When it gets hot, medicines and supplements can also spoil... Is it safe to keep them in the refrigerator?

Food spoils easily during hot and humid summers. Medications are no exception. Spoiled medicines can lose their effectiveness or become harmful to health. How should they be stored properly?

Even if the medication was received not long ago, if its color, shape, or smell differs from when it was first received, it may be spoiled.

▲ When the white pill turns yellowish or pinkish

▲ When powder medication clumps together

▲When the contents of the soft capsule leak out and become sticky

▲In case the capsule contents burst and contaminate surrounding medication

▲In case the medication swells or cracks

Back pain is a typical case suspected of medication deterioration.

Vitamins, probiotics, omega-3s, antibiotics, syrups, and other medications are particularly vulnerable to hot and humid weather. Medications exposed to high temperatures and humidity often lose their effectiveness. For example, diazepam, used as a sedative or skeletal muscle relaxant, loses 25% of its potency when exposed to temperatures above 36°C, while lorazepam, an antipsychotic drug, can lose up to 75%. If medications taken in emergency situations deteriorate, patients may be put at risk. The vasodilator nitroglycerin, used for angina attacks, is susceptible to humidity and can easily deteriorate. If it deteriorates and the patient is unaware that its effectiveness has been lost, administering the medication could be life-threatening.

Storing medication in the refrigerator is not always the best solution. Except for certain medications like Duac Gel and other acne ointments that require refrigeration, most medicines should be stored in a cool, dry place at around 25°C with humidity below 60%, away from direct sunlight. It is also not advisable to only refrigerate medications on hot days and then take them out; experiencing temperature fluctuations increases the risk of deterioration. Epinephrine, for example, is known to lose 64% of its potency when repeatedly exposed to high and low temperatures. Since the appropriate storage temperature and humidity vary depending on the ingredients and formulation, it is best to consult a pharmacist for the correct storage instructions.