Q: My father, 45 years old, is a CAPD dialysis patient. He is taking erythropoietin injections, once weekly. Since he takes Eprex 4000 unit injection too, we need to go to a chemist shop every week, as Eprex is temperature sensitive. Zyrop 4000 is not temperature sensitive so can I buy that injection in bulk at least for a month and keep it in a cool dry place? What precautions do we need to take for preserving such costly injections at home?

A:Eprex is the brand name; it contains a medicine called recombinant human erythropoietin. Similarly Zyrop (by Zydus Cadila) contains exactly the same ingredient. Both need to be stored in a normal refrigerator. Since it is an expensive medicine for long term use, cost is important since both brands are of equal quality. Zyrop 4000 unit costs Rs. 1494 (without local taxes) against Eprex price of Rs. 1778/- (without local taxes).