Bathroom Moisture Can Damage Medicines

A bathroom cabinet may expose medicines to damaging heat and moisture, according to MedlinePlus, from the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Its guidance is to keep medicines in their original containers in a cool, dry place and ask your pharmacist about specific storage instructions.

MedlinePlus says heat and moisture from the shower, bath and sink can make medicines less potent or cause them to go bad before their expiration date. Pills and capsules are easily damaged by heat and moisture, and air and light can also damage medicines.

The guidance suggests a dresser drawer or a kitchen cabinet away from the stove, sink and hot appliances. Wherever medicines are stored, MedlinePlus says to keep them out of children’s sight and reach, in a cabinet with a child latch or lock.

MedlinePlus also advises removing the cotton ball from a medicine bottle because it pulls moisture into the bottle. For travel, it cautions against keeping medicines in a car’s glove compartment, where they can get too hot, cold or wet.