扒哥吃瓜

Sun cream, packed. Passport, packed. Medicines, left on a sunny windowsill听or in a warm bag for听long periods听without a second thought.听

As temperatures rise and听the summer holiday season is well underway, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is urging people to remember that medicines need looking after too.

Many medicines are intended听to be stored below 25掳C听and听exposure to higher temperatures can reduce how well they work.听While some medicines need refrigeration, others should be stored at room temperature.听This听can听be particularly important for medicines听like insulin, certain inhalers,听creams for skin conditions听and some contraceptives.听听

This advice extends to听medical devices听such as听blood glucose monitors and insulin strips.听Storage requirements vary and people should always follow the instructions that come with their medicine听or medical device.听

Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said:听

鈥淒uring the summer,听places such as parked听cars,听packed suitcases, caravans, and sunny rooms听can get far hotter than people expect.听For some medicines, these conditions can听affect how听well they听work.听

鈥淐hecking the storage instructions听that come with听your medicine, and听storing it听correctly only听takes a听few听minutes but听can听help ensure听it听remains safe and effective听when you need听it.鈥澨�

Keep听your听medicines somewhere cool,听dry,听and out of direct sunlight听

The MHRA is encouraging people to:听

• Check the patient information leaflet听or packaging听for storage instructions. Patient information leaflets are available online via the MHRA website. Some medicines need refrigeration, others need protection from light or heat.听

• Avoid leaving medicines in cars, suitcases, or other places听that can become听very hot, particularly during summer travel.听听

• Store medicines at home somewhere cool and dry, away from direct sunlight and听avoid keeping them in听bathrooms or听near sources of heat.听

• Speak to a pharmacist if you are unsure how a medicine should be stored or if you think it may have been exposed to excessive heat.听

Anyone who suspects their medicine听isn鈥檛听working as it should is encouraged to speak to a pharmacist or听doctor and听report suspected issues to the听听

Visit the MHRA website for more听Summer-proof your health advice,听including guidance on medicines, medical devices and staying safe in hot weather.听

Notes to editors:听

• The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)听is responsible for听regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.听

• The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.听

• For media enquiries, please contact听newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.