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Take medicine out of the bathroom cabinet and other storage advice

Date published: 24/05/2021
Last reviewed: 30/06/2021
Last updated: 10/06/2021
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When you put medicine away, let's store it right.

We’re all so busy juggling a hundred different tasks that it’s easy to just think “anywhere will do” when you’re putting things away.

 

The Right Storage

There's a right way to store
your EVERYDAY MEDICINES

The safe storage of medicines in the home, like pain relief medicine that might have been left lying around, is essential. Doing this right is as easy as 3 DO's and 3 DON'Ts.

Let's treat it right...

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DO

Store high up and away from easy reach of children, and pets

DON'T

Leave within easy reach, only adults for which the medicine is intended should have access.

DO

Close and store away after each use

DON'T

Store in bathroom, as they may get warm and humid, spoiling the medicine

DO

Be alert and discuss medicine safety with teens and young adults

DON'T

Throw the packaging away - this contains storage information, and usage instructions

Let's store it right CHECKLIST

  • Consolidate all medicines
  • Remove expired medicines
  • Keep in original packaging
  • Keep out of reach of little hands and paws
  • Find a cool, dark, dry place
  • Inspect and maintain

Storing Medicines

Storing medicines require a little more thought, and that includes the pain relief medication you might have lying around. For a start, did you know you shouldn’t store medicine—whether brand new or in use—in the bathroom medicine cabinet? Some more things to keep in mind when storing medicine:

Consolidate

If you have medications all over the house, gather them. Aim to keep all medicines that require the same storage conditions together. Have your medicine box in one designated place. That way you won’t have to hunt around to find what you need.

Remove expired medicines

Expired drugs lose their effectiveness so be sure to go through your stash and set aside for disposal any loose or unlabelled medications. Check expiration dates and dispose of medicines by following the rules of your municipality. In many places that’s as simple as dropping them off at the local pharmacy. (Never flush unneeded medicines into the water system!).

Keep in original packaging

Store medicines in their original packaging. The containers and inserts have important information on dosing and storage requirements. Even if you have been buying and using a particular medicine for years, read and keep the packaging as formulations and guidance can change. If there’s a cotton ball in the bottle, remove it. It can draw moisture into the bottle.

Get out of the bathroom medicine cabinet

Medicines are sensitive products. Because light, heat and moisture can damage most medications, medicines should be stored in a dry, cool and dark place. That rules out the bathroom medicine cabinet as the heat and humidity from the shower can degrade medications and render them less effective.

Find a cool, dark, dry place

Look around your home and consider where to house your medicines. Possibilities include a dresser drawer or a chest, on a shelf, or in a closet or wardrobe. Some people like to also group stored medications in small, labelled containers

Keep out of reach of little hands and paws

Don’t let pets, babies or children near your medicine supply. Store medications out of their reach and out of their sight. A high cabinet with a pet and child safety lock is a great choice. Adults should supervise use of medicine by older children and teenagers as well to avoid misuse of medicines.

Take care with refrigerated medicine

Some medicines need to be stored in the refrigerator. But take care that they don’t freeze. If that accidentally happens, assume it’s no longer usable. If you have questions about this, ask your pharmacist.

Put together a travel pharmacy

Consider purchasing smaller sizes of key medications to collect in a small pouch among your medical supplies. Grab this ready-to-go travel pharmacy before a long trip. Among the medication you might consider:

  • pain relievers,
  • plasters,
  • antiseptic wipes,
  • hand sanitizer,
  • antihistamines,
  • antacids,
  • laxatives and
  • diarrhoea medicines.

If you need prescription medications while traveling, bring in their original containers and consult with your pharmacist on other best practices.

Inspect and maintain

Periodically inspect your medicine stock. Check expiration dates and remove out-of-date medicines. To dispose of these unneeded medicines, in many places you can drop them off at the pharmacy when you shop for fresh supplies.

Whichever medicines you’re taking, knowing the right place to store them is vitally important, particularly when it comes to safe storage at home.

Let’s store it right.

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1Guidelines for Safe Disposal of Unwanted Pharmaceuticals in and after Emergencies. World Health Organization. 1999. https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/medicalwaste/unwantpharm.pdf [Accessed 24 May 21]

2Guidelines for Safe Disposal of Unwanted Pharmaceuticals in and after Emergencies. World Health Organization. 1999. https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/medicalwaste/unwantpharm.pdf [Accessed 24 May 21]

3Arzneimittel richtig aufbewahren und entsorgen. Bundesministerium für Gesundheit. Dec 2020. https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/arzneimittelentsorgung-und-aufbewahrung.html [[Accessed 25 May 21]]

4Hoe kun je medicijnen het beste bewaren? Consumenten bond. n/a https://www.consumentenbond.nl/zelfzorg/medicijnen-bewaren [[Accessed 25 May 21]]

5Arzneimittel richtig aufbewahren und entsorgen. Bundesministerium für Gesundheit. Dec 2020. https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/arzneimittelentsorgung-und-aufbewahrung.html [[Accessed 25 May 21]]

6Storing your medicines. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Reviewed January 2020. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000534.htm [[ Accessed 25 May 21]

7Storing your medicines. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Reviewed January 2020. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000534.htm [[ Accessed 25 May 21]

8Your medicine cabinet. NHS. April 2020 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/your-medicine-cabinet/ [[Accessed 25 May 21]]

9Arzneimittel richtig aufbewahren und entsorgen. Bundesministerium für Gesundheit. Dec 2020. https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/arzneimittelentsorgung-und-aufbewahrung.html [[Accessed 25 May 21]]

10Travel Medical Kit . The Cleveland Clinic. Sept 2016. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12784-travel-medical-kit [[Accessed 25 May 21]]

11First-aid kits: Stock supplies that can save lives. The Mayo Clinic . July 2020. https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-kits/basics/art-20056673 [[Accessed 25 May 21]]

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