An independent guide to the safe handling of medicines. It is not a medical organisation or a pharmacy, does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist and is not connected with the former site on this domain; we do not sell or prescribe medicines.
Topics
The topics are built around situations in which a person is left alone with a medicine: at home, while travelling, late in the evening when no doctor is around. Each card gives a short explanation and a link to the section that covers the topic in more detail. Conditions are not described here in a way that would let you choose a treatment: that is the doctor's job.
A medicine is not safe on its own, but in combination with proper storage, a clear leaflet and a doctor's prescription. Lose one link and the risk goes up.
How this section works: it covers topics that many families come across and where there is a clear action to take — check the pack, move a box, ask a doctor or pharmacist a question. We do not name medicines, do not compare them and do not say what to take for which condition.
Almost everything important about a medicine is already printed on the box and the leaflet.
A pack usually carries two names: the brand name chosen by the manufacturer and the international non-proprietary name, which identifies the active substance. The second helps you avoid taking the same thing twice under different names.
This section lists the conditions in which the medicine must not be used, or may be used only with caution. If you recognise yourself in it, tell your doctor before you start taking it.
The date on the pack applies only as long as the storage conditions have been followed. If the contents have changed colour, smell or consistency, do not use them and show them to a pharmacist.
How and for how long a medicine is used is set by your doctor's prescription and the leaflet. Do not change this on your own, even if you feel better or worse — talk to your doctor first.
Heat, moisture and light change medicines in ways you cannot see.
The leaflet states the range within which the medicine keeps its properties. A shelf next to the cooker or a radiator often goes beyond it.
After a shower the bathroom air is damp, and temperature swings are bigger than they seem. For most medicines it is a poor place to be kept.
Only medicines whose leaflet explicitly says so need the fridge. For the rest, cold and condensation can do harm.
Drops, syrups and ointments often have a shorter shelf life once opened. It is usually given in the leaflet, and it helps to write the opening date on the box.
Sometimes the usual rules need to be checked with a doctor.
Medicines for adults and for children are not interchangeable. Any medicine for a child is chosen by a paediatrician, and at home everything is stored so that a small child cannot reach it.
If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, discuss everything you take with your doctor, including things you have taken regularly for years.
When there are many prescriptions, they are easy to mix up. A list drawn up together with the doctor and a day-of-the-week pill organiser help avoid missing or repeating a dose.
Prescribed medicines go in hand luggage, in their original packaging and with the leaflet. Rules on bringing medicines into a country differ, so check them before you travel.
The most common cause of problems is something the doctor simply did not know about.
Medicines can affect one another, and supplements and herbal teas can affect how medicines work. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about everything you take, even if it seems minor.
A rash, unusual weakness, nausea or any other change in how you feel after starting a medicine is a reason to contact your doctor. A reaction can also be reported to Roszdravnadzor.
The same substance is sometimes found in several medicines with different brand names. Checking the INN on the packs helps avoid taking it twice by accident.
A medicine that helped a neighbour or relative was chosen for their condition. Taking it without talking to a doctor is not safe.
This is where standalone articles on the safe use of medicines will be collected for English-speaking readers in the UK, the US, Ireland, Canada, Australia and elsewhere. They take local practice into account and are written separately, not translated from other languages.
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Information is current as of the preparation date. Rules on medicines, labelling requirements and the procedure for reporting side effects can change — always check the leaflet for your specific medicine and confirm the details with a doctor or pharmacist.