Protect summer medication from high heat

Due to the extremely high temperatures, many medicines should be stored cooler at the moment. Some medicines may lose their effectiveness if stored in rooms that are too hot. For on the way, a cooler bag offers.

Many medicines need cooling
The current heat of high Annelie makes it difficult for many people. To cope better with the high temperatures, you should always provide for cooling. Many medicines also need cooling. To retain their effect, they must be stored below 25 degrees. Therefore, it is best to regularly check in the event of extreme heat that they are also stored properly. Suppositories, for example, could otherwise melt. The active ingredient is then distributed unevenly in the episode and will be given later in use as well. The Federal Association of German Pharmacist Associations has pointed this out in a communication.

Protect medication during the heat. Image: tcsaba - fotolia

If uncertainty pharmacists ask for advice
Medical ointments can also change with heat, as the fat spoils. In asthma sprays, exposure to the sun can cause heating that affects dose accuracy and efficacy. In addition, spray cans can explode and thus become completely unusable. If you are unsure whether a drug is sensitive to heat, it is best to ask a pharmacist. His advice should also be sought if a remedy looks different than usual.

"Whether drugs are sensitive to heat, ask patients in the pharmacy. Heat-sensitive medicines can be safely stored away in a cool bag without cooling elements, "says Thomas Benkert, Vice President of the Federal Chamber of Pharmacists. For medications such as insulin, which should be stored in the refrigerator at home, special rules apply on the way. The insulin should be stored in a cool box with a cold pack. If the insulin were stored too cold and frozen, it would lose its effect after thawing. Therefore, to prevent freezing, the insulin must not have direct contact with the cooling element. Therefore you should wrap it with a towel. Dr Benkert: "Pharmacists like to inform their patients about everything that needs to be taken into account during their vacation when storing medication."

Delicate drugs in the cooler
On the way, heat-sensitive medicines should be protected against the sun in a cool bag. However, care should be taken to ensure that many drugs are not allowed to have direct contact with the cooling elements, otherwise they may freeze. For example, with insulin, the result is that it no longer works. Therefore, it may be useful to wrap medicine in a towel to avoid direct contact with the cooling element. In the car, medicines are "best kept under the front seats or in the trunk". The hottest is usually on the dashboard and the hat racks. "Even in the glove box, the temperature can rise to 40 degrees. Consumers are advised to discuss correct storage with the pharmacist, "say the experts. (Ad)