How to store medicines correctly

In the pharmacy dispensing work, pharmacists often hear parents ask questions such as "How to store this medicine", "Does this medicine need to be refrigerated", "How long can the medicine be used after it is opened", etc. Today, the little pharmacist will answer your questions about drug storage and the expiration date of medicines after opening, hoping to resolve the doubts of parents and friends in this regard.

Medicines are special commodities that are related to children's life safety and physical health. The quality of medicines is affected by many factors, such as the stability of the medicines themselves, the packaging materials of the medicines, the storage environment of the medicines, etc. The storage of medicines is affected by many external factors such as air, light, temperature, humidity, etc. If they are not stored correctly, the properties of the medicines will change, thereby shortening the shelf life of the medicines, increasing the risk of adverse drug reactions, and greatly reducing the clinical efficacy of the medicines. Therefore, after getting the medicines, parents should first carefully read the [Storage] item on the medicine packaging box or instructions. The medicine packaging has clear requirements for the storage conditions of the medicines, such as avoiding light and keeping in a cool place. The "Chinese Pharmacopoeia" has clear explanations of these terms (see the figure below).

If the storage conditions are not specified, it is generally sufficient to store the medicine at room temperature. The quality and efficacy of unopened medicines can be guaranteed within the specified storage conditions and validity period. So how should the medicines be stored and used after opening?

1. Liquid preparations: such as oral solutions, syrups, suspensions, etc., can be stored at room temperature for about one month after opening, and the shelf life can be appropriately extended in winter. It should be noted that before taking it again, you should check whether the properties of the drug have changed. If it deteriorates, do not continue to take it.

2. Bottled medicines: Use within 6 months after opening the bottle (within the validity period).

3. Ophthalmic preparations and nasal preparations: The shelf life after opening should not exceed 4 weeks. If the instructions specify the shelf life after opening, store and use according to the instructions.

4. Ointments: Various external ointments can generally be used for 2-3 months after opening. If there is any deterioration such as water leakage, particles, etc., they should not be used any further.

5. Break up the medicine and take it: try to finish it on the same day.

6. Insulin: No need to put in the refrigerator after opening, can be stored at room temperature for 4 weeks.

7. Nebulizer drugs: Acetylcysteine ​​should be placed in the refrigerator after opening and used within 24 hours; ipratropium bromide does not contain preservatives and the remaining part after opening should be discarded; Terbutaline can be stably stored in the nebulizer container for 24 hours; the drug solution should be used within 30 minutes after mixing.

8. Chloral hydrate oral solution: Prepare it on the day of examination.

Only by correctly storing and using medicines can we ensure the quality and safety of medicines, ensure the efficacy of medicines, reduce safety risks, and allow children to recover their health as soon as possible.

References

[1] Cao Yidan, Xu Jingbo, Xu Hong, et al. Summary and analysis of the current status of western medicine storage in the comprehensive medical pharmacy of our hospital [J]. China Medical Herald, 2017, 14(5): 133-136.

[2] Zhu Jinhua, Liu Jie. Investigation on the current status of drug storage in hospital outpatient pharmacies and optimization and improvement strategies[J]. Journal of Clinical Rational Drug Use, 2022, 15(5): 135-137.

[3] Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 Edition

Academic authenticity, the author is responsible for the content

Tianjin Children's Hospital

Author: Pharmacist Liu Dan

Reviewer: Sun Yanyan, Chief Pharmacist

Yu He, Chief Pharmacist