Health issues reported due to mail-order medications in extreme temperatures

Across the nation, the summer sun isn’t just a nuisance for outdoor plans. The hot weather is potentially jeopardizing the effectiveness of millions of prescription medications that are arriving at patients’ doorsteps.

With delivery trucks reaching up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, medications are often exposed to temperatures far beyond the safe range of 68 to 77 degrees. The New York Times reported that over a dozen people have reported serious health problems due to consuming these products.

Dr. Mike Ren from Baylor College of Medicine highlighted the dangers, especially for liquid and aerosolized drugs like insulin and AUVI-Q, which can degrade in extreme heat. Despite assurances from mail-order pharmacies about weather-resistant packaging, a study published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association found that medications spend over two-thirds of their transit time outside the recommended temperature range.

Pharmacies like OptumRx use tracking technologies and reship packages if delays occur but do not monitor in-transit temperatures. The FDA’s guidelines do not cover direct patient deliveries, leaving states to address the issue.

Patients report receiving medications that feel warm or are inadequately packaged, raising concerns about safety. Efforts to strengthen regulations are ongoing, but significant hurdles remain. Until then, the risk of compromised medications persists.

Researchers have known about this issue since the 1990s. In a study published in 1996, more than 90% of medication shipments exceeded the recommended temperature range.

As global temperatures rise and access to online medications becomes more widespread, the problem seems to be growing. Federal agencies are reporting numerous comments about the these temperature extremes on their medications.

Pharmacists advise to check the condition of medications before taking them and recommend speaking to a pharmacist if any concerns arise.