The pharmacy and member of the Friends of Health Association, Dr. Rahaf Al -Mastari The summer and the accompanying high temperatures and humidity may lead to damage to medications or the loss of their effectiveness as a result of climatic effects, warning that the change in the chemical properties of some medications may weaken their effectiveness or cause a change in their therapeutic effect.
Al -Mastari added that many recent studies have proven that the high temperature contributes to the decomposition of the chemicals active in the medicines, which directly affects its molecular shape, and leads to a decline in its effectiveness or change of its properties, which highlights the importance of storing the drug in a correct way, especially in the summer.
She explained that to maintain the safety of medications, it is advised to store them in a cool, dry, or at room temperature, away from sunlight and high temperature, and follow the instructions recorded on the package. She also stressed the need to avoid storing medicines in high humidity places such as bathrooms and kitchens, and not leaving them inside cars, due to the high temperatures in them significantly during the summer.
D. Rahaf Al -Mistarii is the importance of storing some medications, such as insulin injection, inside the refrigerator at a temperature ranging from 2 and 8 degrees Celsius, noting that exposing these drugs to high temperature negatively affects their effectiveness.
She added that it is necessary to monitor the shape of the medicine, and in the event that it is noticed a change in color, smell or texture, it must be stopped using it and reviewing the pharmacist, and it is preferable to leave the drug inside its original package that was designed to protect it from environmental factors.
D. Rahaf Al -Mastari is that there are clear indications of the corruption of medications, such as the change in the textures of capsules or tablets, sticking to each other, or the appearance of layers or sediments in liquid medications, in addition to changing the smell or taste of the drug or the emergence of strange lumps or spots on it.
She stressed the importance of reading the instructions on the package and consulting the pharmacist when doubting the validity of any medication, to ensure the safety of treatment during the summer months.
