Tymlos refrigeration: What to know
Tymlos (abaloparatide) is an injectable medication used to treat osteoporosis in certain adults. It comes as a solution inside a prefilled pen given as a subcutaneous injection (an injection under your skin). Each pen contains 30 doses of the medication.
It’s essential to store your medications properly to prevent spoilage and ensure they remain effective in treating your condition. This may include refrigeration.
According to the drug’s prescribing information, Tymlos should be kept in the refrigerator between 36°F and 46°F (2°C and 8°C) before its first use. Refrigeration helps to maintain the stability of the active ingredient in Tymlos, called abaloparatide. This can help to ensure the effectiveness and strength of the medication.
However, once Tymlos has been opened and you have taken the first dose, it can be stored out of the fridge for 30 days at 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C). If you haven’t finished the medication within 30 days, it must be discarded.
It’s important that you don’t regularly switch Tymlos between refrigeration and room temperature. If you store it at room temperature, don’t re-refrigerate it. Changing temperatures can also lead the medication to break down and lose effectiveness.
Extreme temperatures have the same effect, so Tymlos shouldn’t be stored in a freezer or heated in a microwave.
Proper refrigeration before you use a Tymlos pen for the first time can help to keep the medication stable and effective until its expiry date. Unopened Tymlos may have an expiry date of up to 24 months in the future. However, if stored at room temperature, this expiry date reduces to just 30 days, after which it must be discarded.
This is because the active ingredient in Tymlos, abaloparatide, can degrade when left at room temperature. This can make the medication less strong, ultimately reducing its effectiveness in treating your condition.
There may also be safety concerns with taking a medication that has degraded, although there is no evidence that Tymlos becomes less safe.
If your medication expires or is exposed to high or fluctuating temperatures, it must be discarded, even if there is medication left in the pen. If this happens, reach out to a doctor or pharmacist to get more of your medication.
Taking a new medication, particularly one that you need to inject yourself, can be stressful. A healthcare professional should train you or a caregiver on how to inject Tymlos before allowing you to inject it yourself at home.
Injecting the medication when it is at room temperature may make the injection more comfortable, reducing stinging or pain upon injection. However, Tymlos should never be heated.
Tymlos is taken once per day. It can be taken at any time, but it should be taken at around the same time every day to ensure a consistent level of the medication in your body throughout treatment.
The best time to take Tymlos is a time that works for you and your routine. It does not matter whether it is taken with or without food, so you do not need to wait until mealtimes to take it.
Tymlos is an injectable medication used to manage osteoporosis in certain adults. It’s important that it is kept in a refrigerator before it is used for the first time. However, after the first use, it can safely be left at room temperature.
Avoid exposing Tymlos to high or fluctuating temperatures, as these may damage the medication. Aim to take it at the same time every day.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.