How to keep medications at room temperature?

[Luname]

I take medications that need to be at room temperature, or they lose their effectiveness. They cannot be chilled on ice, and cannot get hot. The manufacturer says they must stay between 60 to 85 degrees, although 68 to 77 is preferred.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how or where to store them? I will be in a tent.

I can certainly store them in multiple layers of insulation, but I'm not sure how to moderate the temperature even then.

I wonder if maybe the medical unit would help me out? Not sure where to start.

Thanks, in advance, for any suggestions.

[BBadger]

Maybe make yourself a ghetto lagering chamber, but for meds?

[trilobyte]

If you're unable to provide for your own needs, perhaps you have a campmate who will be traveling in an air-conditioned/climate-controlled RV?

[maladroit]

I would suggest a very small highly insulated cooler, with a Peltier junction, thermocouple, and PID controller. You would then need a source of reliable power, probably not much...maybe 20W? An engineer like me would know how to put all this together, so I'd suggest finding a local guy to handle it.

[Canoe]

Most RVs suffer in the heat, only turning on A/C for a break from the heat.

Cheaper to build a swamp-cooler. You'll need a deep-cycle 12 VDC battery. Run the cooler off of a bi-metallic controlled thermostat. Run the fan at a low speed, ported to a cooler that holds:
- a much smaller cooler with your meds
- the thermostat
You'd need two holes in the top of the containment cooler: one for the cool air to enter and another for air to exhaust. Holes in the top of the cooler (in the lid?) so the cooled air sits in the cooler to minimize the required runtime of the swamp cooler.
You'll need to add water to the swamp cooler by times.

Build two, and cool your shelter too.

viewtopic.php?f=280&t=33842&start=1500

[VultureChow]

What about using evaporative cooling, but sans power. Tupperware container wrapped in a towel kept moist and in the shade?

[graidawg]

keep them in a room? one thats not in the desert? o

[Bob]

So your doctor told you to entrust your health to strangers on the internet?

Wait, is s/he a homeopath?

[CaffeineGirl]

I keep my meds in a small cooler in a shady spot. Open the cooler in the morning or at night to let cool air in, then do not open during the heat of the day. And I only take the quantity I need, so even if a little effectiveness is lost it will only be for a few days worth.

[graidawg]

take them all before you go.

[FIGJAM]

Zere pot!

[Bob]

Actually, the ground a foot or two down is "room" temp., and it's perfectly fine to dig six-inch holes, so just sink a four inch plastic pipe a couple feet in the ground and drop a soup thermos w/ your pills or homeopathic soup in it. Simple.

[Ashe]

Also, can search on google for [water activated insulin packs] - these are insulated water-activated cool (not ice, just cool) packs, they work for close to 2 days per dip, and I've used them at up to 90F. They won't freeze rx.

Your pharmacist would be another good source of information and can likely give you information which is more detailed than the manufacturer's package insert on the heat tolerance of your rx. Might help with planning.

Holes in the ground work great.

[Savannah]

I keep my meds in a small cooler in a shady spot. Open the cooler in the morning or at night to let cool air in, then do not open during the heat of the day. And I only take the quantity I need, so even if a little effectiveness is lost it will only be for a few days worth.

This is (probably) what I would do. I'd secure a waterproof container to the inside of the lid, and maybe have a rack inside too in case the container drops. Above the ice and water, the air is not that cold. I also like Bob's idea.

Remember that at the end of the day, you have to make this decision between you & your doctor, and should not entrust your health to us.

If you want to talk to Emergency Services about anything, see them at 3 o'clock and C Street, 9 o'clock and C street, or near Center Camp. You can ask them questions here:

http://www.brcesd.org/?pg=contact

[misfit]

medical,,,, 911@burningman.com .

[Oldguy]

Ask your local dental surgeon or medical clinic if they have disposable styrofoam shipping boxes that have the cooling bags in them. The boxes are used to ship large lots of medications.

http://www.thermosafe.com PolarPacks can be frozen, or just refrigerated. I got mine 2 years ago, I just checked my insulated boxes and the bags are still cold. I think this year I will just put them out at night and fill my pack, camelback, and pockets with them for day use.

[Canoe]

Actually, the ground a foot or two down is "room" temp., and it's perfectly fine to dig six-inch holes, so just sink a four inch plastic pipe a couple feet in the ground and drop a soup thermos w/ your pills or homeopathic soup in it. Simple.

I vote for this one. Big time.
The playa has huge thermal mass. Would take a radical change in weather, and time, to change this temperature out of the spec you gave.
No failure points (battery, electronics, etc.) which could fail and result in a temperature higher or lower than you stated as acceptable, except your storage vessel has to be water-proof against rain, etc., which a thermos is.
Somehow always in the shade. I'd add a two foot wide piece of foil-side bubble-wrap over top to ensure you keep the sun off so the nearby ground doesn't heat in the sun. If this was inside your hexayurt, ideal.

Once thing you should consider. What does your doctor say to do should the meds be subjected to a temperature higher or lower that the range you said, and for what time duration. Is it a case of they're ruined and are now poison, or ruined and you leave BM and come home to get a fresh dispense of the meds, or is it their potency is reduced but o.k. for the week, or is it _____________?
Don't be guessing: check with your doctor before you go.

[pinguino]

Zere pot!

omg that is the best idea ever.