Storing medicine safely

Many people store their medications in the bathroom. But this popular spot is actually one of the worst places to keep medicine. Bathroom cabinets tend to be warm and humid, an environment that speeds up a drug’s break down process.

This is especially true for tablets and capsules. Unnecessary exposure to heat and moisture can cause them to lose their labeled expiration date. For example, a warm, muggy environment can cause aspirin tablets to break down into acetic acid (vinegar) and salicylic acid, both of which are potential stomach irritants. Instead, keep medicines in a cool, dry place and out of a child’s reach.

If you must keep them in the bathroom, always keep the containers tightly closed. Never repackage them. If medicines are to be stored in a kitchen, store them away from the stove, sink, and any heat-releasing appliances. In rare case, medicine that is improperly stored can actually become toxic. To prevent danger, follow these tips:

Always store drugs out of the reach of children.

Don’t leave the cotton plug in a medication bottle. Doing so can draw moisture into the container.

Check the expiration date each time you take a drug. Throw out and replace any medications that are out of date.

Never use a medication that has changed color, consistency, or odor, regardless of the expiration date. Throw away capsules or tablets that stick together, are harder or softer than normal, or cracked or chipped.

Ask your pharmacist about any specific storage instructions.

Travelers need to follow additional tips for safe storage of their medications:

Before leaving home, list all your medications, as well as the name and number of your pharmacist and doctor.

Pack your medicine in a carry-on bag instead of a checked suitcase.

Bring an extra supply with you in case your return is delayed.

Never leave medicines in an automobile, where heat can rapidly destroy the drug.

Watch time changes. Set a separate watch to your usual time so you can remember when to take any medication.

Pharmacology

Pharmacology (in Greek: pharmacon is drug, and logos is science) is the study of how chemical substances interact with living systems. If these substances have medicinal properties, they are referred to as pharmaceuticals. The field encompasses drug composition, drug properties, interactions, toxicology, and desirable effects that can be used in therapy of diseases.

Development of medication is a vital concern to medicine, but also has strong economical and political implications. To protect the consumer and prevent abuse, many governments regulate the manufacture, sale, and administration of medication. In the United States, the main regulatory body is the Food and Drug Administration.

Pharmacology as a science is practiced by pharmacologists. Subdisciplines are clinical pharmacology (the medical field of medication effects on humans), neuro- and psychopharmacology (effects of medication on behavior and nervous system functioning), and theoretical pharmacology.

The study of medicinal chemicals requires intimate knowledge of the biological system affected. With the knowledge of cell biology and biochemistry increasing, the field of pharmacology has also changed substantially. It has become possible, through molecular analysis of receptors, to design chemicals that act on specific cellular signaling or metabolic pathways by affecting sites directly on cell-surface receptors (which modulate and mediate cellular signaling pathways controlling cellular function).

A chemical has, from the pharmacological point of view, various properties. Pharmacokinetics describes its behavior in the body – particularly in the blood (e.g. its half-life and volume of distribution), and pharmacodynamics relates its behavior in the blood to its effects (desired effects or toxic side-effects).

When describing the pharmacokinetic properties of a chemical, pharmacologists are often interested in ADME:

Absorption – How is the medication adsorbed (through the skin, the intestine, the oral mucosa)?

Distribution – How does it spread through the organism?

Metabolism – Is the medication converted chemically inside the body, and into which substances? Are these active? Could they be toxic?

Exeretion – How is the medication eliminated (through the bile, urine, breath, skin)?

Medication is said to have a narrow or wide therapeutic index or therapeutic window. This describes the ratio of desired effect to toxic effect. A compound with a narrow therapeutic index (close to 1) exerts its desired effect at a dose close to its toxic dose. A compound with a narrow therapeutic index (greater than 5) exerts its desired effect at a dose substantially below its toxic dose. Those with a narrow window are more difficult to dose and administer, and may require therapeutic drug monitoring (examples are warfarin, some antiepileptics, aminoglycoside antibiotics). Most anti-cancer drugs have a narrow therapeutic margin: toxic side-effects are almost always encountered at doses used to kill tumours.

Classification

Medication can be usually classified in various ways, e.g. by its chemical properties, mode of administration, or biological system affected. An elaborate and widely used classification system is the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System.