Usually, we may often encounter situations where the drug is still within its shelf life, but the tablet has discolored or expanded, or several tablets stick together due to moisture, and ultimately have to discard the medication that could have been taken, resulting in unnecessary waste. In fact, these situations are all caused by incorrect methods of storing drugs, and as long as the drugs are stored properly, the above situations will not occur.
So, how can we properly preserve drugs?
Firstly, almost all drug packaging or labels will indicate the storage method of the drug. Before receiving a new drug or using up the remaining drugs, we only need to verify and read the written instructions on the label for the storage method, and then store them appropriately according to the written instructions;
If the drug has its original packaging, it is best to first place it in the original drug packaging box and then put it in a sealed drug storage case（storage box）. The storage container of drugs must be sealed to prevent dust and other things from entering the medicine box. So, we must not use paper boxes as storage boxes for drugs; Due to the fact that many drugs contain various ingredients, such as vitamin C, nitroglycerin, aminophylline, etc., which can deteriorate due to light, containers for storing drugs must have a shading effect. There are also many drugs with various chemical components that are easily affected by moisture. Therefore, the drug storage box must be waterproof and moisture-proof to prevent drugs from getting damp and moldy. Other drugs are in liquid form packaged in glass bottles, such as various oral liquids, which are easily crushed by external forces. Therefore, a good drug storage box must also have a shockproof and fall proof protective effect.
Incorrect drug storage method
1. Some people often mix various medications for internal use, external use, adult use, and children's use together. This can easily lead to incorrect medication, especially for some adult and children's drugs with the same name and similar appearance but different specifications. If an adult's medication is mistakenly given to a child, it can easily cause irreparable harm to the child's health.
2. Some people do not value the original packaging of drugs. Many people like to throw away the packaging boxes of drugs when storing them, especially when going out, in order to save space, and then put the necessary drugs in one storage container. Due to the fact that many drugs are composed of different chemical components, the storage method of placing many drugs in one container can easily affect the stability and efficacy of drugs, and even different types of drugs may undergo chemical reactions when placed together.
3. Many people like to store all their medications in a small refrigerator at home. Because various drugs have different properties and are often affected by light, heat, air, moisture, etc., they may deteriorate and become ineffective. Therefore, some drugs that need to be stored at room temperature are not suitable for refrigeration.
4. Most people believe that as long as the drug is used within the expiration date indicated on the drug packaging, it will definitely be effective. In fact, as long as all drugs are opened, their expiration date will change with changes in the storage environment. It is best to use liquid oral medication within the treatment course. Oral medications that have not been refrigerated and stored, even if stored strictly according to storage conditions, are generally not recommended to continue taking after being opened for more than a month (except for the expiration date of the medication that is clearly indicated in the instructions).