Question: How should medications be stored?

 

Answer:

• Know that heat, air, light, and moisture may damage your medicine.

• Store your medicines in a cool, dry place. For example, store it in your dresser drawer or a kitchen cabinet away from the stove, sink, and any hot appliances. You can also store medicine in a storage box, on a shelf, in a closet.

• If medicine is stored in a bathroom cabinet the heat and moisture from your shower, bath, and sink may damage your medicine. Your medicines can become less potent, or they may go bad before the expiration date.

• Also be aware that some liquid medications, including eye drops, insulin, and some suspensions will need to be refrigerated. You can always ask the pharmacist if you are unsure about if a medication needs to be refrigerated.

 

Question: How/where can medications be disposed?

 

Answer:

These are some links to medication take-back programs in the surrounding counties.

• Livingston County:

  • http://livingstoncountycommunityalliance.org/?page_id=139

• Genesee County:

  • http://gcmpc.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Prescription_Drop_Locations.pdf

• Washtenaw County:

  • https://www.washtenaw.org/310/Medication-Disposal

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Also, the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy holds a Safe Medication Take-Back event biannually (the first Tuesday in October and April) at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor campus. You can reach out to Sarah Vordenberg (skelling@med.umich.edu) and Amy Thompson (amynt@med.umich.edu) for more information about this event.

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