Does Heat Ruin Medicine

Extreme temperatures (both hot and cold) can physically change your medications and affect their potency (how well they work), which can be harmful to your health, says Mark Heelon, the pharmacist who serves as medication safety officer for Baystate Health.

What happens if you leave medication in the heat?

The active chemicals in any medication can change in molecular form when exposed to different temperatures, potentially resulting in decomposition of the medication. This decomposition can make medications less potent and may even result in new or different effects.

What happens if you store medicine above 25 degrees?

If the main storage area is found to be consistently above 25°C measures such as the introduction of an air conditioner should be implemented by the service in an attempt to control the problem. While some medicines will be unaffected at temperatures consistently above 25°C, others, however, will not.