Soaring temperatures can affect quality of pills: Doctors

Extreme heat can affect medicines and these can become life threatening for those using them, doctors said Thursday.

"Quality of medicines can deteriorate during summers because of high temperatures. As most medicines are designed to be stored at normal room temperatures, no drug should be exposed to temperatures higher than 86 degrees fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius)," the Delhi Medical Association (DMA) said in a statement here.

According to doctors, chemists and pharmaceutical manufacturers should store there products at a controlled room temperature of 68 degrees fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius) to 77 degrees fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius).

"In fact, 68-77 degrees fahrenheit is the range in which manufacturers guarantee product integrity. Anywhere from 58 (14.5 degrees Celsius) to 86 degrees fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) is still fine," K.K. Kohli, state secretary of DMA, said.

He warned that certain medicines, including nitroglycerin (used to treat heart ailments) and insulin (used for diabetes), are particularly susceptible to heat.

"Both nitroglycerin and insulin are usually carried by patients, who need to take them when they suffer chest pains or high blood sugar. So, a damaged dose of these crucial medicine can be life-threatening. Certain antibiotics decay and can cause stomach or kidney damage," the DMA statement added.

Kohli said that because of high temperature even common medicines can break down and have potentially harmful effects.

"Medicines like aspirin which are exposed to temperature change and can cause more than the usual stomach upset. Hydrocortisone cream can separate and become useless in the heat. Thyroid, birth control and other medicines that contain hormones are especially susceptible to temperature changes, and when protein gets hot it changes properties," Kohli said.

Giving away tips on how to protect medicines from temperature changes, doctors advise to keep medicines in a cool and dry place like a hallway linen closet, bedroom closet or even a kitchen cabinet, away from the stove. The unopened bottles of insulin can be kept in the refrigerator.

"Never take any medication that has changed colour or consistency, regardless of the expiration date. Check also for an unusual odour. Discard pills that stick together, are chipped or are harder or softer than normal," the DMA statement added.