Does Carafate need to be refrigerated? (+1 tips)
By
Ivan Kahwa
Author bio
Mr Ivan Kahwa is a chemist and phytopharmaceutical scientist with expertise in chemistry, pharmacology, phytochemistry, and Nanobiotechnology. He writes and reviews content on these topics.
Mr Ivan Kahwa’s Highlights:
Guest Researcher at the University of Leipzig, Senior Research Fellow/Scientist, and Lecturer at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Professional Experience:
Mr Ivan joined PHARMBIOTRAC as a research fellow/scientist during his master of science tenure. He contributed to the development of most of the phytopharmaceutical products in the project. Furthermore, he participated in carrying out the pharmacological activities of the developed products in laboratory animals such as mice and rats in order to develop proper doses hence leading to pre-clinical studies.
With the above relevant research experience, Ivan started to work with the University of Leipzig on collaborative projects with Mbarara University to develop the chemistry of Ugandan Medicinal plants and their pharmacological activities. This was coupled with several consultative positions by different German NGOs. Mr. Kahwa is also a supporting in the teaching and learning at the Departments of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
With the increase in antimicrobial resistance globally, Ivan retooled his thinking towards developing new naturally derived antibiotic regimens from Ugandan propolis with the assistance of nanotechnology to improve their delivery to microbial cells. Kahwa has also published over 28 articles in peer-reviewed journals and he is currently reviewing for many journals.
Education:
2023-2027: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (ongoing) with a focus on Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Nanobiology at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
2022: 2Msc. in Pharmacognosy and Natural Medicine Science at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
2018: Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Publications:
▪ Iqbal, S., Jabeen, F., Kahwa, I., & Omara, T. 2023. Suberosin Alleviates Thiazolidinedione-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Diabetic Rats by Inhibiting Ferroptosis via Modulation of ACSL4-LPCAT3 and PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathways. Cardiovascular Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-023-09804-7
▪ Gupta, A. K., Yadav, R., Sharma, S., Sawale, J., & Kahwa, I. 2023. Anti-ageing Activity and Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Extracts of Leaves and Flowers of Salvia officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis. Journal of Young Pharmacists, 15(3), 448–455. https://doi.org/10.5530/jyp.2023.15.60
▪ Tolo, C.U., Kahwa, I., Nuwagira, U., Weisheit, A. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Medicinal plants used in treatment of various diseases in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 25, pp.1-16.
https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/4683
▪ Kahwa, I., Ajayi, C.O., Yadav, R., Chauhan, N.S., Shah, K., Abdelgadir, A.A., Shegena, E.A., Daniel, S., Omara, T., Asiimwe, J.B. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies as an invaluable approach for correct identification of medicinal plants: The case of Artemisia vulgaris L. substituted for Artemisia annua L. in Western Uganda. TMR Integr Med, 7, p.e23004.
https://doi.org/10.53388/TMRIM202307004
▪ Nalimu, F., Oloro, J., Kahwa, I. and Ogwang, P.E., 2021. Review on the phytochemistry and toxicological profiles of Aloe vera and Aloe ferox. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 7, pp.1-21.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-021-00296-2
▪ Elamin, O.H.S., Ali, M.A., Elgezuli, I.A.A., Bashir, M.A. and Kahwa, I., 2021. Diagnosis of pre-and post-treatment of echinococcus granulosus with counter current immune electrophoresis and bacterial co-agglutination. Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 11(02), pp.88-94.
https://doi.org/10.5799/jmid.951600
Published book Chapter
▪ Kahwa, I., Ayesiga, I., Nakalema, S., Alinaiswe, R., Mbabazi, R. and Iqbal, S., 2023. Natural products in the management of onchocerciasis. In Natural Products in Vector-Borne Disease Management (pp. 63-80). Academic Press. Book Chapter.
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91942-5.00012-4
Submitted manuscripts Under Review:
▪ Comparison of the Wound Healing Activity of the Leaf and Leaf Ash Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina in Rats. Journal name: Clinical Phytoscience
▪ Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal plants used in the management of cancer in Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Herbal Medicine
▪ Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemical screening of medicinal plants used in treatment of epilepsy by PROMETRA-Uganda Traditional Health Practitioners in Mpigi District, Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Submitted book chapters under review
1.Book title: Algae as a Natural Solution for Water-Food-Energy Nexus, Section 4: Microalgae and cyanobacteria for food applications, Chapter 4.6: Safety, toxicological and allergenic aspects of using algae for food. Authors: Christine Kyarimpa, Tom Omute, Caroline K. Nakiguli, Alice V. Khanakwa4, Christopher Angiro, Ivan Kahwa, Fortunate Ahumuza, Timothy Omara*. Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore.
