This year’s monsoon has been unusual, with patchy rains and sudden spells of heat. Most of us take extra care of our health during this season, but we often forget one thing that needs the same attention: our medicines.
Humidity and shifting temperatures can damage tablets, syrups, and other medications, making them less effective or even unsafe to use. In this blog, we share 10 simple tips to keep your medicines safe this monsoon, so you’re never caught off guard when you need them most.
Table of Contents
Tip 1: Not Every Medicine Belongs in the Refrigerator
To protect medicines from moisture in monsoon, people often store them in the refrigerator. But not every medicine is meant to be kept in the fridge. Only medicines with label instructions for cold storage should be kept there. Medicines with room temperature instructions should be stored at room temperature instead.
Tip 2: Consume It Soon After Opening the Packaging
During monsoon, it’s important to consume medicine as soon as it’s out of the packaging. If left exposed, even at room temperature, the medicine can pick up moisture, bacteria, or viruses from the air and become contaminated. It’s best to take the tablet or capsule immediately after removing it from its packaging.
Tip 3: Seal the Cap Tightly
After using a medicine like eye drops, make sure to close the cap tightly and double-check that it’s sealed properly. A loose cap can let in moisture in this monsoon season, which can contaminate the solution inside.
Tip 4: Avoid Using a Pill Box
If you’re using a pill box, it’s best to avoid it during this monsoon. Opening and closing it repeatedly lets in moisture, which can contaminate the pills. Frequently touching the pills can also lead to bacterial growth on them.
If your medicine has caught moisture, never leave it in or near direct sunlight. Medicines have a specific storage temperature range, and exposure to sunlight can alter or damage their active ingredients, making them harmful or ineffective.
Tip 6: Avoid Storing Medicines in Kitchen or Bathroom Cabinets
Kitchens tend to have heat and steam that can damage a medicine’s active ingredients, while bathrooms carry excess moisture that can have the same effect. It’s better to store medicines in a cabinet in your bedroom or living room, away from direct heat, steam, and sunlight.
Tip 7: Use Airtight Containers or Sealed Bags
Avoid taking medicines out of their original packaging unless necessary. If you want extra protection from moisture, you can place them in an airtight container or a sealed bag to keep them safe.
Tip 8: Place Silica Gel Packets in Your Drawer for Extra Precaution
If your room tends to retain a lot of moisture and you plan to store your medicine for a month, you can place silica gel packets in your medicine drawer as an added layer of protection. Just make sure to keep the medicine in its original packaging.
Tip 9: Do Not Consume Medicine That Smells Foul or Is Misshapen
If your medicine smells foul, has changed color, or looks misshapen, avoid consuming it. This could mean it has absorbed moisture and its active ingredients have started to degrade.
Tip 10: Do Not Leave Medication in the Car
Avoid leaving your medication inside the car. Even if you’re only driving for a few hours, the heat and moisture that build up inside a parked car can cause your medicine to degrade.
Conclusion
Monsoon can be unpredictable, but the way you store and handle your medicines doesn’t have to be. A few small habits, like sealing caps tightly, avoiding damp spaces, and keeping medicines away from heat and sunlight, can go a long way in keeping them safe and effective. When it comes to your health, it’s always better to be cautious than caught off guard.
Mahak Phartyal completed her bachelor's in pharmacy from Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University. She previously worked as a Medical Writer at Meril Life Sciences, where she wrote numerous scientific abstracts for conferences such as India Live 2024 and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). During her college years, she developed a keen research interest and published an article titled “Preliminary Phytochemical Screening, Physicochemical and Fluorescence Analysis of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis and Syzygium cumini Leaves.”
First a Dentist, than an MBA, finally a founder dedicated to making high quality medicine available at a affordable price. Shivangi spent five years learning dentistry and treating patients at Army Dental College only to decide that satisfaction could only be had when she could help thousands of patients at scale. Her MBA in Marketing at NMIMS during the Covid Epidemic reaffirmed the need for affordable and quality healthcare.
She joined the SayaCare team determined to make a difference, and currently builds and upholds systems. Experienced in Operations, Pharmaceuticals, Marketing, HR & Admin, and design in product; Shivangi has built the modern SayaCare experience with her relentless focus on the patient and user.
Mahak Phartyal completed her bachelor’s in pharmacy from Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University. She previously worked as a Medical Writer at Meril Life Sciences, where she wrote numerous scientific abstracts for conferences such as India Live 2024 and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). During her college years, she developed a keen research interest and published an article titled “Preliminary Phytochemical Screening, Physicochemical and Fluorescence Analysis of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis and Syzygium cumini Leaves.”
