Just like food spoils in hot and humid summers, medicines can also deteriorate. Deteriorated medicines may lose their effectiveness or even harm health. How should we properly store medicines during the summer?

Some medications must be stored in the refrigerator.

Most medicines can be stored at room temperature even during the summer. If kept in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight at a temperature of 25°C and humidity below 60%, there are generally no major issues.

However, some medications are sensitive to temperature and humidity, which can cause problems. Including antibiotics, syrup formulations, and nitroglycerin among popular medications.

Supplements such as vitamins, probiotics, and omega-3s easily deteriorate in hot and humid environments.

That doesn't mean that medication must always be stored in the refrigerator during summer.

Only a portion of the medication requires refrigeration.

For medications that require refrigeration

▲Diabetes injections such as insulin injections

Growth hormone injection

▲ Jala-com Eye Drops and other glaucoma and intraocular pressure lowering eye drops

There are suppositories, such as acetaminophen, that melt at room temperature.

In particular, diabetes medications require different storage temperatures depending on their ingredients, and even the same medication needs careful attention because the storage temperature can differ before and after opening. Meanwhile, some medications, such as liquid digestives, can deteriorate in their ingredients if stored in the refrigerator, affecting their effectiveness, so it is important to properly check the storage instructions for each medication.

◇ Discoloration or damage, discard immediately

If you suspect the medication has deteriorated due to improper storage, it should be discarded immediately.

Spoiled medication can cause loss of efficacy or deterioration of effectiveness.

Caution is needed as taking it may cause serious side effects. Even if it has not been long since you received the prescription, if the medication shows a different shape, color, or smell from when you first received it, suspect spoilage and discard it.

▲ The white pill turns yellowish or pinkish in color.

▲ Powder medication clumping or sticking together

▲The soft capsule contents leak out, becoming sticky or gooey.

▲The capsule contents have burst and contaminated the surrounding medication.

▲If the medicine swells and cracks, you should suspect that it has deteriorated.

Meanwhile, expired or spoiled medicines should not be disposed of with regular trash, as this can cause environmental pollution and disrupt the ecosystem. Therefore, they should be disposed of at nearby collection bins for expired medicines, pharmacies, community centers, or local health clinics.

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It seems that arginine has split.

There are now only six left, so I guess we should just discard them.

Maps and nutritional supplements are also good for health, so I make sure to take them.

I should be well aware and take care of it.