Medication Storage

The medication should be stored:

  • In a locked metal cupboard fastened to a solid wall
  • In a lockable metal medicine trolley, that should be attached to a secured position when not in use
  • In a specially made controlled drugs cabinet placed within another lockable cupboard or treatment room
  • In a lockable refrigerator

 

The treatment room temperature and fridge temperature should be recorded daily. Temperature for medication without special storage requirement should be stored between 16 – 25 degrees. The acceptable temperature range for the refrigerator should be between 2 – 8 degrees.

Regularly prescribed medication that needs to be stored in the fridge:

  • Insulin (before opening), once opened the insulin should be kept out of the fridge, in the medication trolley and given an expiry of one month. Write opening and expiry date on the product.
  • Chloramphenicol eye drops. Write opening date on the product.
  • Nutritional feeds (once they have been opened)
  • Daktacort cream. Write opening date on the product.
  • Xalatan/ Xalacom eye drops (before opening), once opened they should be kept out of the fridge and given an expiry of one month. Write opening and expiry date on the product.
  • Proctosedyl suppositories
  • Glucagen hypokit

Always read the product label and put the opening date on it.