In the hot summer, the temperature is very high and the humidity in the air is also very high. Have you checked the medicines you always have at home? The air humidity in summer is high, and if the medicine is not stored properly, it will deteriorate. You cannot continue to take spoiled medicines. Although medicines have a relatively long shelf life, medicines are easily affected by the environment and deteriorate, so they need to be stored carefully.

1. Storage of medicines in summer

Heat and sweating may cause deterioration

For opened medicines, you cannot judge whether they have expired based on the shelf life alone. When the temperature is high, many medicines will "sweat" like us, or have similar symptoms. They may have deteriorated by this time, and it is not recommended to reuse them even if they are "sweated".

The ointment becomes thinner after "sweating". When a person sweats, the body becomes wet. When the ointment deteriorates, phenomena such as thinning and separation of water and oil (stratification) may occur.

The capsules will stick to your hands if you "sweat". When taking capsules, it is best to ensure that your hands are dry. If you feel that the capsules are obviously soft, oily, or particularly sticky when you pinch them, it may have gone bad.

Granules, "sweating" and smelly. If a person sweats, there will be a smell. After some medicines are deteriorated by high temperatures, although no obvious moisture can be seen, they will leave a smell. For example, cold granules and various granules have a sour or fermented smell, which may indicate that they have deteriorated. If you continue to take them, not only will the efficacy not be guaranteed, but it will also increase the irritation to the gastrointestinal tract.

Pills, "sweat" and change color. If you sweat a lot and your clothes are not washed in time, sweat stains will remain. Medications can also change color if they are "sweated" by heat. White tablets that turn yellow, black, or have unidentified spots indicate that they have gone bad. When sugar-coated tablets go bad, the icing will crack and spots will appear.

It is recommended that everyone check the medicine box before summer, compare the above performance, and clear out expired medicines. It is usually best to check the medicine box every 3 months. If spoiled medicine is stored in the medicine box for a long time, it may also affect the preservation of other medicines. ▲

Put it close to your body, and the effect will fade

If the weather is very hot, you will definitely not want to go to crowded places, because people will feel hotter if they are close to each other or crowded. The same is true. Although everyone's clothes in summer are cooler, they are more close-fitting. If medicines are in "close contact" with people for a long time in summer, they will become "withered" due to heat and their effect will be weakened.

Nitroglycerin is a "life-saving medicine" for many families. Because of this, some people like to store it close to their body. In fact, this is a volatile medicine, and the active ingredients will be lost at an accelerated rate after being heated.

Suxiao Jiuxin Pills will emit a unique aroma, which is a reflection of its active ingredients such as borneol. If stored close to the body, it will also accelerate deterioration. If it is not in use at ordinary times, do not open it at will to avoid accelerating evaporation and shortening the validity period.

Eye drops are also a common medicine used by some people in summer. In addition to treating eye diseases, certain types of eye drops and artificial tears can also relieve dry eyes and eye fatigue, and are suitable for people who work in dry, air-conditioned rooms. Because of its smaller packaging, many people carry it with them. Although this type of medicine is not obviously volatile, it is also easily affected by temperature and deteriorates. Some eye drops also need to be stored in the refrigerator, so you should read the instructions clearly when purchasing.

If you need to carry these medicines with you, it is recommended to keep them in your bag, pay attention to the shelf life and properties of the medicines, and replace them in time. Especially emergency medicines. Once the medicine is ineffective in an emergency, it may be life-threatening. ▲

Put it in the refrigerator and the ointment will become thinner

Although many medicines are afraid of heat, it does not mean that they should be put in the refrigerator in summer. People are prone to catching colds if they stay in an air-conditioned room with very low temperature for a long time in the summer. If you don’t know how to put all the medicine in the refrigerator, especially the freezer, the efficacy of the medicine will be damaged.

Beverages will be cooler after being chilled, but syrups are prone to "frostbite". Syrup that has been refrigerated for a long time may precipitate, and if it does not disappear after shaking, or the drug is unevenly distributed and stratified, it is best not to use it again. At this time, even if the active ingredients are not destroyed, the concentration of the drug is not balanced, and the efficacy of the same dose varies greatly.

It is best not to put the topical ointment for dermatitis in the refrigerator. Long-term low temperature will cause the active ingredients of the drug to separate from the excipients, making the active ingredients uneven and possibly "thinning" when extruded. At the same time, low temperature may also cause changes in the active ingredients of the ointment, affecting its effectiveness.

Live bacteria medicines have certain biological activity, and not all of them need to be refrigerated like yogurt. For example, the main component of intestinal health is Bacillus licheniformis, which is suitable for growth at around 30°C and has the best enzyme secretion around 37°C. Therefore, even in summer, it generally does not need to be refrigerated and can be stored in a cool place away from light.

Of course, some drugs do need to be stored in the refrigerator (freezer) in summer, such as lactase, female private parts suppositories and certain eye drops, nose drops, ear drops, etc. It is recommended to follow the instructions and Choose how to save the doctor's orders. It should be noted that it is best to leave the ear drops for a while after taking them out of the refrigerator, otherwise the temperature may be too low and cause dizziness.

If you are afraid of exposure to light, you must protect yourself from the sun

Strong sunlight will not only make people tan, but may also affect the efficacy of medicine. This includes two meanings. First, some drugs need to be protected from light when stored, otherwise they will easily deteriorate; second, after taking certain drugs, patients need to avoid light.

