title: [Thermolabile drugs stability faced with an accidental interruption in the cold chain].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop an updated guide about the stability of thermolabile drugs included in the Pharmacotherapeutic Guide that,according to product information sheet, should be stored under refrigeration or freezing, when are accidentally exposed to temperatures outside the range recommended by the manufacturer.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was reviewed the information about storage temperatures recommended in the product information sheet and the available stability data at different temperatures of thermolabile drugs included in the Pharmacotherapeutic Guide of a 400-bed hospital that, according to the manufacturer, should be stored under refrigeration or freezing. Drugs of clinical trials were excluded. Stability data were obtained from the product information sheet, the last two guides published in Spain about thermolabile drugs and through consultations to laboratories(via phone or e-mail).
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was created a table with the storage temperatures recommended in the product information sheet and currently available stability data at different temperatures of 209 presentations of several drugs. Stability data were requested to laboratories in 172 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The stability guide is a tool that facilitates decisions of pharmacists when they are faced with an accidental interruption of the cold chain, when it is necessary to know whether the drug can be used and it is not possible to contact the laboratory.
authors.affiliation: Farmacéutica Especialista en Farmacia Hospitalaria. Servicio de Farmacia.. isabel_rlobera@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ricote-Lobera
authors.affiliation: Residente de Farmacia Hospitalaria. Servicio de Farmacia..
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Martín
authors.affiliation: Farmacéutica Especialista en Farmacia Hospitalaria. Servicio de Farmacia..
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fraile-Gil
authors.affiliation: Farmacéutica Especialista en Farmacia Hospitalaria. Servicio de Farmacia..
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Santos-Mena
authors.affiliation: Farmacéutico Especialista en Farmacia Hospitalaria. Servicio de Farmacia..
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Hidalgo-Correas
authors.affiliation: Jefe de Servicio. Servicio de Farmacia. Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa. Leganés. Madrid. España..
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: García-Díaz
mesh_terms: D003080:Cold Temperature; D004355:Drug Stability; D004356:Drug Storage / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000592:standards*; D010595:Pharmacists; D012034:Refrigeration
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations