Tips for clearing out your medicine cabinet

An annual review of prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines can help keep us safe and healthy. Using an old product won’t necessary land you in the Accident and Emergency, but it won’t work effectively either, wasting you money, and possibly even delaying your recovery.

Here’s how to spring-clean your medicine cabinet this season.

 

Step 1: Throw out expired medications and products

Don’t forget to inspect boxes of bandages, too—they have a limited lifespan and should be replaced before their adhesive breaks down.

 

 

Step 2: Test medical devices

Blood pressure monitors and glucometers change and improve all of the time – check yours with your pharmacist. Do you have a thermometer that works in your house?

 

 

Step 3: Safely discard your medications

A trip to the pharmacy is the safest way to discard of expired medication. Don't flush them down the toilet!

 

Step 4: Replenish your stock

Paracetamol, bandages, anti-diarrhoea tablets and antihistamines are a good place to start. Also, think about sachets such as Diorolyte if you have a baby, in case of the dreaded vomiting bug and dehydration; it’s easier to have it in the house than look for it at 2am.

 

 

Step 5: Think about storage
Bathroom cabinets are probably not the best place to store medicines, because of the humidity. Think of using a tin or a plastic box and put it on a very high shelf, preferably locked, out of the way of little people.