Medicine can be affected by moisture in your bathroom, UAB expert says

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - People storing their medicine in the bathroom may want to reconsider.

A UAB pharmacy expert says areas with a lot of moisture can cause pill problems.

“You always hear about having a medication cabinet in your house and sometimes that’s often in your bathroom,” said Mike James, an Associate Chief Pharmacy Officer at UAB. “We try to tell patients to avoid keeping mediations in your bathroom.”

Damaged medicine can make users ill. They should avoid pills that have changed color, smell funny, or now have a different texture.

Pills could also start sticking together.

The National Library of Medicine recommends keeping medicine in its original container.

They say taking the cotton ball out of the bottle can prevent moisture from being pulled in.

“Often times, those showers and that humidity that can come with it can affect the medication,” James said. “Trying to keep them in a place that is cool and dry is important.”

It is not just the moisture; the heat and the light can also damage pills.

People who have specific questions about their medicine can always ask their pharmacist for storage advice.

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