London - Where’s the best place to keep household medicines?
Medicine cabinets are often in the bathroom, but that is one of the worst places to store medication.
The moisture in the air from showers and baths can affect their texture, taste and even potency.
Sultan Dajani, pharmacist and spokesman for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Britain, says: “A lot of patients come back to me and say, ‘You gave me these pills and they’re crumbling’ or ‘It doesn’t taste right’.
“Very often it’s because they keep them in the bathroom. I can even tell if someone has a bath or shower just by looking at the packaging.”
And moisture can reduce the efficacy of a drug, says Heather Free of the American Pharmacists Association.
So where is the best place to keep them? Steer clear of the kitchen or anywhere that gets very warm because heat and sunlight can make a medicine less effective.
Dajani suggests a dry, dark, child-proof place – such as a high chest of drawers in your bedroom.
Daily Mail