Storing medicines safely at home
Heat, moisture and curious children are the main risks. A few simple habits keep medicines effective and out of reach.
Most medicines should be kept in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. The bathroom cabinet is often a poor choice because steam and warmth can degrade some products.
Keep the original packaging
The label contains the dose, batch number and expiry date. Moving tablets into an unlabelled container makes it easy to take the wrong medicine.
Lock away risky products
Store all medicines out of sight and reach of children. Opioids and other high-risk medicines should be locked away.
Dispose of unwanted medicines
Take expired or unused medicines to a pharmacy take-back point where available. Do not flush them down the toilet unless the label says to.
General information only. This article does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist.