Boots Online Doctor has been forced to temporarily pause its home delivery of weight loss jabs amidst heatwave concerns.
The multiple supplies GLP-1’s Wegovy and Mounjaro, which must be stored at a temperature below eight degrees to “remain appropriate and effective for administration”.
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Despite the heatwaves that have characterised this summer, the gel-pack cold chain packaging used to transport the weight loss medications had not been tested in over 30-C degree heat.
To assess the heat endurance of their packaging, Boots sent out eight temperature probes on July 25 and checked them again upon arrival at their destination the next day, when temperatures exceeded 30 degrees celcius.
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Each of the probes recorded temperatures over 8 degrees, “indicating that standard packaging could not consistently keep the medication within its required temperature range throughout transit.”.
Having paused home deliveries, Boots has asked patients to collect their medication in-store while it works with its supplier to develop packaging that can withstand higher temperatures.
Heat impacts GLP-1 “quality and effectiveness”
Mandeep Kaur, pharmacist lead for Boots online weight loss service, said patients should check their medication before taking it, advising them to “look out for the solution appearing cloudy, discoloured, or containing visible particles, or if the packaging feeling warm to the touch on arrival”.
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“Some brands allow a little more flexibility once they’re out of the fridge than some other brands,” she added. “But the margin isn’t unlimited, and once the medication has been exposed to temperatures above 30°C, it needs to be checked and replaced if it is not suitable for use”.
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It comes after the National Pharmacists Association (NPA) reminded pharmacists to ensure medication was stored correctly and in line with instructions amidst one of the hottest summers on record.
