What is the best practice for storing medications?

Storing medications in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight is essential for maintaining their effectiveness and safety. Medications can be sensitive to light, heat, and humidity, which can lead to degradation or altered potency. A cool, dry environment helps to preserve the chemical stability of medications, preventing them from breaking down prematurely. This practice is particularly important for many oral medications and over-the-counter drugs.

Storing medications in the refrigerator is suitable only for specific products that require cool storage, such as certain injectables or liquid formulations; it is not a blanket recommendation for all medications. Humid environments can introduce moisture that leads to degradation and clumping of medications, while a locked cabinet exposed to heat can create an environment that accelerates decomposition. Therefore, the most appropriate method of storage is indeed in a cool, dry place, shielded from direct sunlight.