Medication Storage Ideas?: Hi. There... - Asthma Community ...

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Medication Storage Ideas?

Paradigm profile image
14 Replies

Hi.

There's lots of ideas from other countries that create neat medication storage for mostly bottles but in Britain it's not the way most meds are prescribed to most adults.

I'd love to hear your solutions to storing lots of meds in varying (including month to month - mine are a mix of fortnightly and 4 week collections) sized packaging. Mostly boxes, some in bottles, some sachets some creams or sprays.

I have 10-15 medications I need to store without it being an eye sore. For safety reasons it would be better kept in original packaging.

I also have one of those plastic 3 drawer things stuffed to the brim with the 'normal, OTC medication and first aid' stuff.

I'm bordering on getting an over-door shoe organiser to hang in my wardrobe but ideally something more aesthetically pleasing!!

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Paradigm profile image
Paradigm
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14 Replies
Bevvy profile image
Bevvy

I purchased an attractive box for my medication. It is grey and white. Made from fabric and looks like it belongs in my bedroom. No one else would have any idea what it contains and aesthetically pleasing.

andy121 profile image
andy121

I have a grey fabric box blends in with rest of my furniture. I have it by my bed, all my med boxes and bottles fit in it.

Caspiana profile image
Caspiana

Hello Paradigm. Firstly I would sort through all the old medication. Especially the OTC stuff as we know those accumulate easily. Dispose of all out of date medication. Look though your normal medication as well anything that is old should not be used. I have a lot of medication too. I found I had to clear out some regular drawers (so much junk that needed tossing !) to make way for my medication. Rather than buy a new storage unit, it might be good to have a good sort through of your drawers and dedicate space for your medication. I never liked to idea of a medicine cabinet or box. I rather like the fact I can't see my medication unless I need to. 😅 In short make use of the space you already have. Have a lovely weekend. 🌿🌻🌿

Paradigm profile image
Paradigm in reply to Caspiana

Hey, I'll have a look at sorting what I do and don't need. Admittedly I do have some old medications. I also like to keep my medicine out of sight, both for me and because my dog is extremely resourceful when it comes to swiping things from surfaces and I'd hate for the day that she skirts the rules be one she gets something dangerous.

Unfortunately, I'm actually in need of more storage stuff in general. Half away through upcycling a chest of drawers because I don't even have drawers, just a wardrobe, for clothes.

teddyd profile image
teddyd

I keep all my medication in my smallest kitchen cupboard. But thinking how i store it seems complicated but works for me.now I will try and explain.All unopened medication ( tablets, inhalers ,creams, liquids etc) I store in date order on a shelf. Once I need to open a box of tablet they (in there original box) go into to a wee box with all other open boxes. I have 2 wee make up bags one for morning tablet and one for evening so keep them topped up.

It helps if I am unwell my husband can bring me my morning/evening bag.

Yes as I said sound complicated but it works for me.

When my 8 weekly repeat prescription comes the cupboard gets sorted again. 🤪

Bemoresquirrel profile image
Bemoresquirrel in reply to teddyd

I also keep my meds in date order in my smallest kitchen cupboard, but use 2 “Lakeland Stack Storage Caddys” side by side. They have a handle on one corner which makes them easy to lift down, as I’m quite short.

My inhalers, spacer & PEF meter etc sit in a make up bag with a zip pocket for my latest prescriptions, while my ultrasonic nebuliser & saline nebs sit in small electronics accessory zip bag, as it has internal pockets & more padding than the makeup bag. I also have a daily tablet box for morning & night tablets.

Cooperbear profile image
Cooperbear

I store mine in a fabric bag I made myself so I could have it the size I needed. I’ve attached photo

Bag for medication
Celie1 profile image
Celie1

Hi,

I have 13 medications, mostly in boxes.

I store them in a large square ‘leather type’ box with a lid, in the corner of the dining room. The medication in bottles, I keep in the bathroom cupboard.

I keep my day to day meds in a large cosmetic bag in a kitchen cupboard where they are to hand.

Hope this is useful.

Troilus profile image
Troilus

I have a blue wooden box. It might be designed as a desk organiser or spice cupboard - can’t remember. I got it from eBay. It has 3 deep drawers about 3 inches wide and a long box across the bottom. The whole thing will be about 14 inches wide, maybe 6 inches deep and about 9 or 10 inches tall. I keep it in the kitchen. My inhaler and spacer I keep beside me behind a cushion.

Mandevilla profile image
Mandevilla

I have a basket in the bottom of my wardrobe for occasional use/replacements and the stuff I'm using daily is in the drawer of my bedside table - I also keep my hairbrush in that drawer, so the only way I'll forget to take my meds is if I also forget to brush my hair! (And believe me, I would know I'd forgotten that just as soon as I caught sight of myself in a mirror😄)

Paradigm profile image
Paradigm in reply to Mandevilla

This is actually a really sensible suggestion. I have a system of leaving water out overnight because I like to drink cold water from the fridge. (Warm = haven't had meds.) The hairbrush idea is perhaps more fool proof.

petmice profile image
petmice

I am blessed to only have a handful of meds which I keep in a small decorative basket (which I already had) next to where I take those meds. I also take supplements but keep those in a box in a cupboard (just a repurposed box, nothing fancy); these aren't as critical as my meds so I don't keep them as close. Anything I take is set up once a week in several pill organizers, the kind where you have one slot for each day of the week.

If I started keeping the whole works together (I'm not ruling this out), I'd scrounge up a box from our collection: I don't toss delivery boxes right away because I might find another use for them (this happens all the time - one is currently filling with things to donate to a thrift shop once it's full). After making any necessary alterations to the box to make it work the way I want it (a trait I inherited from my mother who could create a box to store absolutely anything), I'd cover it in pretty contact paper.

Patk1 profile image
Patk1

I have a set of 4 plastic drawers which i keep in bottom of a wardrobe.

Homely2 profile image
Homely2Administrator

I work quite hard to reduce my number of medications to get round the issue.

I was getting a lot of Gerd related asthma, so they put me on medication. However I changed my diet to get the same effect.

My asthma medication has got rid of some of my heart rhythm issues, which seem to have been aggravated by my asthma. So another one down.

Switching to fostair 100 mart from fostair 200 has reduced my use of salamol substantially, while getting my steroid use down.

Now for the blood pressure tablets. Gp has said I need to achieve 120 over 70 before we can start to reduce the tablets. Pre asthma diagnosis my blood pressure went very high, now it is down but not enough. So more walking is needed.

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