Medication is intended to treat illness, ease symptoms and safeguard our health. As South Africa celebrates its annual Pharmacy Month this September, a pharmacist from South Africa’s first national courier pharmacy issues a crucial warning: misuse or improper storage of medications can lead to serious health risks, including adverse drug reactions and, in some cases, devastating outcomes. Here is what you need to know to keep yourself and your family safe.
“Medications, including prescription, over-the-counter and herbal medicines, come in various formulations such as tablets, liquids, inhalers, creams, patches, suppositories and injections. To ensure medications remain effective and safe, it is essential that all households understand the basics when it comes to using and storing medicines,” says Kenalemang Sello, pharmacist and clinical analyst at Medipost Pharmacy.
Keep safe from curious children
“Young children are naturally curious and may be attracted to medicines, especially those that are brightly coloured, which may look like sweets to a child. To prevent accidental poisoning, always keep medicines out of reach and sight of children, preferably locked in a cabinet or on a high shelf,” she advises.
“Parents should educate children about medicine safety from a young age, and never leave them unattended with medication, as they could choke, poison themselves, or overdose within minutes. Always store medications in their original containers, and do not change child-resistant caps to easier-to-open containers. Make it a rule to avoid leaving medication on countertops, tables, in purses or backpacks where it will be accessible to inquisitive little fingers.”
Steamy showers can damage medicines
Another golden rule of medication safety, Sello points out, is that medicines must be stored in specific conditions: “Medicines should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat. “The heat and moisture from your shower, bath, and sink may damage your medication, causing it to become less potent and lose effectiveness over time,” she says.
“If medications are not stored in airtight containers, they can absorb moisture, which may alter their properties, leading to microbial contamination. Antibiotics and antifungals are particularly sensitive to moisture, causing them to lose potency, become discoloured, or develop mould or fungus.”
A medicine cabinet or a cupboard in a dry room in your home is an excellent place to keep medications. If your medicine cabinet is in your kitchen, Sello advises it should be placed well away from the stove, sink, and other heat and moisture sources to preserve its medicinal properties.
Sello explains that medication stability is crucial for maintaining both the effectiveness and safety of treatments. “Factors such as temperature, humidity, light, and air exposure significantly influence the potency, safety, and overall quality of medications, and these are key priorities in the storage, dispensing and delivery of all medications for Medipost Pharmacy patients countrywide.
Keeping treatment effective
“Therefore, when medications are transported, stored or handled without protection from these elements, they may no longer be relied on to deliver the intended therapeutic effects. In the case of chronic medicines for long-term health conditions, this could interfere with treatment and is a significant concern for patients’ wellbeing and disease management,” Sello says.
The Medipost Holdings Group’s in-house supply and distribution service, Kawari Wholesalers, sources medicines directly from pharmaceutical manufacturers. At the same time, the group logistics company, MediLogistics, transports them to Medipost Pharmacy adhering to Good Pharmacy Practice standards. Once dispensed, MediLogistics ensures the patient-ready medicine parcels reach patients directly or are delivered at designated medicine collection points, thus completing a seamless continuum of care.
She notes that temperature is key to maintaining the stability of compounds, and most medications are designed to be stored at specific temperature ranges to maintain effectiveness and prevent degradation. Most medications, including tablets, capsules, and over-the-counter products, are best stored at room temperature unless otherwise stated on the packaging.
“Certain medications, however, including insulin, biological products, and liquid antibiotics, need to be kept cold and stored in the refrigerator, as storing them outside of the recommended temperature range can cause the medicine to lose effectiveness or become harmful. Insulin is one of the medications that lose stability when frozen and thawed, which demonstrates why it is essential to get to know the basics of medication storage and safety,” she says.
“Freezing medications is generally not recommended as it can alter the drug’s chemical structure, causing instability and reduced efficacy. High temperatures, on the other hand, can cause medication to degrade more quickly, breaking down the active ingredients, which can reduce their effectiveness, and potentially result in harmful byproducts.”
