Forteo Pen left out - Osteoporosis Message Board

CABones · 09-17-2005, 12:40 AM

Help! I forgot and left my Forteo out of the refrigerator for a couple of hours after I took the injection. I can't find anything in the Forteo manuals or on the Forteo site about whether it's still safe to use. Has anyone else done this and if so, what happened?

taape · 09-17-2005, 01:13 PM

What was the room temperature? Even though Eli Lilly tells patients that the pen must be maintained between 36-46 degrees apparently, the pen is ok for up to 70 degrees for 14 hours per 28 days. I guess they take into consideration the time the pen is out of the refrigerator for injections or something. This is the information one of my doctor's found out by calling the doctor information line.

I would call the toll free number and speak with Eli Lilly. It might be ok to use today but if it got too warm then bacteria could grow in there even after putting it back in the refrigerator.

spinewhine · 09-17-2005, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CABones

Help! I forgot and left my Forteo out of the refrigerator for a couple of hours after I took the injection. I can't find anything in the Forteo manuals or on the Forteo site about whether it's still safe to use. Has anyone else done this and if so, what happened?

My pen was out of the refrigerator for about two hours in a motel room that was air conditioned but not real cold. It was on the counter in the travel kit - unzipped - but with the cool packs inside. I talked to a Lilly rep on the phone and she said even if the pen got to 70 degrees for that period of time, it would be OK.

You should call their hotline number and tell them for how long it was out and about at what temperature.The weekday number on my card is 1-866 4FORTEO (1-866-436-7836) I'm not sure what you do on a weekend though.

CABones · 09-17-2005, 02:39 PM

Thanks taape and spinewhine. My pen was on the kitchen table near an open window and the temperature has been unseasonably cold for this time of year. There was also a cool breeze blowing over it, so I'm pretty sure it would have been below 70 degrees. I returned the pen to the refrigerator as soon as I noticed it was still out, and I'll watch the pen to be sure it doesn't get cloudy. It's really great to have the kind of support this message board provides!