How to Safely Store Medicines at Home: UK Guidelines

Don’t I just put medication on a shelf or in some drawers at home? The storage of medicines might sound like a simple topic but it is actually quite important and a lot of people accidentally get it wrong. Improper storage of medication can mean they degrade faster or become contaminated. This can mean you are getting ineffective treatment or you risk getting side effects from the medication that is meant to help you. Additionally, there are safety concerns when you just put medication anywhere, notably children or pets can accidentally poison themselves by ingesting medication not meant for them. In this article, we talk about medicines storage at home and go through some tips on how to do this safely.

Why Proper Medicines Storage Matters

It is important to store your medication properly for many reasons. Most medication packages have instructions advising on how to store medication, if you have read any of them, you might note that they often say to store medication in a cool dry place. This is because moisture, heat, and light can degrade medication so they no longer work how they are meant to. Degradation of Meds for Less medications that are not stored properly can also mean they expire faster than the expected expiry date on the package. This can make your treatment less effective which can be risky if you have a condition that requires tight control. Additionally, there are safety issues to consider when you store any medication. Take care to keep it out of reach of children and pets who may take it accidentally and poison themselves.

Basic Principles of Safe Medication Storage

To store your medication safely, here are some tips that might be helpful:

• Some medications are packaged in a way that helps you store them properly, make sure you keep the medication in the original packaging. For example, some bottles are designed to protect medication from light and moisture. The packaging will also clearly display the name of the medication and the expiration date.
• Always follow the instructions in the medication package. Different medications may need to be stored and handled differently so it is good practice to check the labels each time.
• As a general rule, it is advised that you store medication away from sources of heat and light (e.g sunlight, radiators), or sources of moisture and damp (e.g in the bathroom). This can help maintain the quality and safety of the medication.
• Make sure medication is also out of reach of vulnerable people, children, and pets who may accidentally poison themselves by taking the medication. It is also advised that medication is stored separately from food or cleaning products to avoid any risk of confusion. You may want to get a lockable cupboard for medications.

Medication Storage Temperature Guidelines in the UK

Let’s get into some more specific guidance on medication storage temperature. If you read the labels of many medications, the temperature storage guidance can be broadly split into two categories: room temperature and refrigeration.

Room Temperature Storage

When the drug storage label says to keep at room temperature, this typically means that the medication should be stored in a place with a stable temperature (somewhere that does not get very hot or very cold). Some medications might specify “store below 30 degrees celsius” or store in a cool dry place. Overall, you want to avoid storing medication in places with a lot of sunlight (e.g window sill) or places above radiators or cookers that can get very hot.

When Refrigeration Is Required

Other medication labels might specify that the medication must be kept in the fridge or at “2 to 8 degrees celsius”. Some examples of these include: certain insulins, some eye drops, or some liquid antibiotics. You are very unlikely to need to store any medication in the freezer as most medicines degrade under such low temperatures. Again, much like the advice on room temperature storage, you want to make sure that temperature remains relatively constant in the fridge. You might want to store medication in a clearly marked box or shelf instead of the door shelves where the temperature is more likely to fluctuate. Having a clearly marked space can also help prevent any confusion with food.

Where to Store Medicines at Home

If you are unsure about where to store medicines at home, the instructions on the medication often advise on where you should keep each medication. However, as a general suggestion, let’s be more specific and go through some good locations to store medication and some places you should avoid:

Storage of Different Types of Medicines

As there are so many different types or forms of medication, it makes sense that safe medication storage may vary slightly between the different forms of medication. The main forms of medications you might need to store at home are: tablets or capsules, liquid medicines, creams or ointments or eye drops, and inhalers and insulin.

Tablets and Capsules

Tablets or capsules usually come in a bottle or in a package with individual slots for each tablet/capsule. Keep the medication in this original packaging for easy identification and optimum storage. For safety reasons, you want to put medication out of reach of children and pets. Also, to reduce the risk of the medication from being contaminated and degrading, store in a place away from heat, moisture, and light.

Liquid Medicines

These will usually come in a bottle, store the bottle upright and close the lid tightly. This can help to reduce the risk of leaks or contamination. Also, when it comes to liquid medicines, you should read the instructions label carefully to check if the medication needs to be stored in the fridge. Instructions to refrigerate medication are more likely in liquid medication compared to tablets or capsules. Another point to note is the difference between the expiry date and the number of days you can use the medication “once opened”, make a note of this as these are usually different.

Creams, Ointments, and Eye Drops

To reduce the risk of contaminating creams, ointments, and eye drops, keep the container clean and upright, and close the lid tightly. Check the expiry date and the recommendations for how long it is safe to use the medication for once opened. Additionally, you should check if the medication needs to be refrigerated. Otherwise, follow the general principles of storing creams, ointments, and eye drops in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.

Inhalers and Insulin

Inhalers and insulin are some of the most common long-term medication types where storage is very important. There is a large variety of insulin and inhaler types so make sure to read the instructions regarding the specific type of insulin or inhaler that you have been prescribed. For inhalers, make sure you clean the mouthpieces before and after every use and then keep the cap on when not in use. You should also take care to store your inhalers in a cool, dry place away from direct cold or heat.

For insulin medication storage temperature guidelines uk, many manufacturers specify that unopened insulin should be stored in the fridge (at around 2 to 8 degrees Celsius). However, once you are using it, insulin cartridges or pens can often be kept at room temperature for a certain period of time. Check the instruction leaflet on the insulin package for the timeframe for that specific product.

Pharmaceutical Storage: What to Do When Medicines Expire

If upon checking the medication label you have realised that your medication has expired, do not try to assess if it might still be safe to take, NHS guidelines recommend that you do not use expired medication. This is because, past the expiry date, the manufacturer cannot ensure that the medication is still effective or safe to use. You might then want to go through your pharma storage or medication cupboard to check if other medications have expired; it is best to do this semi-regularly (e.g every few months). Then, take your expired medication to your local pharmacy, they can collect it and safely dispose of it for you.

Common Medication Storage Mistakes

You might think that storing medication safely may seem like an uncomplicated task. You may even wonder why there is a full article on it. However, storing medication inappropriately is actually fairly common mistake so it is worth highlighting some common mistakes in storing medication such as:

• Storing your medication in the bathroom where the heat and moisture can degrade medications
• Storing your medication in your car where the heat and exposure to light can degrade medications
• Keeping your family’s medication all together in one box can mean that medications may get confused and someone could accidentally take the wrong medication.
• Putting medication in places where children or pets can easily access, this increases the risk of accidental poisoning
• Not reading the medication storage guidelines and storing at room temperature when the medication needs to be refrigerated which can degrade the medication or increase the risk of contamination
• Not reading the instructions and using the medication until the expiry date when there is separate guidance on using the medication within ‘x’ number of days ‘once opened’

Key Medication Storage Guidelines to Remember

Hopefully you now have a better idea of how to store drugs. It is important to read the instructions on medication packaging carefully. The instructions may specify particular conditions for storing the medication (e.g store in a fridge) but overall it is advised that you keep medication in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and out of reach of children and pets. Also, you should check the expiry date and return any expired medicines to your local pharmacy for disposal.