The instructions for use of any drug indicate the permissible ranges of storage temperatures. But most people put all their medicines in a medicine cabinet. At the same time, non-compliance with temperature regimes in daily life can shorten the shelf life of the drug and even make its use dangerous. Harold Vlasov, general manager of pharmaceutical logistics operator NC Logistic, told socialbites.ca about this.
“For example, eye drops, ointments, suppositories, gels, insulins should be stored at +2…+8 °C or +8…+15°C. At the same time, people often leave the same eye drops on the desktop in the office or constantly carry them in a purse or pocket. Of course, in such cases, no storage requirements are met. However, due to the violation of temperature regimes during administration, in some cases the shelf life of the drug is reduced, in others its pharmacological properties are lost. Suppose the instructions say that the drug retains its pharmacological properties for 3 years. If you ignore the temperature regime, the shelf life can be shortened to several months, ”said the expert.
According to him, the danger of non-compliance with the temperature regime is that the average consumer does not even know about the decrease in the pharmacological properties of the drug after a while and continues to use it. And this means that at some point the drug may be ineffective or even harmful to treat the disease.
“The specific results are difficult to predict, because drugs with an expired shelf life can multiply side effects. It is individual for each drug and can be dangerous,” warned Harold Vlasov.
He noted that it is important to consider parameters such as light and humidity in addition to temperature when storing drugs. Usually, the instructions state that the drug should be stored in a dark place. In this case, it is better not to let the light hit the packaging.
“Some preparations should always be stored in a dry place where the humidity in the air does not exceed 50%. Usually a minimum threshold is also taken into account. Therefore, gelatin capsules cannot be stored at humidity below 40%. Otherwise, they can become brittle and break under mechanical stress,” he said.
The specialist advised that in order for the drug to remain effective throughout the entire expiration date declared by the manufacturer, it is imperative to follow the storage recommendations specified in the instructions.
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Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.