Infertility
PCOSat25
member
Follistim packaging changes
PCOSat25
member
in Infertility
Hello all! Have any of you recieved information from your clinic on the follistim packaging changes?
I had previsouly used follistim due to a discount program for military but now my clinic is STRONGLY recommending against it.
The packaging was recently changed so the vile is not sealed in plastic and the box is not sealed.
essentially the medication is no longer tamper proof. My nurse said she had no idea how it was even approved by the FAA. The drug rep was in the office this week and my clinic basically said they WILL NOT perscribe it until packaging is changed back.
Now I have to use gonal f (totally the same drug) just a hassle to get approved for compassionate care, their discount program.
Has anyone run into this issue? If not, THIS IS A WARNING TO BE CAUTIOUS WITH FOLLISTIM.
I had previsouly used follistim due to a discount program for military but now my clinic is STRONGLY recommending against it.
The packaging was recently changed so the vile is not sealed in plastic and the box is not sealed.
essentially the medication is no longer tamper proof. My nurse said she had no idea how it was even approved by the FAA. The drug rep was in the office this week and my clinic basically said they WILL NOT perscribe it until packaging is changed back.
Now I have to use gonal f (totally the same drug) just a hassle to get approved for compassionate care, their discount program.
Has anyone run into this issue? If not, THIS IS A WARNING TO BE CAUTIOUS WITH FOLLISTIM.
Re: Follistim packaging changes
With the new packaging the vial sits in a plastic case BUT it is not enclosed. There is no plastic seal/layer on top.
Essentially becasue the box is unsealed and the vial is unsealed there is no real way to make sure that it has not been tampered with. At least that is my doctors concern.
i really just put this out there for those that are in the process of ordering meds as I definitely think it will sway some opinions on what to choose. Gonal and follistim are exactly the same so usually people have flexibility to switch them out. Haha i have actually had cycles where I used both interchangeably
Unfortunately, we live in a world where you can't trust everyone. With an unsealed package it is possible for someone at the pharmacy to switch out the meds. My nurse brought out a used vial and showed me how hard it is to see a needle puncture in the rubber stopper. Definitely something you would not see unless you were looking for it.
I bet they will get push back from REs and change the packaging back soon. In the mean time I just wanted people to be aware.
Medications generally come in sealed tamper proof packaging so we can be sure that we are getting what we paid for. My nurse mentioned that without a seal it is possible for some dishonest pharmacy worker to tamper with the the meds. For example use a syringe to suck out all the actual medication and refill with saline or sterile water. everything would look the same so the recipient of the medication would be none the wiser.
That at is NOT going to happen to you! If you are concerned take a flashlight and look at you rubber stopper to see if there are any marks. It will be fine, you'll see.
It it is just a risk that some people, still in the process of ordering medications, might not be willing to take.