How to Safely Store Medicines at Home

Most medicines are designed to be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. How and where you store them at home affects how well they work and how safe they are for everyone in the household.

Choose the right spot

• Store medicines somewhere cool and dry, such as a cupboard in a bedroom or living area.
• Avoid bathrooms and kitchens — steam and heat can damage tablets and creams.
• Keep medicines out of direct sunlight and away from windowsills and car dashboards.
• Always check the pack: some medicines, such as certain insulins and liquid antibiotics, must be kept in the fridge.

Keep medicines away from children

Store all medicines up high and out of sight, ideally in a cupboard that closes securely. Keep child-resistant caps closed tightly after every use, and never describe medicine as 'sweets' to encourage a child to take it.

Keep medicines in their original packaging

The original box and leaflet contain the name, strength, batch number, expiry date and instructions. Moving tablets into unlabelled containers makes mistakes more likely. If you use a weekly pill organiser, keep the original packs nearby.

Check expiry dates regularly

• Go through your medicines every few months and set aside anything that has expired.
• Note that some products, such as eye drops and liquid antibiotics, have a shorter shelf life once opened — check the leaflet.
• If tablets have changed colour, smell unusual or have crumbled, do not use them.

Dispose of old medicines safely

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or throw them loose into household rubbish where children or animals could find them. Ask our pharmacy team how to dispose of unwanted or expired medicines safely.

This article is general information and does not replace professional medical advice. If you have concerns about your health, speak to a doctor or pharmacist.