Antihypertensive drugs such as nifedipine and nimodipine and antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin are easily decomposed by light and reduce their efficacy. Most of these drugs themselves take measures to avoid light, such as making them into colored capsules and adding food coloring with a certain light-shielding effect to the outer shell, which can reduce the impact of light. Additionally, when storing these medications, it is best to keep the outer cartons in them. Many household medicine boxes are made of light-transmitting plastic boxes and should be avoided on balconies exposed to direct sunlight.

In addition to the medicine itself, patients taking certain medicines also need to avoid light. After taking quinolones, sulfonamides, tetracycline antibiotics, as well as diuretics, oral contraceptives, acne medicine retinoic acid and other drugs, skin symptoms will appear when stimulated by strong light, causing drug photosensitivity dermatitis.

It is recommended that you consult your doctor or pharmacist about the medication time and precautions before using these drugs. While taking the medicine, you should avoid going out between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and avoid sunlight by applying sunscreen, using parasols, etc. Once you find skin tingling, redness, and edema after taking medicine, do not treat it with other medicines easily, and go to the hospital for treatment if necessary. It should be noted that drug-induced photosensitivity dermatitis may have a certain incubation period. After taking the drug for a period of time, you should pay attention to avoid light and observe symptoms. ▲

Beware of heatstroke if the place is too crowded

People are more likely to suffer from heatstroke in an airtight room. Many people use small portable medicine boxes to store medicines, which is equivalent to putting unopened medicines in a closed room. It not only loses the protection of the original packaging, but also has to be placed in the same room with other medicines. At this time, you need to pay more attention to the medicines. placement to avoid “heatstroke”.

It is best not to put capsules in small medicine boxes in summer. Capsules and capsules are prone to softening and rupture when heated, and may stick together when placed in a small, airtight medicine box.

It is not recommended to use small medicine boxes for volatile and adsorbent medicines. Drugs with strong odor are mostly volatile, which is more obvious in hot weather. This type of medicine should not be placed together with adsorbent medicines such as aluminum hydroxide, otherwise it is easy to mix odors and the effects of both parties will be affected. It is recommended that these two types of medicines be stored in their own packaging and taken out when used.

Sugar-coated tablets are placed in aluminum shells. Sugar-coated tablets are susceptible to moisture and deterioration, especially in the south, where there is high temperature and humidity in summer. It is not recommended to break them out of the aluminum shell and put them in the medicine box naked. They can be cut off with the aluminum shell attached and stored.

Do not put similar medicines together. It is best not to put medicines with similar tablet shapes, colors, and smells in a small medicine box to avoid using them by mistake.

In addition, after a period of use, the portable medicine box is prone to bacteria. It is best to disinfect it regularly with medical alcohol (concentration: 75%) and wait until the alcohol has completely evaporated before using it. Bacteria grow and reproduce quickly in summer, so disinfect them several times.

It should also be reminded that even if you do not use a portable medicine box and only use a small medicine box to store medicines, do not place the medicines too crowded. It is best to choose a medicine box with partitions and store children's medicines and adult medicines, external medicines and internal medicines separately to avoid using them incorrectly.

2. Drugs to treat dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common gynecological symptoms, which refers to lower abdominal pain and bloating before and after menstruation or during menstruation, accompanied by backache or other discomforts. , symptoms seriously affect the quality of life. Dysmenorrhea is divided into two categories: primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea refers to dysmenorrhea without organic disease in the reproductive organs, accounting for more than 90% of dysmenorrhea; secondary dysmenorrhea refers to dysmenorrhea caused by organic pelvic diseases.

Four kinds of drugs can be used to treat dysmenorrhea

1. Painkillers: Many women may still not know that the most effective way to relieve pain is to take painkillers before dysmenorrhea occurs. The two analgesics, Methylamine (Naproxen) and ibuprofen (Fenbid, Pyrozoide), are currently the most effective painkillers. Women with dysmenorrhea can take one pill of ibuprofen before menstruation and then follow the instructions on the package for several days until the dysmenorrhea disappears completely.

2. Contraceptive pills: For women whose menstrual periods are irregular, taking birth control pills is an effective way to suppress dysmenorrhea.

3. Usage: 2.5 to 5 mg of norethindrone each time, once a day starting from the 5th day of menstruation, with a cycle of 22 days.

4. External suppositories: Women with dysmenorrhea can use external drugs for treatment, which can not only avoid the stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract by oral drugs, but also reduce their side effects on the heart, liver, kidneys and other organs. Shujing Suppository is a topical suppository that is administered through the anus. It can reduce or eliminate women's sensitivity to pain, thereby achieving an analgesic effect. The medicine begins to dissolve at body temperature in 15 minutes and is absorbed through the rectal mucosa. After use, you can feel a slight warmth in the lower abdomen, and the pain will weaken and disappear.

You need to take medicine when you are sick. Some people with chronic diseases, in order to prevent the onset of the disease, will prepare relevant medicines at home. Others will prepare medicines to treat colds, but the medicine Storage will be ignored. We should check in time whether our medicines are stored properly. Medicines are easily affected by moisture and are not absolutely safe during the shelf life.