Storing medicines safely at home is essential to treating any illness properly.

Learning how to store medicines correctly helps to keep every member of your household safe, whether they walk on feet or paws and that includes pain relief medication. Find a cool, dark, dry place, on a shelf or cupboard, or wardrobe, and please remember to keep medication in original packaging.

You may be taking different types of medicines.

How your medicine should be taken

Take your medication as advised by your healthcare professional. Follow the printed instructions on the label carefully. If unclear or differ in the way you have been advised, contact the pharmacy using details on the pharmacy label.

Ask your healthcare professional to explain anything you do not understand. A pharmacist can give you advice and support after you leave the hospital or GP surgery.

If your medicines were changed or a new medication started in hospital you can access the Discharge Medicines Service (DMS) and the New Medicines Service (NMS) at your community pharmacy. These are freely available NHS services for patients who would benefit from extra support and information related to their medicines.

Be aware:

• Over-the-counter medicines should not be taken with prescribed medicines unless a doctor or pharmacist has confirmed it's safe to do so.
• If a dose of the medicine is missed. It may be dangerous to take a double dose to make up for it; Please check and read the medication leaflet in the box or check with your pharmacist.

How to store your medication safely

It is important to keep medication in the containers or the original packaging they were supplied in.

Please follow any instructions on how to safely store your medication which may appear on the label - some require refrigeration.

Store medication in a dry place, out of direct sunlight. Avoid humid or warm places like on top of a fridge. Make sure the safety cap is locked.

Safety tips

Remember to:

• Read the label, follow the directions and note the expiration date. Go through all your medications every six to12 months and return any that are no longer needed and/or have expired to the chemist.
• Keep medication out of reach and sight of children and pets.
• Take unused, out of date or changed medications to your local community pharmacy for safe disposal.
• Safely dispose of needles, syringes and medication patches in a sharp’s container supplied by your pharmacy.

Do not:

• Share your medication with anyone else, they are prescribed only for
• Take medication from an unlabelled container.
• Transfer medication from one container to another.
• Dispose of unused or unwanted medicines down the toilet.
• Smoke or use naked flames or get close to, when using oxygen, emollients (skin cream) or aerosols.

Driving:

• Do not drive if you use tools or operate machines and your medicine makes you feel very sleepy.
• It is an offence to drive while under the influence of drugs. Further information is available at the following website: Drug driving law gov.uk

 Be aware:

• Medicines supplied by your local pharmacy may look different from those supplied by the hospital pharmacy.

Expiration dates

All prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines are required to have an expiry date to guarantee freshness when kept appropriately. It is not recommended to take medicine once expired.  Pills, capsules and tablets usually have a longer shelf life than liquids, ointments and creams (including eye drops). Most expiry dates for pills range from one to five years, while some liquids can spoil or lose effectiveness within months.

Painkillers, alcohol and recreational drugs

Be aware that some medications cannot be taken with alcohol or certain homeopathic remedies.

Before taking any painkillers or medication, talk to your GP.

This guide will help you understand the correct way to use and store medications correctly and safely

NHS 111 – You can call 111 when you need medical help fast, but it is not a 999 emergency. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones – Telephone: 111

NHS Website NHS UK   -  Provides online information and guidance on all aspects of healthcare, to help you make decisions about your health.

• If you need to go back into hospital, remember if possible to take an up-to-date list of your current medications.
• Carry a copy of medication to take with you.

Recycle empty packaging

Cardboard packaging is often made from recycled material and can be recycled again. The paper medical leaflets located within the packaging can also be recycled. If there is medical residue on the packaging please contact your pharmacist for advice.