Many people are unaware that some drugs should be stored in the refrigerator. The way we decide to store our medication can make a big difference in its effectiveness.

Therefore, it is very important to know the conditions indicated in the leaflet, and follow the guidelines safely.

"Taking care of our medication is taking care of ourselves, and those we love most." - Roger Guasch, CEO of IMA.

Dangers due to lack of adhesion

Whether it is to protect the most naughty children or to prevent our pets from confusing it with food, it is important to store drugs in a safe place.

On the other hand, following the instructions of our pills, and storing them in an optimal location will allow us to preserve their effectiveness, taking care of therapeutic adherence.

 

It is estimated that 42% of the adult population takes prescribed medications

According to data from the WIN World Survey 2019 study, Instituto DYM, in our country 42% of the population over 18 years of age takes medications prescribed by a doctor with great or moderate frequency.

We are then talking about almost half of the Spanish population, a segment that increased after the arrival of the pandemic. In this way, we can confirm that there is a clear citizen need to understand and manage medication appropriately.

Therefore, today we reveal to you some of the most heard myths about medication:

Myths and realities:

Can medications be stored in the bathroom cabinet? It seems like the most common place.   You should keep your drugs away from humidity and heat.

You should keep your medications away from humidity and heat. Therefore, the bathroom is one of the least recommended places for this. In this type of room, temperature changes, exposure to steam or direct light can damage therapeutic effectiveness.

Some recommended rooms are the living room or bedrooms, since they are usually dry and cool environments.

Does it matter if a medication has expired? It may be okay to take a pill whose date has expired... Under no circumstances is it recommended to take expired medication.

The chemical composition of each drug varies over time. Therefore, there is an expiration date that marks until when a pill is valid or not.

When organizing your medication, look for the expiration date, or, in other words, the end of the period during which its effectiveness and safety is guaranteed. All drugs must include it by law.

As indicated by the health department of the Generalitat, A medication indicated to treat a mild cold or headache will, at most, only lose effectiveness. However, since these are more serious ailments, it is advisable to consult with a professional.

Can I store medications in checked luggage? This way I can avoid scares at the security check. 
A suitcase is exposed to extreme conditions and sudden changes in temperature. 

Just as with bathrooms, a suitcase is exposed to extreme conditions and sudden changes in temperature.

Try to always carry the medication with you, in its original container, and always at hand. In principle, if the drugs are correctly labeled and inside the container in which they were sold to us, no problem should occur.

However, if you have any questions, ask the airline how to organize your medication to be able to board.

Should I store medications out of the reach of children and pets? Chances are they'll never find where I keep them. 
You must avoid at all costs that the little ones in the house can manipulate them.

Whether it is vitamins, supplements or drugs, you must avoid at all costs that the little ones in the house can manipulate them. Otherwise, we run the risk of suffering from the following situations:

    • Medication waste: While playing, a child can lose pills, spill syrups or lose effectiveness by breaking the storage conditions.
    • Consumption of pills and other formats: You may also confuse drugs with candy, or try to imitate adults you have seen taking them.

With the first option we would lose therapeutic adherence and time needing to replace the lost drugs. However, the second option has greater consequences, since we could talk about overdose or poisoning.

We recommend that you organize your medication in a high place and where the little ones cannot reach. Use safety locks, and do not leave pills and syrups unattended in front of a child, even if they are the patient.

With IMA, your medication is safer

Storing your medication properly will only take a few minutes, and will help you maintain therapeutic adherence.

For this,We recommend the use of shot organization systemsthat allow greater ease when following the treatment.



Disclaimer: At IMA we offer advice and information about our products. Consult with an expert before making any decision that may affectÂ