It is said that there is no home without medications, and we take them for everything, starting from relieving pain temporarily, up to taking the therapy for our chronic condition. The pharmaceutical industry has greatly improved the lives of many people all over the world, and because of the pills that we take, we can live longer, better, and healthier lives. When we buy the pills that we need, we usually put them in the medication drawer, and we forget about them until we need them. Sometimes we can take a pill, and just throw the box with the rest of the pills somewhere close, and we forget about them as well. If you go to your pills’ cabinet or drawer, and look at all the boxes and bottles there, chances are, you will find at least three that are already expired. Not storing your medications properly can lead to serious issues, and taking them past the due date, can endanger your health greatly.
Most people believe that just because the pills come in a bottle or a box, that they should not worry about anything else, and that the pills will be magically good until we run out of them. When it comes to specific drugs that we take daily for our chronic conditions, chances are, we pay more attention to the way we store it. On the other hand, when we purchase things for pain relief, or for the common cold, and we use them only once or twice per month, we usually store them in the wrong way. If you are not sure how you should properly keep your pills, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we are going to give you more information on not just how you should store your medication, but we will also give you some tips on how to label them as well. You will never again mix them, and you will never forget if you’ve taken the right pills for the day, or if you should recount every single piece left in the bottle.
Common mistakes and what you should pay attention to
Many people don’t really know why they should pay attention to the way their medication is stored, and they think that you can put them anywhere you like. Well, if you don’t keep the pills in the correct way, you risk them getting bad faster than the expiration date, you risk your children or small animals reaching them, and you even risk taking the wrong medication or dose than prescribed.
It is said that most people learn by watching what others do, and the issue that comes with pills is that when we play a movie, we can see that in most of the scenes, the roles are keeping their medication in the cabinet in the bathroom. We believe that that is the proper way to store the medication, and many people do that.
The issue with storing medicine in the bathroom is that the room constantly changes temperatures, and when you shower at least once a day, especially if you like warm showers, that will affect the products in the long run. You should never keep your bottles in a place where the temperature varies too much, and because of that, you should keep them away from the bathroom, or the drawers and cabinets in the kitchen that are near or above the stove.
In addition to this, you should not store your bottles in the fridge as well. Many people think that they will extend their lifetime, but in reality, unless it’s specifically written on the label, you should never keep the bottles or the boxes in the refrigerator.
When it comes to labels, the biggest mistake people make is not putting down the expiration date, or they use markers and pens that will disappear over time. You need to be able to read the label even after a few months, plus everyone who uses the pills should be able to do that.
Note that when you reuse bottles, you need to properly clean them and make sure there isn’t any residue from the previous type of pills. So, you should wash them, possibly in the dishwasher. You should also remove any of the previous stickers so that you don’t get confused about the dosage or expiration dates. Removing the previous label is crucial, and if you are looking for something that works to remove stickers, you can click here. Take your time, remove all the label parts, and then, apply a new label on the old, cleaned bottle.
What’s the proper way to store pills?
When choosing the right place to keep the pills, you should choose a drawer or a cabinet that won’t be easily reached by children. You should never put the products in direct sunlight, and you should keep them away from wet or moist places. It is said that a cool, dark place works the best, so you should either put them in a drawer or a cabinet that is far away from heat or water.
If possible, you should always use the original container, but if the drugs did not come in a special container, then you should not keep them in a small paper bag. Use special bottles that are going to be airtight, and don’t forget to write the name of the product, expiration date, and instructions for use. That way, no matter how much time passes, you will be able to see how you should take it, and what it is used for.
If you are unsure how you should keep the capsules, then you can talk to your doctor or the pharmacist, and you should never keep the pills for longer than necessary. If you need to take therapy for a chronic condition, you should keep those products on a separate side of the cabinet. That way, you will never take the wrong bottle.
Experts suggest that you should clean the drawer or the cabinet at least once per year, and if you notice that some of the products are past their due date, you should dispose of the capsules in the proper way. By doing all these things, you are going to protect yourself and everyone you live with. Take a few hours per year to organize the containers and know that those few hours will save you a lot of money, time, and trouble in the long run.