Antibiotic tablets - storing them

Apostle0748 on 12/02/2017 - 23:46
Last edited 12/02/2017 - 23:47

Hey everyone,

I have recently been given a course of antibiotics and I've been keeping the sealed tablets inside the box, in my pantry.

I was looking at the box this evening and noticed that they should be stored below 30 degrees. With this heatwave that just happened over the weekend and I guess more days to come, I was wondering if I am potentially damaging the active ingredient? I can't say for sure if my pantry is getting above 30 degrees (it doesn't get direct sunlight), but the temp in the entire room in my apartment probably rises to those levels/possibly above (I am in Brisbane).

Am I looking into it to much? Or should I store them elsewhere?

Thanks for your help.

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • retiredfeline on 13/02/2017 - 00:01
    +2

    A short period of high temps won't hurt, but put the medication in your fridge if you are concerned.

    • Apostle0748 on 13/02/2017 - 08:32

      Thanks.

    • Emilia on 13/02/2017 - 09:44
      +2

      Don't put your medication in the fridge, unless it says it must be refrigerated. The fridge creates moisture, which can effect the ingredients of the tablets.

      Keeping your tablets in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight is the way to go, so the pantry is the best place.

      We just talking about this on our pharmacist Facebook group, and a lot of patients have been asking about this lately.

      • retiredfeline on 13/02/2017 - 10:27

        They are in sealed bubble packs, so no big deal. There is no moisture inside the bubble.

      • Apostle0748 on 13/02/2017 - 14:27

        Thank you.

  • insular on 13/02/2017 - 00:23

    doubtful.

    which antibiotics? just want to play armchair doctor.

    • Apostle0748 on 13/02/2017 - 00:59

      Flagyl / metronidazole.

      • insular on 13/02/2017 - 13:41

        hmm. careful with this. sure your problem/infection can't be cured with a penicillin based antibiotic?

        also, be sure you have a PROVEN infection. some GPs prescribe without this and the law protects them. it however, won't be much use if you suffer permanent side effects.

        ive taken that before for giardia infection, and did my research to find tinidazole is faster and more effective with less side effects. ie. actual credible research paper. but this might not be relevant to your situation.

        • Apostle0748 on 13/02/2017 - 14:46

          Yeah this is all new to me, over the years (I am 27 now) I haven't really taken any medication (besides off the shelf cold/flu tablets).

          Not sure if it can, I have a parasite in my gut bacteria apparently - I have had chronic issues as a result of this for about a year, been a little off and on, but mostly something I could live with. Did originally go to doctors a while back and after spending a larger sum of money than I thought I would, it lead to a specialist telling me my issues were from anxiety (which I didn't quite believe). I left it for a long time (as I said earlier, I could live with it) but finally decided to do something about it again earlier this year and went to a different doctor (which also meant a different brand of pathology clinic). Results came back with a parasite found.

        • insular on 13/02/2017 - 15:06
          +1

          @snowdognz: no probs. this range of meds is effective for parasites.

          parasites can show negative, then positive in later tests, which is why you usually need at least 3. the anxiety was a BS diagnosis and quite disgraceful really. symptoms can be cyclic as well, ive come really close to sending a stool sample in for testing (extensive traveller here), but my issues were actually related to meds i took and not likely parasite.

          btw, cold/flu tablets are nothing more than a placebo now, you need to ask for the 'original formula', with pseudoephedrine, to relieve congestion.

        • Apostle0748 on 13/02/2017 - 15:11

          Thanks for the reply. Yeah, this is about the 4th stool sample I have sent in but I am not sure if they ran the same tests on all of them, initially when I was getting tested months ago, it was all "okay lets test if you are allergic to XYZ" (which came back negative). I guess this has helped the the new doctors now, can skip over all those tests and look at what else could be causing my issues.

          Yeah, I know that now (cold/flu tablets). Did nothing for me, lol.

  • shaybisc on 13/02/2017 - 13:14
    +1

    If you follow the advice written on the back of stuff your fridge will be full of nearly everything- sunscreen, rolled oats, shampoo, moisturiser etc etc etc

    If I had a cool dry place I'd put myself there. Some of the stuff wants to be under 25'- I wish.

  • MasterChief86 on 14/02/2017 - 19:56
    1. What Emilia said.
    2. Google the molecule (e.g amoxicillin or ibuprofen) or share it here so i can look em up. Each medication has a different optimal temperature for storage, so you'll have to look it up.
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