Do you store your medicines properly?

Storing medicines properly can help to ensure they work as they should as well as prevent poisoning accidents. Where you store your medicine can affect how well it works. What is normal and defined storage condition? Storage in dry, well-ventilated premises at temperatures of 15–25°C or, depending on climatic conditions, up to 30°C. Extraneous odors, other indications of contamination, and intense light must be excluded. Drug products that must be stored under de?ned conditions require appropriate storage instructions. Unless otherwise speci?cally stated (e.g. continuous maintenance of cold storage) deviation may be tolerated only during short-term interruptions, for example, during local transportation. The use of the following labelling instructions are recommended: On the label Means “Do not store over 30°C” from +2°C to +30°C “Do not store over 25°C” from +2°C to +25°C “Do not store over 15°C” from +2°C to +15°C “Do not store over 8°C” from +2°C to +8°C “Do not store below 8°C” from +8°C to +25°C “Protect from moisture” no more than 60% relative humidity in normal storage conditions; to be provided to the patient in a moisture resistant container. “Protect from light” to be provided to the patient in a light-resistant container. Where and How to keep medicines at home? These are a few hints about storing medicines you should know: Heat, air, light, and moisture may damage your medicine – Store your medicines in a cool, dry place. For example, store it in your dresser drawer or a kitchen cabinet away from the stove, sink, and any hot appliances. You can also store medicine in a storage box, on a shelf, in a closet. If you are like most people, you probably store your medicine in a bathroom cabinet. But the heat and moisture from your shower, bath, and sink may damage your medicine. Your medicines can become less potent, or they may go bad before the expiration date. Pills and capsules are easily damaged by heat and moisture. Aspirin pills break down into vinegar and salicylic acid, which irritates the stomach. Always keep medicine in its original container – As tempting as it may be to transfer a few pills from a large bottle into a smaller container, don't - even if it's another bottle that has the same prescription label. That way they don't become mystery pills or have an inaccurate expiration date. Some drugs, such as the heart medications containing nitrate, should never be put in another container. If they are exposed to oxygen, nitrate evaporates. Keep children safe – Each year, around 60,000 children—or roughly 4 busloads of kids every day—are brought to an emergency room for medicine poisoning because they’ve gotten into medications, vitamins, supplements, or other health products. These accidents can happen quickly, with kids finding medicines in ways and places you might not expect. So always store your medicine out of reach and out of sight of children. Store your medicine in a cabinet with a child latch or lock. Categorize medicines – Don't store multiple medications in the same vial, as this makes it hard to keep track of which medications are which, which doses have been taken, and what the expiry dates are. Get rid of old Medicines – Get rid of unused medicine safely and promptly. Check the expiration date on your medicine. Throw out medicines that are out of date. How to dispose of medicines at home? There are two ways to dispose of medicine, depending on the drug. Flushing medicines: Because some medicines could be especially harmful to others, they have specific directions to immediately flush them down the sink or toilet when they are no longer needed. Disposing medicines in household trash: Almost all medicines can be thrown into your household trash. These include prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in pills, liquids, drops, patches, creams, and inhalers. By Afandiyev R. References: WHO Technical Report Series, No. 908, 2003 - Annex 9 Guide to good storage practices for pharmaceuticals https://www.medbroadcast.com/channel/medications-and-your-health/medication-how-to-guides/how-to-store-medicines https://www.getreliefresponsibly.com/safety-in-the-home https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm101653.htm http://www.returnmed.com.au/best-place-keep-medicines-home/ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000534.htm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeCF8Y759gw#action=share