Temperature and environment
It is important to store medications, especially capsules and tablets, in dry places. Then the medicine cabinet should not be placed in the bathroom or kitchen.
When it is not explicitly indicated on the packaging, drugs should not be stored in the refrigerator or, even less, in the freezer.
The ideal temperature is below 25 ° C, so it is useful that the medicine cabinet is not exposed to direct light (perhaps coming from a window). Some drugs are “photosensitive”, they decompose in light.
It is also advisable to place the medicine cabinet away from heat sources (radiator, fireplace, stove). Several active ingredients, if heated, can lose their effectiveness.
Avoid leaving medication in the car for a long time, in order not to subject them to changes in temperature or humidity.
In addition, it is good not to put dangerous substances, such as ammonia, gasoline or acetone, in the medicine cabinet. It is above all solvents, which evaporate easily, that are the most dangerous: vapors can alter the active ingredients or the packaging of drugs.
Children and original packaging
It is advisable to store medications out of reach of children. Especially small children have the habit of putting everything they find in their mouths and therefore run the risk of becoming intoxicated.
Simply place the medicine cabinet at a height that can only be reached by adults.
It is of fundamental importance to keep the drugs in the original packaging, so as to always have the package insert and the expiration date of the product
Travelling
Those who travel by plane must take care to carry medicines, in hand luggage. The holds of aircraft, in fact, do not have a controlled temperature, which can oscillate between too hot and too cold.
It should be remembered that for hand luggage must be respected the regulations concerning security; Therefore, in case of doubt, it is advisable to ask the airline for the desired information, when purchasing the ticket.
When traveling (for vacation or work), it is always a good rule to carry a copy of the prescription of the drugs that provide it, so you can buy them even away from home.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
The blog covers a wide range of topics related to health and wellness, with articles organized into several categories.