Medicine cabinet essentials
Sunday People
Sultan ‘Sid’ Dajani, former treasurer of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, tells the Sunday People medical supplies you need at home from, first aid kits to potions and lotions…
Most of us only ever think about it our medical cabinet when we’ve sliced open a finger or our head is pounding, but it’s important to declutter medical supplies each year.
I spoke to pharmacist of the year, Sultan Sid Dajani about what we need, when to declutter, things to watch out for and where to keep medicines to stop them going off or rendering them useless.
Follow this link for the Sunday People article online, or read the accessible text version below.
Location
Take a look at the area your medicines are kept. If it’s warm or humid like a bathroom or kitchen cupboard, utility room with your tumble dryer, on top of a fridge or in direct sunlight, it’s no good.
Steam and hot water permeate through plastics even within a packet or box and medication affected by humidity or heat can be rendered useless or increase in potency and become toxic with lethal effect e.g. asthma or epilepsy medication that no longer works, or slow/modified release medication speeding up and overdosing you.
The best place to keep your medication is a locked box on top of a bedroom wardrobe or shelf in the lounge, out of the sight and reach of children.
Tell-tale signs: If capsules are sticking together, look different from each other because the colours have run, have gone slimy, a liquid has leaked, are sticky or a tablet looks powdery, the environment it’s been kept in has likely affected it and you should dispose of them.
Out of date aspirin smells like vinegar
Use by dates
Check every item’s expiry date once a year and remove anything that’s out of date as it may have lost its effectiveness. It’s also important to dispose of any medication that isn’t in its original packet. While you may know what they are, others might not and take the wrong thing – or wrong dose – by mistake.
Don’t: Throw these products in the bin, wash them down the sink or flush down the toilet as they can get enter the water supply. Take them to a pharmacy in a sealed bag to dispose of responsibly, or whilst keeping social distancing package them into small bags and post through the pharmacy’s letter box with a note to says it’s old medication that needs disposing of.
Get organised
Keep your medicine cabinet well organised so you can easily see any important over-the-counter or prescription drugs you’ll soon need more of. If you know something will go out of date in the next three months, get a new one now or make a note in your phone calendar to replace a month before.
Basics
Stock the basics including over-the-counter painkillers for adults and children, antihistamine tablets and creams (great for allergies, hay-fever, insect bites and nettle stings), plasters, as well as medication for heartburn, anti-diarrhoea and rehydration salts. You don’t plan to have food poisoning or a stomach bug and you don’t want to be caught short when you need these remedies the most.
Anaesthetic creams are a great one to have as they take effect quickly with stings and are good for cuts before you dress them. Sleeping tablets are also a good item to keep in your medicine box but may leave you feeling drowsy the next day. Dragonfly CBD oil [please keep if possible] is none-drowsy and very effective.
WATCH OUT: Medicines harm as well as heal e.g ibuprofen if you have digestive problems, heartburn or stomach ulcers. If you’re taking prescribed medication, other over the counter remedies or have a medical condition, always check with a pharmacist if you’re safe to take a new medication.
First aid
A first aid kit is not the same as your medicine cabinet/box. It should be kept separate and include: plasters, bandages, antiseptic wipes to clean wounds, eye wash solution, sterile dressings, medical tape, a thermometer, and tweezers for splinters. If you use anything, replace it as soon as possible to keep your kit well-stocked.
Packets matter
Always keep your medication in its packet. It has the directions for usage, exactly what’s inside and expiry dates. Sometimes, blister packs are too small for expiration dates, making the packets vital for safety.
ENDS