Exposure to light or air is also to be avoided for keeping your medications in tip-top condition. “Either sunlight or artificial light can degrade certain medications, mainly those containing vitamins or hormonal treatments. Nitroglycerin tablets, prescribed for angina (chest pain), are one example of medications that degrade when exposed to light, and patients should be alert for any change in colour or appearance that can indicate potential safety concerns.
“To prevent degradation, many medications are supplied in airtight packaging or sealed blister packs. It is best not to remove medications from their packaging too early or leave them exposed for extended periods to air, light or other contaminants to avoid these issues,” she says.
Check the expiry date
The expiration date is another key aspect of medication safety. “This is not only a warning that the product becomes unusable, but it also ensures the medication remains in optimal condition up until this date. After the expiration date, some medications may lose their efficacy, meaning they will no longer be as effective in controlling the health condition, or produce unwanted substances that could be harmful to the body, so it really is important to check medications before use and replace any that are past their expiry date,” Sello says.
She explains that medications should never be thrown in the trash or flushed down the toilet or drain, as they can harm the environment and potentially contaminate the water supply. “Proper disposal of expired medication is crucial to prevent accidental ingestion or environmental contamination. Many pharmacies and healthcare facilities offer medication disposal programmes where unused or expired medications can be handed in,” she advises.
Watch out for medication warnings
Familiarise yourself with the medication package insert and take careful heed of any warnings or contraindications and discuss any concerns with your doctor or pharmacy team before taking any new medicines.
“For example, it is important to read the warning label on medications to avoid unsafe side effects that could make driving or working with heavy machinery unsafe. Common warnings include ‘Do not operate heavy machinery’ or ‘May cause drowsiness and dizziness,” Sello says.
“Medications are essential for maintaining health and managing conditions, but they can also affect alertness and the ability to operate heavy machinery. Common side effects include drowsiness, fatigue, impaired coordination, dizziness, fainting, confusion, mood changes, nausea, vomiting, eye and hearing problems, and slower reaction times. It is essential to be aware of these potential risks to stay safe when taking medication.”
Never share medication with others. Sharing medication with others is risky due to the unique health conditions and medical histories of each individual. Remember, doses for adults and children differ. Sharing can lead to serious health risks like allergic reactions, medication interactions, side effects, overdose or addiction, and can even result in legal issues. It is recommended to consult a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
10 tips for parents on safe medication use
Medipost Pharmacy’s clinical analyst, pharmacist Kenalemang Sello, provides 10 tips for parents to ensure their children’s medication is administered safely and correctly:
Only use medications for their intended purpose, and never for conditions they are not prescribed or recommended to treat.
- Always wash your hands before giving your child medicine.
- Shake the bottle before measuring the dose of liquid medicines.
- Read the warnings and precautions to know whether your child should take the medicine with food or water and what interactions with other medications, or possible side effects to watch for.
- Check the expiration date and dispose of expired medicines safely.
- If your child is taking tablets or capsules, they should swallow them whole unless a healthcare provider says it’s okay to break or chew them. If they can’t swallow the pills, ask your provider or pharmacist if the medicine is available in a liquid or other form.
- If your child refuses to take the medicine, explain why they need it. You can try to make it more appealing by mixing it with food or yoghurt. If they still refuse, talk to your paediatrician about trying a different medicine, dosage form, or flavour.
- If you miss a dose, give it as soon as you remember. If it’s too close to the next dose, skip the missed dose and stick to the normal schedule. You usually don’t want to take or give your child a double dose.
- Give your child the dosage of medication exactly as directed. Do not give them less or more than recommended. If medicine is not helping to relieve your child’s symptoms, discuss other options with a healthcare provider.
- Talk to your child’s doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you notice any side effects. While some side effects are mild and go away on their own, others can be serious.
- Only use medications for their intended purpose, and never for conditions they are not prescribed or recommended to treat.
