MEDICINE HAT, AB — More Hatters are deciding to carry around Naloxone kits to be prepared in an overdose situations.
However, as temperatures begin to drop, one local doctor says storing the kits in your car isn’t a good idea.
Many opt to leave their Naloxone kits in their cars so it’s handy, but it can make the drug less effective.
“We want to avoid the real extremes of temperature, high heat or freezing because we don’t always know the exact impact that could have on a medication,” says Dr. Derie-Gillespie. “Especially something like Naloxone, this is a life saving drug, we want it to be at its absolute peak effectiveness.”
The recommended storage temperature for the drug is between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius, so letting it sit in freezing temperatures isn’t advised.
Dr. Derie-Gillespie says low temperatures can have unpredictable effects, and could make it less effective.
However, she still encourages people to carry one around, just not in vehicles.
“Our ideal would be keep it with you, keep it on your person,” says Dr. Derie-Gillespie. “That’s ideal not only for the storage because you’ll probably mostly be in room temperature but also that you’ll have it available when you need it.”
Despite questionable effectiveness, Dr. Derie-Gillespie says if you ever witness an overdose and you’re unsure of the Naloxone you have, still use it.
