It may be dark when you close the medicine cabinet, but chances are the humidity in the air after a shower will seep in. This begins a process that ultimately breaks down your drugs. Even turning on the hot water in the sink can allow moisture to filter into the cabinet. In fact, he says, "When you take medicine, it's the moisture in your stomach that breaks it down.
Instead of the bathroom medicine chest, try to store medications and vitamins in a cool, dry place away from bright windows or storage rooms affected by outdoor weather. This may be in your bedroom inside a locked cabinet drawer or in a kitchen cabinet. Make sure the cabinet isn't above a stove or sink, where heat and steam could create moisture problems similar to bathroom storage. Don't choose the refrigerator, unless the pharmacist, label, or package insert advises refrigeration after opening.
Remember that the refrigerator is a cool place, but it's also moist and easy access for curious children. Also, get in the habit of reading drug labels first because there are always exceptions. For example, most types of insulin -- a medication used to treat diabetes -- need to be refrigerated before opening. Once opened, insulin may be kept unrefrigerated as long as it's stored away from heat and light.
How long it can be kept unrefrigerated may vary depending on the type of insulin. In order to protect children, keep medication and all vitamins out of reach and in a locked cabinet. Kids are able to scale cabinets often by sheer determination alone, and the bright colors of vitamins and nutritional supplements can attract them like candy.
For this reason, vitamins containing iron and most multivitamins do should always be kept away from them. Thirty percent of children's deaths from medication are caused by iron-containing supplements, according to the U. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you're a parent or even if you have frequent visits from kids, make sure your pharmacist dispenses prescriptions in childproof containers.
Test them out yourself to see how easy it is -- they work well if they also seem to be adult-proof. Some examples of medicines that require refrigeration are hormone injections used during IVF in vitro fertilisation , and unopened vials of insulin. Very few medicines require freezing, but an example would be vaccine injections.
Not all medicines need to be refrigerated though. In fact, they may be adversely affected by the fluctuating temperatures of home refrigerators. Another problem is that the medicines may freeze inadvertently, becoming damaged by the solid water crystals that form.
Patients are advised to read the pharmacy labels carefully before storing their medicines at home. Please do not disregard the professional advice of your physician. Font size. User name field is required Password field is required. Forgot password? Therefore, patients are not supplied with these medications to be brought back home. Three main reasons why medications need to be stored in the refrigerator:. Medications that need to be kept cold will lose their effectiveness when placed outside the recommended temperature range after a certain period of time.
The period of stability is dependent on the type of medication and is usually specified in the package insert. Sterile means medications are free from microorganisms such as bacteria.
Some medications especially eye drops or ear drops that are compounded at healthcare facilities aseptically free from germ and without preservatives should always be kept in cold conditions to slow the growth of bacteria. Some medications in suppository form need to be stored in the refrigerator so that they do not melt before use.
Not all medications that are stored in the refrigerator in a pharmacy should be kept in the same condition by patients at home. For example, insulin currently in use can be placed at room temperature with stability of up to one month, depending on the type of insulin. There are also medications that were originally stored at room temperature in the pharmacy but must be kept refrigerated during use.
Examples are many antibiotic syrups in powder form such as amoxicillin trihydrate which are prepared for use by adding water to it.
Although amoxicillin trihydrate suspension is stored in the refrigerator after being mixed, it can only last for seven days before losing its effectiveness. Example of medication that should be stored in the refrigerator after being mixed with water. Assisted Living Memory Care. Independent Living Home Care.
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