Medicines are among the most important needs of individuals during their illness. However, due to the chemical properties of the medication, it is necessary to pay attention to the storage conditions. Therefore, medicine storage conditions are very important for storing it safely until its expiration date. While some drugs can be stored in the cabinet, some have more specific storage requirements. The ideal temperature values at which drugs should be stored may also differ. This is why it is important to know about medicine storage conditions. For this reason, we’ll answer this question: “What should be known about medicine storage conditions?” Then, we’ll share the duties of medical coolers in storing them.
Why Proper Storage is Essential For Medicines?
Proper medicine storage is crucial for maintaining their effectiveness and ensuring safety. Here’s a brief for medicine storage conditions, a reader-friendly guide on why it’s essential:
- Preserving Potency: Drugs need to be stored correctly to maintain their potency. Exposure to unsuitable conditions like extreme temperatures or humidity might alter their chemical composition, reducing effectiveness.
- Preventing Degradation: Some can degrade if exposed to light or air. This can lead to the formation of harmful substances or a decrease in their therapeutic properties. Proper storage in opaque or airtight containers is vital.
- Avoiding Contamination: The ones kept in unhygienic conditions or within reach of contaminants can become unsafe. This can lead to infections or other health complications when consumed.
- Maintaining Stability: Some medications, like insulin or certain antibiotics, need refrigeration to stay stable. They can become ineffective or harmful if not stored at the correct temperature.
- Complying with Guidelines: Following storage instructions on medication labels is a legal requirement. It ensures that they remain within the parameters tested by health authorities.
How do medicines deteriorate, and how do you tell if they are broken?
Drugs should always be stored under the conditions specified in their package inserts. If it stays below or above a certain temperature, the risk of their deterioration increases. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the information about whether the drugs can be stored in the refrigerator or at what temperature they should be stored. Unpacked medicine storage conditions require more care. Because when the package is opened, the effectiveness of them may decrease.
The fact that unpackaged drugs also carry a risk in terms of hygiene negatively affects health. It is very important to check for signs of medicine deterioration before using it. Thus, using medications that are ineffective in the treatment or may cause poisoning is prevented. Here are the clues that the drugs are spoiling:
- When powdered drugs deteriorate, agglomeration is noticeable.
- Signs of deterioration in tablets; manifest as refraction and color change.
- If there is sedimentation in liquid medication indicates that they are spoiled.
- The smell of them used in the cream type is an important clue. Drying, odor change, or mold indicates deterioration.
Drugs can be stored for two years from production if the medicine storage conditions are provided correctly. Usually, the expiration date is determined accordingly. However, the risk of deterioration increases if they are exposed to heat or sunlight. Especially in such environments, checking the medication before using them is necessary. Impaired ones can cause serious poisoning by causing a reaction. Moreover, the inability to use drugs that deteriorate before the expiration date reflects on the health sector as a significant economic loss.
Best Practices for Medication Storage Conditions
Ensuring proper medicine storage conditions is pivotal in patient safety and medication efficacy. Here are some best practices:
- Temperature Control: Store medications at recommended temperatures. Most require a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. For temperature-sensitive drugs like insulin, ensure refrigeration at the correct temperature.
- Humidity Management: Avoid storing them in areas with high humidity, like bathrooms. Excess moisture can degrade medications or alter their effectiveness.
- Light Protection: Some medications are light-sensitive and can degrade when exposed to light. Use opaque or tinted containers to protect them from light exposure.
- Organization: Organize medications to prevent cross-contamination and make it easy to check for expired items regularly.
- Compliance with Regulations: Stay updated with storage guidelines from health authorities and manufacturers. Adhering to these guidelines is essential for legal compliance and patient safety.
- Regular Inventory Checks: Conduct frequent inventory checks to ensure all medications are within expiry dates and stored under the right conditions.
By following these practices, pharmacists can play a crucial role in maintaining the effectiveness and safety of medications, ultimately contributing to better patient outcomes.
