What Would You Do If This Was You?
By KrauseHome
@KrauseHome (36445)
United States
April 13, 2008 3:59pm CST
went to WalMart today to pick up my prescriptions. The two items I picked up were my Humalog Insulin, and my test strips. I thought everything was OK until I pulled out the Boxes of Insulin and found them to not be Cold at all. When I even checked one of the bottles, it was room temperature even. And then I called WalMart and they kept on trying to act like it was ok to not keep them refridgerated. They are still acting like it is OK. The biggest issue which is making me wonder something, is that towards the end of the 2nd bottle I go thru each month, my BG is still running higher usually so I suspect that they are not following the ruling at all, and not caring either. No where else have I ever gotten warm Insulin. I am now tempted to switch permanently from WalMart to Walgreens for my prescriptions due to this.
I have considered calling the maker of Humalog tomorrow and reporting this as well, and see what they suggest I do. Even with Insurance we as Americans pay way too much for medications for a place to get haphazard with them. I thought it was worth bringing it up and making everyone aware. Where should I go from here, and where would you go if it was you???
~~TINA~~
1 person likes this
12 responses
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
13 Apr 08
I owuld report them ASAP and switch my prescription to walgreens. You should also call the pharmacy back and talk to a supervisor.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
16 Apr 08
Well, I have reported them to the Main WalMart report line for Poor Customer service, and I am going to be changing all of my prescriptions over to Walgreens permanently and am trying to get it more spread around how WalMart is when it comes to Insulin. To think there are so many Diabetics out there needing this, and there are places that are more lax than others with it.
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
14 Apr 08
I definately am going to be calling the maker of this Insulin in the morning, and see what they have to say, and then see what they suggest from here. I now think this is part of the reason the Insulin I am getting from there is not as effective as it could be as they are not keeping their insulin cold, or cold enough.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
15 Apr 08
I would contact the company and I would change to somewhere else to get my prescriptions.
@TriciaW (2441)
• United States
13 Apr 08
I would contact another pharmacy and ask them if it is safe to use. I don't think I would tell them who gave it to you just that you got it and it was not cold. See if they can help you with it. If they say it is not good I would go back and demand your script back and take it to another pharmacy. You don't want to put yourself at risk.
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
14 Apr 08
Thanks for the suggestions. I have made a couple of phone calls today and will definately be switching my Prescriptions completely over to Walgreens now, and have definately considered complaining to a News reporter about this as well.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
13 Apr 08
Yes I too think that you should report it, if it is not right and you know it is not then you should do something about it. You never know what might happen and I think that I would change where I got my prescriptions from too.
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
15 Apr 08
I have called WalMart customer service main number and made a complaint regarding this, but so far have not heard nothing yet. I am planning on switching over to Walgreens completely now, and will be checking with them soon to see what I need to do to get everything moved over there, and go from there. It is a shame WalMart is getting so poor.
@above31rubies (1863)
• United States
14 Apr 08
I have done a brief bit of research for you and it seems it doesn't necessarily have to be refrigerated anymore. (I am a nurse and the last time I worked with insulin, we refrigerated it as well and it was delivered in a cooler).
Anyway, I would call the manufacturer. One person I found in a forum said the manufacturer of her insulin said it did not have to be refrigerated before opening. However, it seems from what I found, that some other insulins do not need to be refrigerated AFTER opening but should be kept cold before. So, call the manufacturer of your particular insulin and ask them.
As years and technology have gone by, insulin has become more stable and also new information is gained. So, it is always good to just check into things like this- practices could have changed.
@above31rubies (1863)
• United States
14 Apr 08
BTW- the insulin I found that the manufacturer said it did not have to be refrigerated was referring to humalog.
So, I would definitely call the manufacturer- your dr may not have up to date info, the pharmacy SHOULD have up to date info, but might not...and the only way for you to know what IS up to date and accurate before you go reporting anything to anyone is to call the manufacturer directly and ask.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
13 Apr 08
That is awful. I would call the head office of Walmart about this. That is dangerous if it needs to be in the refrigarater.I now I am about ready to switch from Walmart myself. They have through my medications out before after 10 days which is a bunch of crap to me.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
14 Apr 08
If it was me I'd call your Dr. and ask him if it really makes a difference if it's refrigerated or not. If it does, I'd switch pharmacies and then contact the company of the insulin and let them know.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
@Modestah (11177)
• United States
14 Apr 08
I would do as you say and call the pharmaceutical company and make mention of it - I would also ask what effects on the medication and my body - having the hormone at room temperature could cause.
I would switch pharmacies, just as you are doing and I would even let the new pharmacy know exactly why I am switching.
I would consider making a letter to the editor of my town's paper as well.
I would also contact my physician and tell him what is going on -
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
14 Apr 08
first i would call the pharmaceutical company and report it. secondly i would insist that walmart take it back and give you a new prescription. but the pharmaceutical company would be my starting point and i would let my physician know as well. good luck!!
• United States
14 Apr 08
I think that is absolutely ridiculous. You should deffinetly call the maker of the insulin to check on the accurate tempurature the insulin should be at. Not only would i do that, I would speak with the head CEO of Wal-Mart distributors and issue a complaint. Whether the pharmacy agrees or disagrees they are supposed to satisfy the customer and you were obviously unhappy.
