The Impact of Repeated Power Outages on Temperature-Sensitive Medications
By Dr. Habibollah Afshang
Repeated power outages pose significant risks to the stability and efficacy of temperature-sensitive medications.
This note examines the structural integrity and therapeutic effects of specific refrigerated medications—including Latanoprost eye drops, Vitamin C ampoules, Calcitonin, vaccines, insulins, immunoglobulins, and other biological products—during a two-hour power outage.
1. Latanoprost Eye Drops
Latanoprost is a prostaglandin analog used to reduce intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. It is temperature-sensitive, and prolonged exposure to temperatures above 25°C can result in hydrolysis and degradation of the active compound.
Therapeutic Impact:
Exposure to high temperatures may reduce the potency of Latanoprost, potentially leading to inadequate intraocular pressure control and an increased risk of vision loss.
2. Vitamin C Ampoules
Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is highly sensitive to oxidation, especially when exposed to elevated temperatures. A two-hour refrigeration interruption may accelerate degradation through oxidation, ultimately reducing the medication’s effectiveness.
3. Calcitonin
Calcitonin is a peptide hormone used in the treatment of osteoporosis and Paget’s disease. It is sensitive to temperature fluctuations.
Therapeutic Impact:
Exposure to temperatures above recommended storage conditions may cause denaturation and peptide aggregation. Denatured calcitonin may exhibit reduced biological activity, compromising its effectiveness in calcium regulation and bone density maintenance.
4. Vaccines
Many vaccines contain live attenuated or inactivated pathogens and are highly sensitive to temperature changes. A two-hour power outage may lead to a rise in storage temperature, potentially compromising the integrity of vaccine antigens.
Therapeutic Impact:
Compromised vaccines may produce suboptimal immune responses, increasing the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks.
5. Insulins
Insulin formulations—especially those not stabilized in crystalline form—can denature or aggregate when exposed to temperatures above 25°C.
Therapeutic Impact:
The effectiveness of insulin is directly linked to its protein integrity. Degraded insulin may result in poor blood sugar control, increasing the risk of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.
6. Immunoglobulins
Immunoglobulins (such as IgG, IgA, etc.) are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, which can cause denaturation or aggregation.
Therapeutic Impact:
Denatured immunoglobulins may show reduced efficacy in immunotherapy or passive immunity applications, potentially leaving patients vulnerable to infections.
7. Other Temperature-Sensitive Biological Products
Other biological products such as monoclonal antibodies and gene therapies exhibit similar vulnerabilities. Elevated temperatures may result in the loss of biological activity due to protein degradation.
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