This is an important finding because we know that naloxone is not stored the same way as most medications, in a medicine cabinet or indoors.
鈥淏ecause they鈥檙e used in emergency situations, take-home naloxone kits are often carried in bags and cars. We also know that injection drug users experience more housing instability than the general population, and thus naloxone is often stored in temperatures that vary widely, dipping far below zero during winter months, or to high temperatures, particularly in cars, in the summer.鈥
Take-home naloxone kits have been freely available at Canadian pharmacies since 2016. The naloxone in the take home kits is in liquid form, stored in ampoules. In his work with the 蓝莓视频 Region Integrated Drug Strategy, Prof. Beazely received questions about the safety and effectiveness of naloxone after it鈥檚 been stored in high or low temperatures.
His lab simulated summer and winter storage conditions by storing naloxone at 80 掳C and returning it to room temperature, or storing it at - 20 掳C and then at 4掳C. They then assessed the impact of these conditions on the drug鈥檚 stability for up to 4 weeks.
鈥淲e found that naloxone hydrochloride remains chemically stable following exposure to heat or freeze-thaw cycles after 28 days. If take-home naloxone kits are stored in non-standard conditions (for up to 28 days) the active naloxone is likely to remain stable and the medication will be effective when used, particularly in an emergency,鈥 said Beazely, 鈥渉owever, if you are concerned about your naloxone kit for any reason, you can return it to a pharmacy and obtain a new one.鈥
The study, The effects of heat and freeze-thaw cycling on naloxone stability, was recently published in the Harm Reduction Journal.