I happen to leave the pen out for more than 90 minutes or if my home is warmer than 70. They declined; they advised me to call back each time. It seems they don't want folks like me to have their proprietary info. Oh well.

I had asked the humira nurse about taking it out of the fridge for awhile. Then to use it. And she said it dosnt make difference doinging it. But, its up to yu if yu feel less pain.

 

[Davis_]

Hi there,

I store my humira pens in the original boxes on the middle shelf at the back of my fridge. In front of that I have some glass milk bottles to act as a barrier to temperature fluctuations caused by the fridge door opening and have a thermometer which has a wire that sucks to the glass shelf that it is placed on. The thermometer display is displayed on the outside of the fridge and alerts me if the temperature goes outside of the 2-8 degrees.

I had only left the door open 10 seconds to access groceries and then shut it. The alarm went off and it displayed 9degrees and took 10minutes before reaching 8.3degrees celcius. It usually gets to below 8 degrees celcius within 5 minutes and so don't get worried. But this time it took longer and I had to put some ice packs around the cartons just to get it there quicker .

I then immediately placed some ice packs around the boxes, after which the temperature then within a minute or 2, got to below the 8 degrees celcius but above 5 degrees.

I know that from reading the leaflet you can use a pen up to 14 days if kep at room temperature but what about if I need it to last beyond that and if I have kept it near to the 2-8 degrees celcluis Is the medicine still safe to use beyond two weeks?

I am hoping that because my Humira pens are placed in the boxes as well at the back of the fridge and with glass milk bottles stored in front of that, the inside temperature of the Pens in the boxes may still have maintained a 2-8 degree temperature, and so be safe to use beyond 2 weeks.

Please advise as I am very anxious.

Thanks,
Davis

 

[mjolnir]

For those wondering how long they can keep Humira out of the fridge, AbbVie (Humira producers) state the following in the pen instructions (on the last page of the patient instructions pdf on their website -- humira dot com):

"If needed, for example when you are traveling, you may also store HUMIRA at room temperature up to 77°F (25°C) for up to 14 days. Store HUMIRA in the original carton until use to protect it from light."

Hope this helps.