Pharmacy cabinet - Winter

We all have medicines at home. But do we have the most useful ones? And do we store them in the best conditions?

WHAT TO HAVE AT HOME?

In the winter pharmacy cabinet, you should find the solution to some of the most common problems of this season:

• Fever and pain - Antipyretic drugs (to lower the temperature) and analgesics (to reduce pain).
• Scabies and chilblains - Moisturizers, in the form of a stick, cream or ointment.
• Nasal congestion- Nasal decongestants, which are applied directly to the nose (topical) in the form of a gel, spray or drops, or taken orally.
• Runny nose or rhinorrhea - Antihistamines (allergy medications that help reduce the amount of nasal mucus and the itching/irritation of the mucosa).
• Cough - Mucolytics and expectorants (facilitate the release of productive cough secretions, making them more fluid); Antitussives (only in specific cases and if the cough is dry and very bothersome).
• Sore throat, hoarseness and aphonia - Anti-inflammatory drugs, lozenges with local anesthetics, emollient candies (soothe and relieve throat irritation).

Don't forget to include your usual medicines in the cupboard, as well as some health products for the unexpected: saline solution, 70° alcohol and hydrogen peroxide; disinfectant solution; absorbent cotton, sterile compresses, bandages, adhesives and band-aids; thermometer; gloves, scissors and tweezers.

CLOSET ORGANIZATION

• It should have several compartments
• Medicines prescribed by the doctor must be separated from the rest and identified with the name of the person taking them
• Medicines for adults should be kept separate from those for children
• They must be kept in their original packaging, accompanied by the relevant information leaflet

CABINET LOCATION

Choose a cool, dry place (bedroom, living room, hallway): heat and humidity alter the characteristics of medicines

The kitchen and bathroom are the least suitable places to store medicines: but if there is no alternative, they should be kept as far away as possible from sources of heat or humidity

The pharmacy cabinet should be made of wood or metal and without glass so that no light gets in

Keep it locked to prevent children from accessing its contents and risking poisoning.

EXTRA CARE

Don't just buy medicines out of habit, always check with your healthcare professional that they are necessary and which medicine is best for you. If you have medicines at home that you no longer use or that are expired, hand them in at the pharmacy (Valormed service) Don't give your medicines to other people, or vice versa Don't throw medicines in the garbage can or down the toilet - hand them in at the pharmacy.

copyright © by the National Association of Pharmacies

revision: October 2022 Infosaúde

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