Fluctuations in temperature and humidity can make drugs less effective, experts say.
Different drugs may have different storage needs, Brigid Groves, vice president of pharmacy practice and professional affairs at the American Pharmacists Association, tells TODAY.com.
But some people might not have air conditioning or those temperature controls may not reach all parts of their home, Groves says. In those cases, she recommends people think about storing medications in areas of their home that do stay cooler, which might be shady areas or lower level or basement rooms.Exposure to temperatures outside of the optimal range for each medication, whether that's too hot or too cold, can affect medications and potentially make them less effective.
"That would sort of cue you in that there may have been some heat exposure or moisture exposure to your medications," Savage says,"and it may not be effective if you take those medications.""Even with some of the higher humidity that we have been experiencing, the tablets, the capsules, etc., should remain intact unless they are physically dunked into a bowl of water," Groves says.
For example, some oral medications are dispensed in what pharmacists call"unit of use" or"unit dose" packaging, like a blister pack."Because those unit-of-use packages provide some protection for the medication, you wouldn't want to pop that out of the packaging," Savage explains.
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