a new concern

[brie41]

Hi All,

  Well I did something rather foolish.  I for some strange reason decided to remove the dessicants from my Harvoni bottles.  I just read a post tonight and it said "do not remove".  I am concerned that I compromised the med.  I did call Gilead and they said to call  my Pharmacist.  I then called a Pharmacist and he said as long as it wasn't kept in the bathroom it should be okay.  I have kept it in a relatively cool place and try to keep the it dark in the room.  I know it is working for me, but I have been trying so hard to do everything right and well just wondering what you think.  Brie

[KimInTheForest]

Also be super careful that your hands are bone dry when you dispense your pills. I kept my Harvoni bottle in a kitchen cupboard beside the sink. Easy for hands or fingers to be a tiny bit moist when I went for my pills. Maybe you can find some dessicant packets in other pill or vitamin bottles. I liked my Harvoni dessicant things so much I hung on to them and use them in my B-complex vitamins, which tend to get wrecked otherwise before I finish the bottle.

kim

[brie41]

Hi Kim,

  I actually have 2 from the original bottle and the one I started 2 and half weeks ago.  I took them both our right away.  Think I should put them both in my bottle.  Wasn't sure since they have been exposed to air all this time.  Thanks Brie

[KimInTheForest]

I think if the desiccant canisters weren't exposed to moist air, you would be better off putting them back in the Harvoni bottle. I know that mine have kept various bottles of my B-complex vitamins from getting wrecked. And one of my desiccant canisters is about a year old now. Prior to using them, my B-complex powder in gel caps would get clumpy and dark from moisture before I could finish the bottle. I figured any desiccant good enough to protect $30,000 worth of pills must be pretty good desiccant!

kim

[brie41]

Hi Kim,

  I just can't believe I removed them without thinking about it.  I read so much and yet never considered how important is was.  I called another pharmacist and he said to put them in.  Thanks for your replies!!  Brie

[AndreaM]

Hi! I haven't removed the desiccant canisters, but do place my Harmoni in a weekly pill organizer. Will that compromise the quality?

[Turtle]

Most medications come from the manufacturer with dessicants and if a pharmacy dispenses them to you in the original sealed bottle of course they remain - but when they are transferred to a regular brown pharmacy bottle they do not usually place dessicant packs in with the meds. The point being that the dessicants are really for longer term storage and/or higher humidity. I personally would not be worried about it in this case (or in the case of putting them in a weekly dispenser) but agree that putting them back in can't hurt.

[Philadelphia]

I put mine in a weekly pill dispenser - pharmacies often make up Webster packs and the like for ease of dispensing. I cleared okay and I'm sure you'll be fine too.

[brie41]

Thanks all for your words of wisdom.  I called 3 different pharmacists and felt better after speaking to the third.  I think I will be fine but the post I came across freaked me out.  Then once I googled it, yikes, sounded like it was a huge mistake.  Thought I  I may have compromised the med, but I think it would take some doing or living in the everglades to do that.  I have calmed down and will finish my 9 pills and most importantly keep the faith!!!  Enjoy your day!  Brie

ps I read many posts of people who use a weekly pill box!! 

[dragonslayerinprogress]

My pill dispenser holder has two weeks with 2 containers per day. I load them all up. It helps when you get brain fog to remember if you took your pills that day. I have been undetected since 4 weeks and almost 16 weeks now. It is more for high humidity and long term. I will probably have to keep the pill dispenser in a plastic bag come summer because we have a swamp cooler. Chips die in an hour :-)
 

[Luna7]

I considered the pill dispenser but went with an alarm kept near me that goes off at noon every day.

[brie41]

Hi Dragonslayer,

  I set my phone alarm and also chart when I take it everyday.  I have always kept them in the bottle as that is what the directions said to do.  I guess I needed it to be spelled out to keep the desiccant in there too.  It seems like a lot of people keep them in med boxes and glad to know the meds are fine.  When I read a post that said " whatever you do, do not remove the desiccant from the bottle" I kind of freaked out.  I did save them and put one back in.  It was exposed to air for weeks so who know what shape it is in!   I only have 8 days left so just going to not worry about it, I am sure it is all good!!  Brie

[FutureThinker]

Well, here's yet another idea:  I'm keeping a journal for this "phase" of my life, and I write in it when I take my pill and then put it away until the next day. It is visible in my kitchen, so I see it often during the day.  So far this has worked for me.  FT

[brie41]

Hi FT,

  I love that idea!!  Brie

[FutureThinker]

Also, since we are the pioneers with these new DAAs, I thought it might be good to keep track of my energy, GI system, moods, etc.  FT

[dragonslayerinprogress]

My pill dispenser holder has two weeks with 2 containers per day. I load them all up. It helps when you get brain fog to remember if you took your pills that day. I have been undetected since 4 weeks and almost 16 weeks now. It is more for high humidity and long term. I will probably have to keep the pill dispenser in a plastic bag come summer because we have a swamp cooler. Chips die in an hour :-)