Author: Maria Nazaré Rosado (Pharmacist) Taking proper care of medicines at home is related to two main issues: Guarantee its safety and efficacy during their shelf life; Avoid accidents – such as accidental ingestion – which can be serious. Where and how medications are kept is even more important when there are children or people with cognitive impairment in the home, as well as animals. And the precautions apply to any medicines: over-the-counter, available with medical prescription, natural medicines, supplements, among others. 1. Comply with storage conditions mentioned in the information leaflet Temperature, humidity and light can alter medications. The effects are not the same for all medicines. They depend, for example, on the active substances and presentation form (tablets, syrups, ointments, suppositories, among many others). The information leaflet that accompanies the medicines mentions the storage conditions that guarantee the stability of the medicine, that is, they ensure that the characteristics and pharmacological activity are maintained during the shelf life. When no particular storage conditions are mentioned, all medicines must still be stored in places that are: Fresh, which means a room temperature below 25ºC; Dry; Protected from light. So, the bathroom and kitchen are not good options, because humidity and temperature tend to vary a lot. 2. Medicines in one place “Keep out of the reach and sight of children” is essential, it is written on the leaflets of all medicines, it is a safety issue. Even if the medicines pack have safety lids or other devices to protect children. Do not leave medicines around or store them mixed with other things. Reserve a box, drawer, cabinet or other place just for medicines. Furthermore, the chosen location must be able to be locked and/or not visible and accessible to children, people with cognitive impairment and pets. If you have medicines at home that need to be stored in the refrigerator, place them in a bag or box and then at the bottom of the upper shelves of the refrigerator. Do not use the shelves in the refrigerator door to store medicines. After taking a medicine put it back in its place. Leaving it visible so as not to forget is not safe. If you are afraid of forgetting: Use an alarm on your phone; Write it down on paper and post it on the refrigerator door, bathroom mirror, front door or somewhere else you look at it frequently. If in addition to human medicines if you also have veterinary medicines at home, store them separately so there is no risk of someone taking a veterinary medicine or an animal being given a human medicine. 3. Keep medicines in their original packaging Store medicines in their original packaging , including the outer box, if there is one, and the leaflet. This way you will have all the information together, but, more importantly, the packaging chosen to sell a medicine is the one that best protects its characteristics. Do not use boxes or bottles from one medicine to store another medicine. Do not mix different pills in the same container (except if it is a specific box and the pills that are together are to be taken at once, for example medication to be taken with lunch or dinner). If you need to take a medicine outside the original packaging, for example some tablets from a blister, cut the blister so that the name of the medicine, the dose and the expiration date are always visible. Even if it means taking a few more than necessary. 3. Regularly check expiration dates Do not take medicines that have passed their expiration date , as they may no longer be effective or safe. The expiration date is the last day of the month and year mentioned on the packaging. 4. Do not use visibly altered medications If you notice changes in the appearance or odor of a medicine, do not use it, even if it is still within its shelf life. These changes may have harmful effects if the medicine is taken, or the activity of the medicine may also be altered. 5. Dispose of medications correctly Many medicines must be disposed of in a specific way. When this is the case, it is written in the information leaflet how to dispose of it. In other cases, leftover medicines and expired medicines should always be delivered to a pharmacy or other location where there are collection containers for unusable medicines and as quickly as possible. Do not throw medications down the toilet or down a bathroom or sink pipe, as there is no risk of water contamination. Take proper care of your medications and keep the whole family safe. Author: Maria Nazaré Rosado (Pharmacist) The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
