Treat All Pills With Care

Americans are accustomed to taking pills for what ails them. Many health practitioners are concerned that we take so many pills, over-the-counter and prescription. But apart from the question of whether we over-medicate ourselves is the issue of safety. Studies are showing that what we do to protect our pills—all of our pills—is enormously important. Pills should be kept neither too hot nor too cold. Even bathroom humidity can destroy the usefulness of medications or supplements.

The Hidden Risks of Everyday Medications

When pills stick together, it’s a sign: They’ve been exposed to too much humidity. Pills can lose their effectiveness or even become dangerous under conditions that most of us do not think about. A recent New York Times article that outlined the many ways we thoughtlessly treat our pills stated, “For patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease, a damaged dose of a crucial medicine, like insulin or nitroglycerin, can be life-threatening.” Pills are usually the last thing we think of when packing for a trip. We put small amounts of shampoo and other odds and ends into plastic vials and a clear plastic bag that we show at the security checkpoint. But when it comes to our pills, we usually toss them into our checked baggage.

Why Proper Storage Matters More Than You Think

Out on the tarmac, checked bags sit on carts where pills may undergo great temperature extremes, depending on the season. When we take the pills out at our destination, they look the same, but they are not. Much of the food we eat is treated with preservatives to keep it from going “off.” Pills rarely include preservatives. And what we don’t realize is that, for example, not only can antibiotics decay when they get too hot or too cold, but they can also cause stomach or kidney damage.

Mixing Meds? Know the Dangerous Combos

Even aspirin is capable of going bad if it is not stored properly. Most of us do not make a single trip to the pharmacy to pick up our pills. Instead, when we take the car out, we usually do several errands—and maybe stop for lunch. If our meds or other pills sit in the car while we shop or eat on a hot or cold day, they will be negatively affected. Manufacturers recommend that we keep our pillt somewhere between 68 and 77 degrees, which is far cooler than the inside of a car, almost anywhere in the middle of summer in this country, and far warmer than the inside of a car, almost anywhere in winter. So, for your health and wellness, please keep the following in mind:

• If you are going to pick up meds or pills at the store, or if you happen to buy even over-the-counter medicine for colds or flu, never leave such items in the car. Always keep them with you until you can put them away at home.
• Chilled medications are particularly at risk and should be transported to a refrigerated environment as quickly as possible.
• If you store any kind of drugs or medications in the bathroom, put them in a room that is temperature-controlled (neither too cold nor too hot) and where humidity is not an issue.
• When you travel, keep your pills in your carry-on or your handbag. Never put them into checked baggage.