Store Medicines Safely
The medicines in your home are meant to keep you healthy. But if you don’t store them correctly, you could miss out on the health benefits—or even do harm.
NOT in the Bathroom
Moisture and heat can cause medicines to lose their effectiveness. Plus, it’s rare, but medicines not stored properly can actually become toxic. Find a cool, dry spot away from direct sunlight—such as a closet shelf or a kitchen cabinet. (Of course, some medicines must be refrigerated.)
Home, Home Away from the Range
If you choose the kitchen, avoid spots near heat (oven or other appliances that give off heat), or moisture (sink).
Keep the Container
Keep your medicines in their original containers with labels to help prevent mixing them up.
But Ditch the Cotton
If your medicine comes with a cotton plug in the medicine bottle, remove it. The cotton can draw moisture into the container, and remember what moisture does to medicines?
Time to Toss?
Just like that carton of milk, make sure your medicines have not expired. Plus, If your medicine has changed color, texture or smell, DO NOT USE, even if the expiration date is still okay. Ditto with tablets that stick together, have gotten harder or softer than before, or have cracks or chips.
Lock’em up
Two out of every three poison cases that send children to the emergency room are caused by medicine overdoses. Each year, that translates into 60,000 emergency room visits for children under age 12. And don’t just lock up prescription medicines; keep your over-the- counter medicines safely away from curious young children too.
Childproof Containers—Not
“There is no such thing as a childproof container,” says Jay L. Schauben, a pharmacist and director of the Florida Poison Information Center in Jacksonville, Fla. Childproof containers may slow down a child, but given time, children can usually figure out how to open them.
And One More Reason
It’s not just young children who need to be protected. As many as one in five teens use prescription medicines without a doctor’s prescription. Where do they get the medicine? More than half of teenagers who abuse prescription pain relievers say they get them for free from the homes of family or friends.
Prescription for Traveling
Safe storage doesn’t stop at home.
- When flying, carry on your medicines rather than packing them in a checked suitcase in case of lost baggage. Carry-on avoids the extreme temperatures in baggage compartments, too. (The Transportation Safety Administration requires you to keep medicines in their original containers with labels.)
- Never leave medicines in the car for long periods. The heat can damage or destroy their effectiveness.
At Your Disposal
When it’s time to get rid of unused medicine, follow the directions on the prescription bottle.
No instructions? Take the medicine out of the original container, and mix with kitty litter or coffee grounds to discourage children, pets, or anyone else from sampling. Put the mixture in a sealable bag or other container to keep it from leaking or bursting, and throw them away in your garbage.
Also, check with your local law enforcement about medicine give-backs. The Drug Enforcement Administration works with local law enforcement to sponsor collection events where you can dispose of unused prescription medicine anonymously.
Get 5 tips to avoid medicine mix-ups: Inspect Your Rx.
Want to make more positive health changes? See Change 1 Thing.
