Trimix is one of the most commonly prescribed injections for treat Erectile Dysfunction in the UK. But this unique mixture of three medications is highly sensitive to temperature and needs careful storage to remain effective.
Knowing how to store your Trimix vials and syringes properly is crucial to achieving the best results from your treatment. So, here's a complete guide about Trimix storage!
What is Trimix?
Trimix is a prescription injection for men with erectile dysfunction (ED) who have not responded well to other treatments. It gets its name from its three active ingredients:
- Alprostadil: This relaxes muscles and increases blood flow to the penis by widening blood vessels.
- Papaverine: A vasodilator that helps improve blood flow by relaxing the blood vessels.
- Phentolamine: An alpha-blocker that counters the effects of adrenaline, helping to maintain relaxed blood vessels.
When combined, these three ingredients can produce stronger and longer-lasting erections compared to using them individually.
The dosage is customised by a pharmacy based on the doctor’s prescription and typically comes in small glass vials (5-50 mL) to be administered with disposable syringes.
Trimix is injected directly into the base of the penis (an intracavernosal injection). Many men feel apprehensive about this at first, but the process is painless when done correctly.
How to Store Trimix
Trimix is a liquid medication that needs specific storage conditions to maintain its potency. The storage duration depends on whether the vials are unopened or in use, as well as their specific storage requirements. Always follow the specific instructions provided with your prescription. However, some general rules can be applied regarding Trimix storage conditions:
- Unopened vials: Store in the freezer.
- Opened vials: Store in the refrigerator.
- Short-term use: Can remain at room temperature briefly.
Let’s explore the details.
Freezer Storage
Unopened Trimix vials should be stored in the freezer at -18°C to 0°C. When kept frozen, they can remain effective for six months to a year.
Refrigerator Storage
Once opened, vials must be stored in the fridge at 0°C to 4°C. At this temperature, Trimix can last up to one month in your fridge.
Most domestic fridges temperature is set at 2°C - 8°C. For optimal storage conditions, you should lower your fridge temperature to the recommended range.
Room Temperature Storage
Trimix can generally be kept at room temperature (below 25°C) for short periods, typically no more than a day. Ideally, it should be returned to the refrigerator immediately after use.
Make sure to check the specific storage instructions for the Trimix you've been prescribed. They may vary depending on the brand or formulation pharmacy.
Risks of Incorrect Storage
If Trimix is not stored correctly, its efficacy may be compromised, and it may not work as intended, leading to inadequate erectile dysfunction treatment.
A study on the long-term stability of Trimix found that alprostadil was the most unstable of the three active ingredients in Trimix. It looses about:
- 8% potency in five days at room temperature.
- 11% potency after 2 months in the refrigerator.
- Less than 5% potency when frozen for 6 months.
Additionally, exposure to high temperatures, direct sunlight, or moisture can cause the medication to degrade quicker or become contaminated. Trimix that has not been stored correctly or has passed its expiry date should not be used. Any unused solution should be discarded.
Can you refreeze Trimix?
Repeatedly thawing and refreezing Trimix is not recommended. Doing so can degrade its effectiveness and increase the risk of contamination.
What happens if Trimix gets warm?
Trimix can stay at room temperature for a few hours (up to a day). By room temperature, pharmaceutical companies generally mean anything below 25°C. Exposure to higher temperatures can lead to very quick degradation of your injections.
- Never let your Trimix vials get warm.
- Always transport them in a medical-grade cooler.
- Do not place them near heat sources, stoves, fireplaces, barbecues, etc.
- Never expose Trimix to direct sunlight.
- Don't leave vials or syringes in the car.
- Do not warm Trimix to unfreeze it.
Can you freeze Trimix in a syringe?
Yes, you can freeze Trimix in a syringe. To preload Trimix syringes for freezing, follow these steps:
- Clean the stopper on the vial with an alcohol swab, as you would typically do.
- Draw up your prescribed dose of Trimix into a new disposable syringe, making sure to add a tiny bit extra.
- Put the needle cap back on the syringe. Do not use alcohol to clean the needle; it could remove the lubricant.
- Place your preloaded Trimix syringe in the freezer with the needle facing up so that any air bubbles would stay at the top. This ensures that if the Trimix solution expands when frozen, it will only push out air, not the medicine.
Let your frozen Trimix syringe thaw before using it. Then, push out the air and a small amount of liquid from the needle to ensure the syringe works correctly.
How to travel with Trimix
Because of its rigorous storage conditions, travelling with Trimix injections can be challenging. But you’re in luck, as 4AllFamily UK designs medical-grade portable travel coolers that guarantee your vials and syringes stay refrigerated while travelling!
For instance, the Explorer Mini Travel Fridge is a good option if you’re travelling vials or syringes of Trimix that need to stay refrigerated. It works with 3 different cooling methods to accommodate any travel situation, from the most luxurious to the most adventurous.
- USB power + Cooling packs: it keeps fridge temperature for up to 50 hours when it’s 40°C.
- Cooling packs only (no electricity): your Trimix vials will be safe and refrigerated for 28 hours!
- USB power only (no cooling packs): the travel fridge maintains constant fridge temperature when the outside temperature is no higher than 35°C!
All our travel coolers are approved for airplane travel across the UK and beyond, so you can legally board the plane with your Trimix vials refrigerated in your carry-on bags.
We're here to help. Should you have any doubts or inquiries, please leave a comment below or contact us.
