Package Tampering in Betaseron
 

I'm posting this as a concern and a warning. Still trying to figure out a solution for myself. This week I purchased my Beta Seron as usual. It comes in a box with 14 sealed blister packs of the drug with syringe, diluent, etc. I reached in, picked up a blister pack and found it pulled open rather easily. To my amazement, there was a capped syringe (needle included). The vial had the blue transfer device already on it and there was no tablet inside. Since cognitive issues are to be expected with this disease, I did question myself. Had I become distracted and assembled it and NOT remembered. Then I looked down into the box. There were the parts of the package in the bottom and both alcohol preps were unopened in the bottom of the box ( under the other blister packs). That's when I knew I had NOT done this. Bayer sent me a single blister pack replacement (after talking with the Beta nurse), but I have to say I am a bit "sqeemish" about using the medicine. I have been on it for 8 years. This is a first. The pharmacist was shocked as well. Clearly this is package tampering. Where it may have occurred...there is no way to tell as the box is NEVER sealed. Bayer needs to address this.

I would ask to speak to the manager at the Betaseron place, and DEMAND a FULL replacement. Then call the pharmacy where the med was delivered from and DEMAND a full replacement or a refund of all money.

UNacceptable! :eek:

Wow, I agree this is unacceptable. I would request a full replacement too. They may say no because the rest isn't tampered with. However, when they do, ask them are they willing to take their chances? :wink:

I agree that they should replace the entire package and ask them if you should call the FDA or if they will? They might send one out then.

I too also agree you need a full replacement. If one was tampered with, how safe are the others? And where was it tampered, who had it?? Too many questions come to mind.

Hi misspammy and welcome to NT.

Thank you for the information. Many people here are on Betaseron and need to be watchful in the future for tampering. Sometimes a disgruntled employee will do something, or an injection person could have received that package and returned it. Perhaps the wrong medication. Or a first time user.

Once I waited for Copaxone and the Mail away pharmacy sent me the wrong medication. It was for someone who needed their med for life-saving purposes. I never heard of the med or remember the injectable name of it. Pharmacy was terrified she would use mine.

I called the pharmacy and the person whose name was on the package with my address, and her phone number. I asked her to please refrigerate my medication as I would hers. I told her the pharmacy was sending a person personally by car to pick up hers at my home and then come back and give me the one she had of mine. The pharmacy was hours away from both of us. I finally got mine and she got hers. It was a scary experience.

It was just an address labeling issue at wholesale end, but I could have used hers and she mine, as both were Injectables in similar boxes and amount.

That was years ago. When "C" had to be refrigerated. Maybe someone got yours by mistake and opened it, as it might have been that person's first experience with an injectable and didn't know the difference, that it was the wrong med.

I hope it was just a mistake and not tampering. People who do things like that IMO, are the worst criminals. I hope you get them to issue you a new complete package and make them seal it. I would put in a complaint with the FDA. One blister pack replacement is not correct. The whole box should be replaced, as others have said. Thanks again. :)

Well..thanks everyone for expressing my exact sentiments. I can report as of this date that NO ONE from Bayer has called me to collect any information and the company did sent a single injection replacement (unsealed box, sealed blister pack). I am trying to think how much of a battle I want to get myself into. :eek: