How to store medicines at home the right way

Medicines work best when they are stored the way the label says. Heat, humidity and sunlight can weaken them long before the expiry date, and Indian summers are hard on a medicine cabinet.

Read the label first

Most packs say “Store below 25°C” or “Store below 30°C”, “Protect from light and moisture”. Some, like insulin and certain eye drops or vaccines, say “Store in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C)”. Follow what is printed; it is specific to that product.

Good places and bad places

• Good: a closed cupboard in a cool, dry room, away from the stove and windows.
• Bad: the bathroom (steam and humidity), the kitchen counter near the stove, a car dashboard or a sunny windowsill.
• Fridge items go in the main body of the fridge, not the freezer and not the door if it gets warm. Never freeze insulin.

Keep the original pack

The strip or bottle protects the medicine and carries the name, batch number and expiry date. Cutting strips apart can remove the expiry date, so keep at least one intact edge. Here is how to check a pack is genuine.

Check expiry dates regularly

• Go through your medicines every few months and set aside anything past its expiry date.
• Eye drops and some syrups have a shorter life once opened; the label usually says how long, often about four weeks.
• Do not use a medicine that has changed colour, smell or texture, even if it is in date.

Keep medicines away from children

Store medicines up high and out of sight, in child-resistant containers where possible. Never call medicine “sweets” in front of children.

Track what you have

MedMate’s medicine schedule, coming with the app, will count the doses left in each pack and remind you to refill before you run out, for you and your family.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Ask your pharmacist how to store a specific medicine.