The question we hear most often at the counter is not about one medicine but about all of them: “where do I keep them?”. The short answer: somewhere dry, cool, dark and out of children's reach. That means not in the bathroom and not in the kitchen next to the stove.

Three simple rules

• Original box, with the leaflet. It carries the name, dose, batch and expiry date. A blister taken out of its box is, two weeks later, just a blister.
• The fridge only when the box says so. Insulin, some eye drops and some reconstituted syrups, yes. Everything else, no: fridge moisture spoils them.
• One first-aid kit, checked twice a year. Spring and autumn, empty it on the table and set aside what has expired.

What to do with expired ones

Not in the bin and not down the sink. Bring them to either of our two pharmacies: we have a dedicated container and send them for safe disposal. It is free and you do not need to have bought anything from us.

If you are unsure about an opened medicine, photograph the box and ask us by phone. It takes a minute and avoids a pill taken for nothing.