How to store medications safely at home
Where and how you store medicines affects how well they work and how safe your home is. A few simple habits make a big difference.
Store most medicines cool, dry, and dark
- Avoid the bathroom cabinet — heat and humidity from showers can break down medicines.
- A bedroom drawer or kitchen cabinet away from the stove is usually better.
- Keep medicines in their original labeled containers.
- Check labels for ones that need the refrigerator (some insulins, liquids, eye drops).
Keep everyone safe
- Store medicines up, away, and out of sight of children and pets.
- Use child-resistant caps, and consider a locked box for opioids or other high-risk medicines.
- Don't share prescription medicines with anyone else.
Dispose of old medicines properly
- Use a drug take-back site or pharmacy drop box when possible.
- Check the FDA "flush list" for the few medicines safe to flush.
- Otherwise, mix with something unappealing (like used coffee grounds) in a sealed bag before trashing, and scratch out personal info on the label.
Twice a year, do a medicine check: toss expired items, and review your list with a pharmacist to catch duplicates and interactions.
Check your own medicines free
See how your prescriptions, supplements, and food may interact — organized by the part of the body they affect.
Open the medication tool →Important: This article is educational and not medical advice. It does not replace your pharmacist or prescriber. Always confirm decisions about your medicines with a qualified professional, and call your local emergency number for emergencies. In the U.S., Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.