Cold Chain Medicines and Storage Conditions
Cold chain application is preferred for special medicine storage conditions. These conditions are provided for temperature-sensitive and sensitive medical products and vaccines, from procurement to use. Keeping medication at a certain temperature during transportation and storage is a part of the cold chain application. Because the ingredients in some drugs can easily deteriorate depending on the temperature. When cold chain application is required between medicine storage conditions, it is necessary to pay attention to the following situations:
- Using the freezer compartment is strongly not recommended if they need to be stored in the refrigerator. A temperature of 2 to 8 degrees in the storage area is ideal for products that require cold chain application.
- Using a drug cabinet is of great importance to protect them. Arranging the medication on the shelves at intervals facilitates cold air circulation.
- The refrigerator should be balanced for the cold chain application to run smoothly. Medical coolers with a suitable capacity for the amount of product support the safe storage.
The main issue emphasized in terms of cold chain medicine storage conditions is that low and high temperatures increase the risk of deterioration. Therefore, while the temperature between 2 and 8 degrees is gaining importance, the importance of medical coolers is emphasized.
Where Are Medicines Stored?
Considering the instructions for use, medicines can be stored in the refrigerator if it is specifically stated. Otherwise, it is appropriate to store them at room temperature. While medicine storage conditions require a room temperature of 20-25 degrees, temperatures between 15 and 30 degrees are considered the limit.
Medical refrigerants are used extensively in pharmacies, hospitals, and laboratories. Because there are too many medicines, vaccines, and medical supplies here. The medical equipment required for the protection of these products necessitates the use of medical coolers. However, medicine storage conditions in homes cannot create the healthy environment medical coolers provide. Heat, light, and humidity are factors that should be kept away from drugs while storing them.
Environments such as kitchens and bathrooms are not recommended for storing. You can prevent drugs from spoiling by using a medicine cabinet in places that are usually dark and dry and where the appropriate room temperature can be maintained. After opening the package, storage conditions require more attention. Even if the package is opened, the expiration date must be visible. Therefore, It is as important as the storage conditions to check the condition and date before each use.
Correct Storage Conditions for Safe Drug Use
Some medications may need to be stored, especially in the refrigerator. If powdered antibiotics prepared by reconstitution are not stored in the fridge, they lose their therapeutic effectiveness after 3 or 4 days. Storing creams in the refrigerator prevents them from spoiling in a short time. However, using cold creams also increases the therapeutic effect. The correct medicine storage conditions differ according to the chemical substances they contain. Getting support about storage conditions from the warehouses and pharmacies where the drugs are supplied may be beneficial.
The Importance of Medical Refrigerants on Medicine Storage Conditions
Devices designed for the storage or transportation of medical products that require a temperature of 2 to 8 degrees are defined as medical coolers. Medical coolers have been used the most in clinics, laboratories, and pharmacies. Medicines, vaccines, blood, and similar samples can be safely stored in these cabinets. All the facilities required for medicine storage conditions are also possible thanks to these medical refrigerators.
Coolermed stands out with its products, considering the medical industry’s needs. Coolermed medicine cabinets provide great benefits for the pharmaceutical industry. Drugs can be safely stored in clinics and pharmacies. Because in these cabinets, two different temperature adjustments can be made. Refrigerator and freezer sections provide ease of medicine storage according to their properties.
In cases where no electrical energy is required to store drugs, Coolermed products can convert renewable energy into consumable energy. Thanks to outdoor accessories, it is possible to reach electricity with the help of a panel form or battery. Thus, reaching the coolers necessary for storing them in open areas is easier. With its products, Coolermed includes alternatives that make a difference for the health sector and the environment. You can also evaluate Coolermed medical freezers and easily choose the products with the volume and features you need.
You can read our previous article from https://coolermed.com/what-are-the-vaccine-storage-conditions/ .