As temperatures drop, a Superdrug pharmacist is reminding people who regularly take painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen to check where they store their medication. Rachel Jones, Pharmacy Superintendent at Superdrug, warns that heat, steam, and moisture can affect the stability of some medicines, making bathrooms a challenging environment for storage.
Why Bathrooms Are Problematic
Jones explains that many people keep medicines in the bathroom because it feels natural, but the combination of heat, steam, and moisture can degrade tablets and capsules. She advises following the storage instructions on packaging or patient information leaflets, which often recommend a cool, dry place.
A bedroom drawer or cupboard away from radiators and direct sunlight may be more suitable, provided medicines remain out of sight and reach of children. Jones also cautions against automatically moving everything to the fridge; medicines should only be refrigerated when their specific instructions say so.
Painkillers and Antihistamines
Common painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen should be kept in their original containers, not transferred to unlabelled packaging, to maintain protection and retain usage and storage details. Even within their expiry date, tablets that show changes in appearance, texture, or smell, or that appear cracked, chipped, or clumping together, should be checked by a pharmacist.
Antihistamines, used year-round for allergic symptoms, should also be stored according to instructions. Jones notes that not every runny nose is an allergy, as colds and respiratory illnesses become common in autumn, and advises speaking to a pharmacist if unsure about symptoms or treatment.
Contraceptives and Prescription Medicines
Oral contraceptives, often stored in bathrooms for convenience, should remain in their original packaging and be kept in line with supplied instructions. Jones advises against guessing if storage may have been affected, recommending a pharmacist or healthcare professional for advice.
Prescription medicines have varied storage needs; some require protection from moisture or light, while others have specific temperature requirements. Jones stresses reading the label and patient information leaflet rather than assuming one storage rule applies to all medicines, and never removing prescription medication from its packaging for aesthetic reasons.
Refrigeration and Final Advice
Some medications, including certain injections, creams, ointments, and eye drops, may need refrigeration, but many do not. Jones warns that the fridge is not a universal solution, and putting medicine there when not required is not necessarily better. The safest rule, she says, is to follow the storage instructions for each individual product.
