medicine cabinet
How to store your medication correctly
A well-stocked medicine cabinet has a number of advantages.
© Przemek Klos/Shutterstock.com
Setting up your own medicine chest is easier than you think. It works with these five tips.
Not only since the corona pandemic has it made sense to keep a well-stocked medicine cabinet. Anyone who suddenly falls ill with a cold or cuts their finger while cooking is grateful if the cough syrup and plaster are at hand. However, some do not know how best to set up their own home pharmacy – after all, there are a few things to pay attention to. With these five tips, you can have your own medicine cabinet.
Absolute must-haves for the medicine chest
Doctors recommend storing medicines for colds, diarrhea, fever, vomiting and pain in your own home pharmacy. It is also advised to have a supply of remedies for sunburn, burns and insect bites.
In addition, there are utensils that are important for supply. A clinical thermometer, bandages, disinfectant, scissors, a tick card, tweezers, a hot-water bottle, cold compresses and disposable gloves are advisable for the medicine cabinet.
Where do I keep everything?
Finding the perfect place for your own medicine chest is not easy. The storage location should not be too hot, direct sunlight and the vicinity of the heater should therefore be avoided. However, the bathroom is not suitable for medication – the moisture could have a negative effect on pills and the like.
It is best to store the medication in a lockable cupboard. Small children in particular should not be able to access the products.
Proper Separation
Anyone who keeps pets often has medicines for these at home. These should not be kept with the medicines for humans – there is a risk of confusion. It is also important to keep your eyes open if the outer packaging of the tablets has already been thrown away. Many pill blisters look identical, but may contain a wide variety of medications.
Always check durability
Medicines, like food, have an expiry date. Expired juices or tablets should not be consumed and should be thrown away instead. Bandages can also expire. If the date has passed, gauze bandages and more may no longer be sterile.
How do I dispose of medicines correctly?
Prescription drugs should not be used beyond the expiration date and should be disposed of in an opaque bag (safe from children). Non-prescription drugs sometimes last longer beyond the best-before date. Here you should pay attention to the smell and the consistency, possibly also the color. If there are strange changes, these drugs should also end up in the normal household waste. To be on the safe side, the medicine should not be disposed of until the day the bin is emptied.