Improper storage is very dangerous! Shouldn't medicines be placed in the refrigerator after a medical consultation? Taiwan Health Promotion Administration: Remember the "Three Don'ts"
Are medicines that “break when touched” improperly stored? Please read the “storage conditions” clearly before storing.
Taiwan’s summers are hot and humid, with indoor temperatures often exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. As a result, when people take medicine, they often find that the pills “break when touched” or even become moldy. Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, Health Promotion Administration pointed out that the above phenomenon may be related to improper storage methods of medicines. There is even a myth that refrigerators can store medicines for a long time, so that people take home medicines and store them in refrigerators. Inappropriate situation.
Do medicines need to be kept in the refrigerator? Taiwan Health Promotion Administration reminds you that you should refer to the storage conditions indicated on the medicine bag in advance (such as: refrigerated, room temperature, below 25°C or sealed from light, etc.); if the repackaged medicine is taken out from the original packaging of the pharmaceutical factory, because Since it has been stored outside the original packaging, the shelf life will be shortened accordingly. Therefore, it should be consumed within the specified period according to the doctor’s advice. Once the expiry date on the medicine bag has expired, it cannot be taken again. If you cannot confirm whether the medicine has expired, you can ask your doctor or pharmacist in advance.
Leaving the refrigerator indiscriminately may kill you! Remember the “3 Don’ts” when storing medicine after buying it
The Taiwan Health Promotion Administration stated that most medicines are easily affected by environmental factors such as light, moisture, and temperature and deteriorate. Therefore, the following “three principles” should be followed when storing medicines:
1. Do not store the refrigerator arbitrarily.
Most medicines only need to be stored in a dry, cool and dark place at room temperature. If the medicine is repeatedly brought back and forth between the refrigerator and room temperature, the medicine will absorb moisture and increase the risk of deterioration.Therefore, unless it is stated on the medicine bag or package that it needs to be refrigerated or kept at a temperature of 2~8°C (for example: insulin for the treatment of diabetes), other medicines without special instructions are recommended to be stored at room temperature, ventilated and Avoid direct sunlight. If the temperature at home is often higher than 30°C, you can confirm with your pharmacist whether it is suitable to put medicines stored at room temperature in the refrigerator or if there are other options.
2. Do not place it in a kitchen or window exposed to direct sunlight, humidity, or high temperature.
Avoiding light, moisture and high temperature are important storage principles for medicines. If placed in humid, hot or direct sunlight places such as bathrooms, kitchens, windows, etc., the efficacy of the medicine may be compromised or even deteriorate. In addition, the temperature in a closed car in summer can reach over 50°C. Do not leave medicine in the car.
Certain life-saving drugs, such as nitroglycerin tablets to relieve angina, cardiovascular disease drugs, anti-epileptic drugs, oral chemotherapy drugs, insulin and hormonal preparations, anti-infective drugs, etc., must be strictly stored in the correct way. If you cannot confirm whether you can continue to take it due to improper placement or storage, you can consult a pharmacist or other medical professional. Do not stop taking the medicine without authorization or continue taking it alone.
3. Do not repackage medicines and place them in other containers without authorization.
After taking the medicine, you should put the medicine back into the original (medicine) bag and seal it to avoid unauthorized repackaging of the medicine into other containers, which may lead to eating the wrong medicine or taking expired medicine. When necessary (such as assisting elders to take medicine on time, etc.), please first consult a pharmacist or other medical professional whether the medicine can be repackaged and related precautions.
In addition, the Taiwan Health Promotion Administration also stated that some containers originally containing medicines are inherently light-proof and heat-insulating. Unauthorized repackaging can easily cause the medicines to deteriorate. In addition, do not throw away the outer packaging before using up the medicine to avoid mistaking the medicine and accidentally ingesting it, which may cause physical harm.
How to tell if medicine has gone bad? How to dispose of discarded medicines at home?
If a medicine unfortunately goes bad, how can it be distinguished from normal medicine? The Taiwan Health Promotion Administration stated that to determine whether the active ingredients of a drug are reduced and its effectiveness is reduced due to chemical reactions, etc., it is generally necessary to use special instruments and conduct testing in accordance with the methods specified in the pharmacopoeia. However, some changes in the appearance of drugs can be directly observed with the naked eye, such as:
Changes in the color, odor, texture or taste of the medicine.
The liquid medicine precipitates, or the clear liquid becomes turbid.
The tablet becomes brittle or easily crushed.
The capsule becomes hard or soft and different from the original one.
Water comes out of the ointment or the emulsion separates.
The powder agglomerates, gets damp, and changes color.
The suppository becomes soft or melts.
If the appearance of the medicine changes accidentally due to being left under high heat for a period of time, and you cannot confirm whether it can be continued to be taken, you can consult a pharmacist or other medical professionals. Do not stop taking the medicine without permission or continue taking it without permission. Once the medicine has expired or deteriorated and cannot be taken, with the guidance and assistance of a pharmacist, you can initially classify the discarded medicines at home. Except for “anticancer drugs and immunosuppressants”, “antibiotics”, and “hormone preparations” due to the risk of environmental pollution, and “controlled drugs” that need to be handed over to pharmacists or medical institutions due to regulatory requirements and to avoid misuse and abuse, The remaining general waste pharmaceuticals can be treated as general garbage and incinerated at high temperature after appropriate treatment.
Taiwan Health Promotion Administration reminds that every medicine has a shelf life. In order to ensure the safety of medication, it is necessary to “clean the medicine cabinet” regularly to check whether the medicine has expired or deteriorated. Medicines are not candy or food, do not share them with others, and not all people are suitable for the same medicine. If you have any physical pain, you should go to a medical institution to ask a doctor for diagnosis and give you medicine according to the symptoms. In addition, it is safest to take medicines with plain water. Try not to mix them with drinks, milk or tea, so as not to affect the efficacy of the medicine or cause side effects. Medication safety is as important as proper storage.
Source:
Further reading:
Don’t want it every day? Does taking medicine affect sexual function? Antidepressants, blood pressure drugs, and stomach medicines are on the list