2.Book title: Nutraceuticals Inspiring the Contemporary Therapy for Lifestyle Diseases. Chapter: Nutraceutical applications of Seaweeds and their Phytocompounds in Nutrition and Treatment of Diseases. Authors: Ivan Kahwa, Timothy Omara , Innocent Ayesiga , Gael Noel Neh Neba Ambe , Zehbanaz Javidbhai Panwala , Rachel Mbabazi , Shabnoor Iqbal , Christine Kyarimpa , Christine Betty Nagawa , Kamal Shah ,Nagendra Singh Chauhan* Publisher: CRC Press
You can view my works on the following professional sites:
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ivan-Kahwa
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tOwrvqoAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6440-3437
Linkedin: https://de.linkedin.com/in/ivan-kahwa-865450159
In this article, we will discuss the proper storage condition of Carafate. Carafate (sucralfate) is used to treat stomach ulcers, radiation proctitis, inflammation, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Does Carafate need to be refrigerated?
No, Carafate does not need to be refrigerated. Carafate should be stored at room temperature (20-25°C). Carafate is available as a tablet (1000 mg), and suspension (1000 mg/10 ml). Both dosage forms do not require refrigeration according to the manufacturer’s guidelines (1).
Generally, tablets and liquids remain stable at room temperature. However, extreme heat may degrade the product, especially suspension. Always follow the storage guidelines provided by your doctor or the manufacturer to ensure Carafate’s stability and effectiveness.
Can Carafate be refrigerated during a hot day?
You may put Carafate suspension in a fridge as a precautionary measure during a very hot day, however, do not put it in the freezer. Exposure of Carafate to high temperatures may reduce its efficacy. This is especially true for suspensions (2).
Liquid present in the Carafate suspension may dry up, disrupting the normal dose of the drug. This may reduce the effectiveness and compromise the safety of Carafate. However, such conditions may not apply to Carafate tablets.
As the excipients present in the tablets are more stable and are not affected by hot temperatures, the tablets will retain their potency even at high temperatures. The ideal storage condition for Carafate tablet and suspension is 20-25°C.
What are the proper storage guidelines for Carafate?
Carafate should be stored at conditions specified by the manufacturer or doctor. The appropriate storage conditions protect the drug from stability issues, contamination, and degradation. It also helps ensure the safe and effective delivery of Carafate to the patient (2, 3).
- Store Carafate at room temperature (20-25°C, 68-77°F)
- Keep the medicine away from light.
- Do not take the tablet out of the blister before use.
- Tightly cap the suspension bottle after use.
- Keep Carafate away from the reach of children and animals.
- Do not store Carafate in the bathroom. Put away in a suitable cabinet or storage area.
- Do not flush Carafate in the toilet, or pour down in the drain unless instructed by a doctor.
- Throw away any unused Carafate suspension and tablet after the expiry date.
What is the shelf-life of Carafate?
Shelf-life of the product refers to the period during which Carafate will retain its efficacy if stored in the correct storage condition. The shelf-life of the Carafate tablet and suspension is 2 years.
You should shake the Carafate suspension bottle before use to resuspend the drug in the liquid medium. Once you open the bottle, try to consume the suspension within one month. Keep the tablets within the blister to protect them from humidity, light, and contamination.
How to know if Carafate has gone bad?
Examine the tablet visually, in or outside the blister. If you see any sign of sticking, cracking, or migration (irregular pink colour distribution) then it means the tablet has gone bad.
If you observe the tablets have become wet (due to moisture absorption), sticking together, or are past their expiry date, then you should not consume these tablets (4). In the case of Carafate suspension, first of all, observe the colour of the suspension.
If you see that the colour is not uniform, or there are two separate layers of suspension in the bottle, it means the suspension is no longer safe for consumption. Any significant change in taste also signifies spoilage and degradation.
As a pharmacist, I always advise my patients to keep a close eye on the visual appearance and integrity of dosage forms. Store Carafate at room temperature to maintain its shelf life. Also, you should never take expired Carafate as it tends to lose its effectiveness.
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References
1.-
Kudaravalli P, John S. Sucralfate. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551527
2.-
Kostka MD, Frisolone J, Rudnick E. Making decisions about drug repackaging. American journal of health-system pharmacy. 1996 Mar 1;53(5):564-5. https://academic.oup.com/ajhp/article-abstract/53/5/564/5093508
3.-
McGraw BF, Caldwell EG. Sucralfate. Drug Intelligence & Clinical Pharmacy. 1981 Jul;15(7-8):578-80. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1060028081015007-809
4.-
Rana AS, Kumar SH. Manufacturing defects of tablets-a review. Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics. 2013;3(6):200-6. https://jddtonline.info/index.php/jddt/article/view/722
