A prescription for safety
When cleaning out your medicine cabinet, start by throwing out
all the prescription drugs you are no longer using. Cleaning out
old prescriptions will not only free up space in your medicine
cabinet, it will help ensure that you don’t accidentally confuse
outdated drugs with current ones. You should also get rid of
bottles that have no labels, bottles whose labels are no longer
legible, bottles with no caps or with caps that don’t seal
properly, and bottles you simply don’t recognize. “If you don’t
remember what the prescription was for, it probably shouldn’t be
in your medicine cabinet anymore,” says
Vimal George, M.D., a family practitioner with The Austin
Diagnostic Clinic (ADC). “A good rule of thumb is to throw out
anything you don’t have a current prescription for.”
And while it may be tempting to keep leftover antibiotics and
other medications “just in case,” Dr. George says it’s best to
throw them out. “An incomplete course of antibiotics isn’t going
to do you any good,” he explains. “If you do get sick, you need
to see your doctor, get an accurate diagnosis and fill a new
prescription for any medications you might need.”
Out with the old
Next, go through your over-the-counter medications and throw out
anything that’s expired, even if it’s never been opened or
there’s still a lot left. “Drugs that are past their
manufacturer’s expiration date may not give you the relief you
need,” says Dr. George. “Some expired medications may even be
dangerous.” If you have questions about the shelf life of a
particular medicine, ask your pharmacist. Even if they have not
expired, you should throw out any medicines that have changed
color or texture or have developed a residue at the bottom of
the bottle.
Taking stock
Now that you’ve made some room in your medicine cabinet, it’s
time to take stock—and to stock up. According to Dr. George,
there are certain items that you might want to have on hand:
• pain relievers such as
Tylenol or Advil
• fever reducers such as aspirin
• cold and allergy medicines such as antihistamines and
decongestants
• throat lozenges and cough drops
• antacids
• medications for diarrhea and nausea
• anti-itch cream
• first aid items: antiseptic wash, antibiotic ointment and
bandages
Consider relocating
Although medicine cabinets are typically located in the
bathroom, the bathroom is generally not the best place to store
medicines. Steamy baths and showers create changes in
temperature and humidity on a daily basis—changes Dr. George
says can affect the potency of certain medications.
“While first aid items can be safely stored in the bathroom,
most medicines should be stored in a cool, dry environment in
another part of the house,” notes Dr. George. The kitchen may be
a better place to store your medications, especially those that
have to be taken with a meal. Folks on the go may find it more
convenient to keep medications in a purse, briefcase or
backpack. But no matter where you store them, always keep drugs
out of the reach—and sight—of children.
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The Austin Diagnostic Clinic is
a multi-specialty clinic with physicians representing 24 medical
specialties at seven locations. For more information about The
Austin Diagnostic Clinic physicians and services, see the
website www.adclinic.com
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