Maintaining a Healthy Medicine Cabinet

Senior Thursday

As we age, it is a fact of life that our health changes.  Some of us have more illnesses than others.  Some suffer from illnesses such as diabetes and arthritis earlier than others.  But by the time we reach our 70s, we are probably going to be on some sort of medication. 

Being on medication brings its own problems.  One of these is your medicine cabinet.  It contains health hazards if you aren't careful.  Here are some tips for keeping you and your medicine cabinet, and YOU, healthy.

·         Never take any prescription medication that is not yours.

·         Never take a new medication (prescription or over the counter) without consulting your physician.  There could be serious interactions with medications you are already taking.

·         Never take expired medication.  While some are still good for a few months after the expiration date, others can cause serious illness, or even death.  Also, they may not be as effective as they were when fresh.

·         Never double up on medication if you miss a dose unless your physician okays it.

·         Have the basics on hand at all times—first aid supplies and pain relievers.

·         Keep a paper and pen handy to write down when you run out of something and need to replenish.

·         Stock up on seasonal items (like sunscreen or flu medication) before the season so you have it when you need it.

·         Keep your medications within easy reach—especially those you take daily.  Daily meds should be within arm's reach.  Other less-used items can be stored higher.

·         If a medication falls out of its container and you find it later on the floor, don't take it.  It may be something other than you think, or it may be expired.

Keeping Your Medicine Cabinet Healthy

Tips for Tuesday

Keeping  your medicine cabinet stocked is important to your well-being.  Just as important is keeping an eye on the contents.  If your medicine is out-dated, it can be life-threatening rather than life-saving.  Perform the following checks on your medicine cabinet every six months.

• Discard expired medications.  Take them to your city's hazardous waste collection or ask your local pharmacy if they accept expired meds.  Never put them in the garbage or down the sink.
•  If you can't find an expiration date, but you've had the medicine for at least two years, discard it.  Chemical changes over time can change the effectiveness of medications.
• Discard any prescription medications you have not taken in over a year.  These also have a limited shelf life and can undergo chemical changes.
• Discard any medication without a label.
• Discard old toothbrushes
• Discard rusty nail clippers, tweezers, etc.
• Place often-used items near the bottom of the cabinet, and less-used items at the top. 
• Place bottles and boxes with labels facing outward so you can easily locate what you need.
• If more than one person uses the medicine cabinet, store each person's prescription items on a different shelf.  With prescription bottles from the same pharmacy all looking the same, one can easily grab the wrong bottle in the middle of the night and take the wrong tablets if they look similar to their own.
• Call your pharmacy for refills of prescription items when you notice you are down to about five pills.  The pharmacy will have it ready for you on time, even if they have to order it from their supplier or call your physician for refills.  Never wait until you take the last pill.  Something may come up that day which will prevent you from picking up your prescription when you need it.
• Use plastic cups or containers to hold small items such as ointment tubes, cotton swabs and nail clippers. 
• Store like items together--hair care, skin care, etc.
• Discard any cosmetics over a year old.

A Well-Stocked Medicine Cabinet

Tips for Tuesday

No matter what the time of year, it seems you're always rummaging through your medicine cabinet looking for relief from a headache, toothache or insect bite.  Whether it's cold/flu season over the winter, or allergy season over the spring/summer, you want relief as soon as possible.  The last thing you want to do is drive to the drug store when you are bleeding or in pain.  You won't have to if your medicine cabinet is well stocked.

Have the following items on hand at all times:

• Analgesic
• Antacid
• Antibiotic ointment
• Anti-diarrhea medicine
• Antihistamines (both topical and internal) for allergic reactions
• Aspirin and/or non-aspirin pain reliever
• Bandages
• Cold/flu medication
• Cold sore medication if anyone in the family is prone to them
• Cortisone cream
• Cotton swabs
• Cough syrup/drops
• Decongestant
• Deodorant
• First-aid supplies
• Floss
• Hand lotion
• Ibuprofen or other pain reliever/anti-inflammatory
• Laxative or stool softener
• Lip balm
• Mouthwash
• Nail clippers/scissors/file
• Nasal spray
• Prescription medications as needed
• Razor blades (refills)
• Shaving cream
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Vitamin supplements
• Thermometer
• Dosing cup or spoon

Next week:  Keeping Your Medicine Cabinet Healthy

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Tips for Tuesday

According to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs. Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.

To address this issue, the DEA has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 29, 2011, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. to provide a venue for persons who want to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs.

Visit the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration web site (http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html) to locate drop-off sites in your neighborhood.

Make this vital public safety and public health issue your concern and keep your family safe. Turn in your unused or expired prescriptions.

The DEA offers this service every six months. Keep this in mind when looking through your medicine cabinet. Remove and collect medication as it expires, then take it in on the next collection date.

Is Your Medicine Cabinet Healthy?

Tips for Tuesday

Having a well-stocked medicine cabinet is just the beginning. Keeping it safe is another. Periodically review your medicine cabinet (about every six months) and sort through what you have.

• Discard expired medications. (The best way is to take them to a hazardous waste collection so they don’t get into your town's water supply.) If you can't find an expiration date, but you've had the medicine for at least two years, discard it. Chemical changes over time can change the effectiveness of medications, and even make you seriously ill.
• Discard any prescription medications you have not taken in over a year. These also have a limited shelf life and can undergo chemical changes.
• Discard any medication without a label.
• Discard old toothbrushes
• Discard rusty nail clippers, tweezers, etc.
• Place often-used items near the bottom of the cabinet, and less-used items at the top.
• Place bottles and boxes with labels outward so you can easily locate what you need.
• If more than one person uses the medicine cabinet, store each person's prescription items on a different shelf. With prescription bottles from the same pharmacy all looking identical, one can easily grab the wrong bottle in the middle of the night and take the wrong tablets if they look similar to their own.
• Call your pharmacy for refills of prescription items when you notice you are down to about five pills. The pharmacy will have it ready for you on time, even if they have to order it from their supplier or call your physician for refills. Never wait until you take the last pill.
• Use plastic cups or containers for small items such as ointment tubes, cotton swabs and nail clippers.
• Store like items together--hair care, skin care, etc.
• Discard any cosmetics over a year old.

Stocking Your Medicine Cabinet

Tips for Tuesday

Every well-stocked medicine cabinet should have the following items:

• Analgesic
• Antacid
• Antibiotic ointment
• Anti-diarrhea medicine
• Antihistamines (both topical and internal) for allergic reactions
• Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
• Bandages
• Cold/flu medication
• Cold sore medication if anyone in the family is prone to them
• Cortisone cream
• Cotton swabs
• Cough syrup/drops
• Decongestant
• Deodorant
• First-aid supplies
• Floss
• Hand lotion
• Ibuprofen or other pain reliever/anti-inflammatory
• Laxative or stool softener
• Lip balm
• Mouthwash
• Nail clippers/scissors/file
• Nasal spray
• Prescription medications as needed
• Razor blades (refills)
• Shaving cream
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Vitamin supplements
• Thermometer
• Dosing cup or spoon

Having a well-stocked medicine cabinet is only the beginning. If you don't maintain it, you may be jeopardizing your health. Come back next week for Part Two: Maintaining Your Medicine Cabinet