Organizing Your Home Medicine Cabinet: How to Store and Properly Dispose of Medications

Medications for various ailments should always be within reach—just in case something unexpected happens. But how do you find the right medicine among a vast array of packaging? The solution is simple: tidy up your medicine cabinet.

We've prepared five tips to help you remember where and what is stored.

1. A Single Place for Medications

When all medications are scattered around, finding the right one can be extremely difficult. Especially during emergencies, which usually occur unexpectedly and require a quick response. That’s why you should designate one specific place for all blister packs, vials, and tubes, except those stored in the refrigerator.

2. Disposal of Expired Medications

Some medications have a limited usage period—for example, one month from the time the package is opened. Check if any of your medications fall into this category and dispose of them promptly. It’s recommended to review medication expiration dates every six months to avoid using potentially dangerous drugs.

How to dispose:

• Water-soluble (marked as 'dispersible') medications should be flushed down the toilet;
• All other medications must be thrown in the trash after crushing tablets into powder and mixing them with sand, soil, or another substance. This prevents stray animals and people from accessing them.

3. Categorizing Medications

Group medications by their pharmacological effect—such as pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, antacids, and others. It's best to keep thermometers, ointments, and plasters in a separate category.

Also, organize medications based on storage conditions: at room temperature, in a cool place, and in the refrigerator.

4. Organizing by Containers

Purchase containers of various sizes and store different types of medications in them. Label each container with the appropriate category name to avoid confusion when needed.

Important: Keep medications on upper shelves so children and pets cannot reach them.

5. Creating an Emergency Medicine Kit

Prepare a compact medicine kit with daily hygiene items. For example, masks, tissues, pain relievers, and some mint candies. Plan the contents of your kit so it includes everything necessary for going out.