Storage is about where medicines sit. Handling is about what happens when someone picks them up — and that is where most everyday errors occur: a tablet cut in half with a kitchen knife, a strip pushed out and left loose in a purse, a cream applied without washing hands first.
Why this matters
Poor handling causes three kinds of problem. It damages the product, so the dose is no longer what it should be. It removes identifying information, so nobody can tell what a loose tablet is. And it creates opportunities for the wrong person — usually a child — to reach something they should not.
Handling medicines correctly
Keep them in their original packaging
The strip and carton carry the name, strength, batch number, expiry date and storage instructions. Once a tablet leaves them it becomes anonymous, and anonymous tablets are the ones that end up being guessed at. Blister packaging also protects against moisture and light.
If you use a pill organiser for adherence, that is a reasonable trade-off — but fill it for a shorter period, keep it somewhere dry, and keep the original packs so the information is not lost.
Basic hygiene
- Wash and dry hands before handling medicines, particularly eye drops, creams and anything applied to broken skin.
- Tip tablets into the cap or onto a clean dry surface rather than into a damp palm.
- Do not touch the dropper tip of eye or ear drops to the eye, ear, fingers or any surface.
- Do not share creams, ointments, eye drops or inhalers between people.
- Replace the cap immediately; an open bottle is exposed to moisture and to anyone passing.
Splitting and crushing
Not every tablet can be split or crushed. Modified-release and enteric-coated tablets are designed to release slowly or to survive the stomach, and breaking them can deliver the whole dose at once or destroy the coating. Capsules should generally not be opened.
If a tablet is scored and your pharmacist confirms it can be halved, use a tablet cutter rather than a knife — an uneven split is an uneven dose. If swallowing is difficult, ask about a liquid or dispersible form instead of improvising.
Recognising a damaged medicine
- Tablets that are discoloured, spotted, cracked, soft or crumbling.
- Capsules that are sticky, stuck together, or brittle.
- Syrup that has separated, thickened, changed colour or developed particles.
- Creams or ointments that have split, become grainy, or smell different.
- Foil that has lifted or blistered, or a carton that feels damp or smells musty.
- Any preparation showing visible mould.
Do not use a medicine that has changed in appearance on the assumption that it is probably fine. Show it to your pharmacist with its packaging.
Children, pets and the household
- Store medicines out of reach and out of sight. Sight matters as much as reach — a curious child climbs.
- This applies to ordinary items too. Painkillers, iron tablets and vitamin supplements are among the most common causes of accidental childhood poisoning.
- Never describe medicine as sweets or toffee to persuade a child to take it.
- Keep handbags and visitors’ bags out of children’s reach; they frequently contain loose medicines.
- Keep medicines away from pets, which will chew through packaging.
- Keep each person’s medicines clearly separated, especially where several family members take similar-looking tablets.
- Ensure at least two adults know where the household medicines and the medicines list are kept.
When to consult a doctor
Ask your pharmacist before splitting or crushing any tablet, if a medicine has changed in appearance, if a label is damaged or unreadable, if you find a loose tablet you cannot identify, or if swallowing tablets has become difficult.
Seek emergency care immediately if a child or pet has swallowed any medicine not intended for them, or if anyone has taken a wrong or excessive dose. Take the packaging with you — identifying the exact product and strength changes what can be done. Do not wait for symptoms to appear before seeking help.
Related reading: How to store medicines safely at home
Frequently asked questions
- Can I break any tablet in half?
- No. Modified-release and enteric-coated tablets should not be broken, as this can release the whole dose at once or destroy a protective coating. Only split tablets your pharmacist confirms can be split, and use a tablet cutter rather than a knife.
- Is a pill organiser a good idea?
- It helps adherence and is often worthwhile, but it takes tablets out of their protective packaging. Fill it for shorter periods, keep it somewhere dry, keep the original packs for the information they carry, and check with your pharmacist about any medicine that must stay sealed until use.
- Can I open a capsule and mix the powder into food?
- Generally not without checking. Some capsules are designed to release contents at a particular point, and opening them changes that. If swallowing is difficult, ask about a liquid or dispersible alternative rather than improvising.
- Are child-resistant caps enough on their own?
- No. They slow a child down; they do not stop one. Storing medicines out of reach and out of sight remains the essential measure, including for ordinary painkillers and supplements.
References
- Medication Without Harm — global patient safety challenge — World Health Organization (WHO)
- Good storage and distribution practices for medical products — World Health Organization (WHO)
- Consumer guidance on safe use and storage of medicines — Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Government of India