Where do you store your medications? If you’re like most people, it’s likely the medicine cabinet or a shelf in your bathroom. However, that is perhaps the worst room in your home for this task. Heat and humidity, which build up with hot showers or baths, can degrade many medications. Safety is also a consideration, especially if you have children. That’s why where you store your meds matters, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as vitamins and other supplements.
Avoid Heat & Humidity
Because heat and humidity can change the chemical composition of many medications, making them less effective, the bathroom is typically the worst place to store your meds at home. Instead, choose a space that’s relatively cool and dry, like your bedroom or kitchen (well away from the stove and sink). You should also skip window ledges where sun exposure is likely, as both the heat and light can break down some ingredients.
The same advice applies when you are transporting medications. Don’t leave medications in a hot car, especially during the summer, while you are running errands. (Take advantage of our delivery service to remove this errand from your list altogether!)
If you are traveling, pack medications in your carry-on bag, not checked luggage. This will keep them from exposure to temperature extremes, and reduce the risk of theft. To help avoid hassles with airport screening, it’s best to carry medications in their original, labeled packages.
Keep Them Safe & Secure
When scouting out the ideal location for medication storage in your home, keep safety top of mind as well. Don’t store any medications or supplements where children can easily access them. Keep them up high, out of sight and reach, and be sure to engage child-safe lids. Even if the medications are for your child, keep them out of reach when not in use to prevent an accidental overdose.
Protect your pets, as well. A dog can quite easily crack open a plastic bottle and ingest the contents, so medications left on low shelves or in open drawers can be risky.
Turn to Your Trusted Resource
Some medications have specific storage requirements, including storage in the refrigerator or freezer, but most are fine if they are in a cool, dry location. If you have questions about where or how to store your meds, give us a call and one of our pharmacists can advise you. If you want to make managing your medications even easier, ask about our blister packs and MediBubble® service.