Don’t Make These Storage and Dosing Medication Mistakes

The center, “core area” of the fridge is ideal, Harriott says, but make sure that the medication is “well packaged so that it’s not mistakenly dropped and broken and spilled, or taken inappropriately by someone else just because it’s easily accessible.”

But don’t keep any medications in the fridge unless the drug’s instructions or your pharmacist tells you to. The cool temperature may degrade some drugs.

Leave chilled injectable drugs at room temperature for about 15 minutes before using them, as injecting cold medicines can be painful, Schuh says.

Consider locking up your drugs

If you take drugs that are commonly abused, such as opioids, anti-anxiety medications or stimulants, storing them in a locked safe or a box that can’t be moved is a good idea, especially if you’re concerned someone might take them, Harriott says.

However, she doesn’t recommend locking up emergency-response medications, such as asthma inhalers or epinephrine autoinjectors, that you might need quickly.

Another reason to lock up your medicines is for “extra security” when others live in your household, or if friends and family visit regularly, Tantipinichwong says. Or if children visit, adds Schuh.

Keep track of expiration dates, and clear out regularly

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires all prescription and over-the-counter drugs to display an expiration date. It’s printed somewhere on a box or bottle of an OTC medication, and on the pharmacy’s label for a prescription. Groves emphasizes the importance of following expiration dates, since products are tested to ensure they’re safe and effective until that date. 

Over time, medications can degrade, even if they’re stored properly, so an expired drug may not be as potent or effective, Schuh explains. Expired eye drops, for instance, can become unsterile and contaminated, leading to eye infections and other conditions.

With expired drugs, “your dose may not be really the dose that you’re expecting,” Harriot says, so “it’s not working as well as you would anticipate.”

For example, insulin, epinephrine autoinjectors and nitroglycerin (to treat chest pain) might not work in life-saving situations, creating a dangerous situation, Schuh says. Tantipinichwong adds that taking expired antibiotics may not fully treat an infection and could instead lead to antibiotic resistance. Another issue is that some medications can become toxic past the expiration date, Schuh says, such as the antibiotic tetracycline (Doxycycline), which, if taken past its expiration date, can lead to kidney damage in some people.

If an expiration date is worn off or you can’t read it, Harriott says to “get something new, just to be safe.”

Take medications as directed

Groves emphasizes that you should follow dosing instructions to effectively and safely treat your medical condition or symptoms. That applies to both prescriptions and OTC drugs.  

“Over-the-counter medications are much more accessible and convenient, but they’re not without risks,” she says.

Acetaminophen (best known as Tylenol) overdoses are responsible for thousands of emergency room visits, hospitalizations and deaths each year, mainly because people perceive it to be safe — and it is for most people when taken properly, according to the FDA. But many people take too much acetaminophen. Harriott says it’s a common ingredient in OTC cold medicines, which some may pair with a pain reliever. That combo could potentially lead to an overdose and cause liver damage.

Ibuprofen (commonly sold under the brand name Advil) and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can have similar effects, Groves adds. Long-term use or exceeding the recommended dose could cause kidney damage and stomach ulcers.

Harriott adds that if you have ongoing pain and take OTC pain relievers regularly, ask your doctor if there’s a less potentially harmful solution. If you’re prescribed antibiotics for an infection, finish the course unless your doctor tells you otherwise, Groves emphasizes. Not doing so means the infection won’t be treated effectively and could return. It may also lead to antibiotic resistance, which Tantipinichwong says is a “huge issue for us right now.” 

Also, be cautious about cutting pills, crushing tablets or opening capsules. Some medications are labeled as “extended release” and shouldn’t be cut or crushed, or you risk an overdose, Schuh says. Pills that are scored, however, can often be split in half.

In general, it’s best to check a product’s instructions, which Schuh says will usually indicate whether the medication is safe to cut or crush. Check with your pharmacist if you’re still not sure.

Dispose of medications properly

If you have expired medications or drugs you don’t need anymore lingering in your cabinets or drawers, the best way to dispose of them is to find a drug take-back location.

Communities often host events for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. You can search here for your area. But some pharmacies and hospitals allow you to drop off medications year-round. The DEA offers a location search tool for these sites.

Avoid simply throwing your medications in the trash. “Anyone could take them,” Harriott says. “People searching through the trash could find them [and] use them inappropriately.” This is especially true for controlled substances such as opioids, Groves adds.

If you can’t get to a take-back location, you can put drugs in the trash if you seal them in a plastic bag mixed with something “unsavory,” like coffee grounds or cat litter, Schuh says. Or add water to degrade the medication.

“And of course, you always want to destroy all personal information and labels prior to disposing of bottles,” he adds.  

Avoid flushing medications down the toilet, Groves says. Doing so could pollute water systems. Consult the FDA’s “Flush List” to verify what can and cannot be flushed. 

Understand legal implications

If someone takes your medication without your knowledge, could you face legal consequences? Grove says she hears this question often.

Legal implications may vary, depending on the situation and the state where you live. “Generally speaking, the individual patient who originally possessed or was prescribed the medication is not criminally liable if somebody steals or takes their medication without their knowledge,” says Groves.

However, you could be liable if you intentionally or deliberately give a medication to someone else to use, she continues. If your medication is stolen or missing, report it to local law enforcement and file a police report so you have a record of the theft, which “helps to ameliorate any liability concerns against that original patient,” she says.

In instances where a child or someone else accidentally takes your medication, your legal liability also varies. Generally, if you can prove that you did everything in your power to store the medication out of reach and out of sight, you likely wouldn’t face legal responsibility, says Groves.

Anytime someone takes medication that isn’t meant for them in your home, call poison control immediately.

Pharmacists say situations such as these are why it’s crucial to store medications securely, avoid keeping expired drugs on hand and dispose of them properly.

Keep your medications list up-to-date

According to a 2024 research letter published in JAMA Internal Medicine, people over 65 took an average of 4.3 medications.

It’s vital to keep an accurate, up-to-date list of the medications you take, including vitamins, supplements and OTC drugs, Tantipinichwong says. List the medication’s name, the date it was prescribed and which doctor prescribed it.

Older adults often have refills for medications they no longer need, says Groves. They may have been prescribed a temporary heartburn or pain medication while they were hospitalized, but the drug remains on their refill list.

“As a geriatric pharmacist, I really encourage patients to ask questions about their medications, really try to the best of their ability to know about their medications — like the name, why they’re on the medications, how much they should be taking for that medication and special warnings,” Tantipinichwong says.

Involve your family members, friends or caregivers for an “extra set of eyes,” she advises.

Keep the original packaging or pill bottles, too (at least until your next refill), even if you sort them into a weekly pill organizer, Groves says. “Reason being, it has the medication name, the full dose, the directions for use, and it also has a lot number and expiration date on it.”

In tiny print, you’ll also find a description of what the medication looks like, she adds.

Pharmacists say that properly storing, taking and disposing of your medications is vital for your safety and for the safety of others in your home. Groves says that if you’re ever in doubt about anything related to your medications, “your pharmacist is always a great source for that information.”