Medicines are sensitive to variations in temperature, humidity and light, which can alter their properties and therefore their effectiveness.
Paracetamol, cough syrup, sleeping pills, nasal spray, disinfectant… We have all these essential daily medications stored somewhere in our home, ready to be used for the slightest ailment. But where exactly? Although the storage conditions are generally indicated on the packaging, they are rarely checked. However, a tablet stored in the wrong place is not simply a tablet that expires more quickly: it is also a tablet that can lose its effectiveness. And it goes very quickly…
The number one enemy of our medicines is humidity. The latter can “accelerate the degradation of drugs and significantly reduce their effectiveness”warns Dr Anum Ahmed, British pharmacy doctor. Because our treatments are fragile products: “Drugs are sensitive to variations in temperature, humidity and light, which can alter their chemical and physical properties“, recalls the Cyclamed organization. Humidity particularly affects “the stability of medications, particularly those in tablet or capsule form”. Result: the treatment deteriorates prematurely, well before the initially indicated expiry date.
What places should you absolutely avoid? The car, first of all, constitutes a formidable trap: “too hot in summer, too cold in winter”according to Anum Ahmed. Cooking also poses a risk, because “heat and humidity are often important” near the cooking plates. Window sills, exposed to the sun, “can also alter medications and make them ineffective”continues the pharmacist in a video. But the worst part remains, against all odds, “the most common place to store medications” : the bathroom.
This room where steam accumulates and humidity rises with every shower. The FAMHP (Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products) is categorical: “Avoid storing your medications in your bathroom: the atmosphere there is too humid.” For optimal conservation, Anum Ahmed recommends “a cool, dry place, such as a bedside drawer or cupboard, away from heat and humidity, and out of reach of children”.
Some treatments require a refrigerator (between 2 and 8°C), and eye drops have a limited duration. “1 month after opening”according to the FAMHP. You should therefore always read the packaging and the instructions. Finally, regular sorting makes it possible to eliminate expired products, which must be returned to the pharmacy for destruction.
