The quality of the drug and its effectiveness in treating a particular disease depend on storage conditions. In everyday life, few people think about how and where exactly to store medicines at home, and ordinary everyday mistakes can lead to negative consequences. Stanislav Smirnov, head of the quality department of the pharmaceutical logistics operator NC Logistic, told socialbites.ca.
“The most common mistake is to keep all medications in one medicine cabinet or cupboard. In this case, the drugs are kept at room temperature just above 20°C. This indication is not suitable for all drugs. There are heat-sensitive products, which include various ointments, suppositories, creams, drops, hormonal and antibacterial drugs. Such medications should only be stored in a cold or cool place. Cold is +2…+8°C, cold is +8…+15°C. “In the first case, it is recommended to store it on the shelf of the refrigerator, in the second case, in the door compartment,” explained the expert.
According to the technologist, the manufacturer clearly states in the instructions where to store the medicine. Consumers often miss this point when reviewing a document. As a result, the medicine is sent to the general first aid kit, even if it requires a different temperature regime.
“Another mistake is to keep the medicine bottle in the bathroom or kitchen. Some medications need to be stored in a dry place. Humidity levels are always exceeded in the bathroom, so you can’t put a first aid kit in there. Temperature and humidity constantly change due to cooking in the kitchen. Here these parameters are generally higher than in other rooms,” Smirnov emphasized.
There are often cases when people store medicines in primary packaging (blisters, ampoules, vials, etc.). This is definitely not worth doing.
“First of all, the secondary packaging (a cardboard box) also protects the medicine from light, moisture and mechanical stress. Secondly, it shows the expiration date of the medicine, which is always easy to read. For example, this will help if you suddenly cut out some of the empty cells in a bubble with information about the production date,” added the expert.
The technologist urged to remember that violation of storage rules leads to a decrease in the pharmacological properties of the drug and a decrease in its shelf life.
“Therefore, always read the instructions carefully and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Place heat-sensitive medications in the refrigerator. “Medications that do not require special temperature conditions can be stored in a cabinet protected from light where the humidity does not exceed 50%,” he said.
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