With more time at home and an increased need for medications, many people are having a good sort out of their medicine cabinets. When the mood strikes you, we suggest:
- Taking everything out and giving it a good clean
- Sort into piles by use;
- Add in storage containers for small items;
- Remove unused and expired medicines, keeping a note of what to replace. This helps to avoid confusion and reduce the risk of accidents. Your community pharmacy has the facility to discard the old items safely, so drop them in when you are passing next. Keep very strong pain killers or controlled drugs and sharps (needles etc) separate and in an appropriate container.
- Group like products together and place neatly back. Label if possible.
If you notice excess supplies of prescription medicines, it may indicate that you aren’t taking them as directed, you’re collecting more than needed or are confused by the instructions. Taking multiple medicines can be difficult, but your Pharmacist is an expert in managing medicines and can support you through it.
Many pharmacies offer a Medicines Use Review where a Pharmacist can sit down with you in a private consultation and discuss what medicines you are taking, how you take them and what you understand they are for and how they work. They’re a good check-up of how you are going with your medicines and are funded in certain circumstances.
If necessary, your Pharmacist can then sort your medicines into an easier, personalised pack with them laid out as prescribed. The packs help you to take the right medicine in the right dose, at the right time. Medication packs can also be very handy for travel and will have a list of all your medications printed on the back.
Ask your Pharmacist what services they offer, they are an easy point of contact and a wealth of knowledge and advice.