....There is something we all want to have in common with the Boy Scouts. No, it isn’t those brightly coloured scarves; we all want to be prepared. While it is difficult to plan for everything, people should have the basics around, just in case. This month, I will share my ideas about what should be in your medicine cabinet and how you should store your medications.
....The first thing that should NOT be in your medicine cabinet is any medicine that is out of date. While it is true that medications are thought to be fine past their listed expiry date, I feel that anything that is six months past its expiry date should be brought to your Peoples Pharmacist for proper disposal. All medicines that are kept in their original containers will have an expiry date listed somewhere. I also recommend that you buy the smallest possible container of a medication, unless it is something that you use regularly. While it may not be the best value, it will be of no value once its expiry date has passed. Many times I have disposed of medicine bottles where only two tablets had been used.
....This brings up another point; always keep medicines in their original containers. I recommend this for two reasons. The first is that many people forget what a specific medication is for when it is not in its original |
container. I have been asked to identify a non-distinct, round, white tablet more times that I care to mention. Without the original package, you will not know the expiry date, dosages or warnings. Another reason is that many of us travel with our medications. Would you like to explain to a Customs Officer why you have unmarked white tablets in an unlabeled bottle? Probably not.
....Now we come to the issue of storage. Most medications like to be kept at room temperature, out of direct light, with little exposure to moisture. This is why, in some cases, the bathroom medicine cabinet is the worst place to store medications. Many bathrooms can be warm and steamy. If this is the case in your home, you might want to think about storing your medications elsewhere. Just make sure that wherever you store your medications, they are out of the reach of children and pets. Ask your Peoples Pharmacist if your medications have any special storage requirements.
....What should be in your medicine |
cabinet? The most common need for a visit to the medicine cabinet is to treat pain; usually a headache. My personal choice for this is acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
....Acetaminophen is sold under several trade names, such as Tylenol™ and Tempra™. Acetaminophen blocks the production of prostaglandins, so it acts as a painkiller and a fever reducer. However, it has no anti-inflammatory action because it only works on the central nervous system and not in the rest of the body. This means that acetaminophen is generally safer and has fewer side effects. This product is also the best choice for treating pain or fever in children. People with liver disease or those who are taking medications that can damage the liver should talk to their Doctor or Peoples Pharmacist before taking acetaminophen.
....Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory that is slightly less irritating to the stomach, but people with ulcers should still avoid using this product. Ibuprofen is safe for children to use, just ask you Peoples Pharmacist which type is best to use. People with high blood pressure should use ibuprofen cautiously. Like acetaminophen, ibuprofen also blocks the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are also responsible for |
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