How to store medications in summer

In summer, with elevated temperatures and long periods of light, proper storage of medications becomes especially important. Improper storage can lead to loss of pharmacological properties of drugs, which can negatively affect human health. In this article we will look at how to properly store medications in the summer in order to preserve their pharmacological properties and not harm your health.

The most sensitive drugs

There is a certain list of drugs that are the most sensitive to high temperatures and light. These include hormonal drugs, antibiotics and drugs containing bacterial cultures, such as serums or vaccines. If such drugs are stored incorrectly, their properties are lost in a very short time. For example, ampoules with insulin that are kept at elevated temperatures for more than an hour lose their properties within a month, and preparations with nitroglycerin lose their pharmacological properties within an hour. For people suffering from diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, this can lead to serious consequences.

In addition, most medications deteriorate when exposed to direct sunlight. Under the influence of light, active substances can change their structure, thereby becoming useless. If your medicine is in the sun or on a windowsill for even just an hour, it will no longer have any value.

Be careful

Medicines stored in pharmacies must be stored strictly in accordance with the provisions in the instructions. To preserve all the properties of the drug, you must strictly adhere to the instructions, in particular, the requirements regarding storage of the drug. Some drugs need to be stored at room temperature (15-25 degrees). Some drugs are not sensitive to temperature changes and can be stored at high temperatures.

If the instructions indicate “Store in a cool place away from light” or “In a cool, dry place,” this means that this drug should be stored at a temperature no higher than 15 degrees, that is, it should be placed in the refrigerator (best at lower side shelf). To protect the drug from high humidity, wrap the package in thick film or place it in a sealed plastic bag.

If you travel in the summer and take medications with you, you need to make sure that they have not been exposed to high temperatures for a long time, for example, in the trunk of a car or in the sun. If you are not sure about the storage conditions, it is better to purchase a new package of the medicine.

It is also worth paying attention to the expiration date of medications. If the packaging is expired, the medicine may lose its properties and become hazardous to health.

It is important to remember that proper storage of medications in the summer is not only the preservation of their pharmacological properties, but also protection from dangerous health consequences. If you have any doubts or questions about storing your medications, you should consult your pharmacist or doctor.