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Taking frozen humira?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 10/31/2013 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I am traveling/living in Costa Rica and Nicaragua for a few months and have taken all the Humira with me that I need for the whole trip. I'm been keeping it in the refrigerator in the shared home where I am staying. Being helpful I'm sure, someone moved all of my Humira from the refrigerator to the freezer. I don't know how long it was actually in the freezer because I went away for a week and when I came back I found it in there.

Stupidly, I didn't have a thermometer in the case with my Humira so I'm not sure exactly how cold it got but I do know that freezers in Central America are much warmer than in the U.S. and it didn't freeze solid. I can't get Humira where I am living and the only only moderately reasonable solution that I can come up with is to ask someone in the states to overnight Fedex it to the remote village in Nicaragua where I am living. There is really no option to actually overnight something so I'm afraid that whatever I get sent will get to warm. Also, it is obscenely expensive => a few hundred dollars for an approach that I'm not even sure will work.

Does anyone know what actually happens to Humira if it gets too cold? Will it just lose it's efficacy or can it have some additional negative side effects?

If anyone has any advice for me I would appreciate it so much! I'm super worried should be taking my new shot today.

Thank you so much for any advice or help that you can offer! Sending healing thoughts and some Central American sunshine your way!
Posted 10/31/2013 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,I found this on humira website

 

How should I store HUMIRA?

  • Store HUMIRA in a refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) in the original container until it is used. Protect from light.
  • When traveling, HUMIRA should be stored in a cool carrier with an ice pack.
  • Do not freeze HUMIRA. Do not use HUMIRA if frozen, even if it has been thawed.
  • Refrigerated HUMIRA may be used until the expiration date printed on the HUMIRA carton, dose tray, Pen or prefilled syringe.
  • Do not use a Pen or prefilled syringe if the liquid is cloudy, discolored, or has flakes or particles in it.
  • Do not drop or crush HUMIRA
Posted 10/31/2013 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
livingfree, I am so, so sorry this happened to you.
I would encourage you to call the support line for Humira (1.800.4.HUMIRA) and/or your GI before you do anything. They may have some suggestions. Also, is there any way you can get the temperature of the freezer? This might be good to know.
Best wishes!
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