MHRA Summer Advice on Storing Medicines Safely
Most of us do the same thing when summer starts: we remember the sun cream and the passport, but not always where our medicines are sitting. A bag left in the car, a box on a bright windowsill or a warm room at home can feel harmless. According to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, though, heat can affect how some medicines work. That is why the MHRA has put out fresh summer advice on storage. This is not about being fussy. It is about making sure the treatment you rely on is still safe and still effective when you need it most.
The main rule is simple, but it matters: many medicines are meant to be stored below 25°C. Some need refrigeration, while others should stay at room temperature. That means there is no one-size-fits-all answer, and the label or patient information leaflet matters more than guesswork. The MHRA says this can be especially important for insulin, certain inhalers, creams used for skin conditions and some contraceptives. Medical devices can be affected too, including blood glucose monitors and insulin strips, so this is wider than tablets and bottles in a cupboard.
One useful thing to slow down over is this: cooler is not always better. If a medicine says it should be kept at room temperature, putting it in the fridge without checking may not be the right move either. Summer safety is really about following the product's own instructions, not making assumptions. **What this means for you:** if you have more than one medicine or device at home, it is worth checking each one separately. The leaflet in the box, or the information on the packaging, is the guide to trust.
Dr Alison Cave, the MHRA's Chief Safety Officer, warned that summer spaces can get much hotter than people expect. Parked cars, packed suitcases, caravans and sunny rooms may all rise far above the temperature printed on a medicine pack. That matters because the risk is not always obvious. A product can sit in a hot place for hours without you thinking twice about it. By the time you need to use it, the concern is not what it looks like, but whether it will work as it should.
At home, the MHRA's advice is to keep medicines somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight. Bathrooms are not ideal, and neither are spots near radiators, cookers or other heat sources, because warmth and moisture can build up quickly there. When you are travelling, the same thinking applies. Try not to leave medicines in cars, luggage or any place that heats up through the day. If you are unsure what the storage advice means, the MHRA says patient information leaflets are also available online, and a pharmacist can talk you through it.
If you think a medicine has been exposed to too much heat, a pharmacist is a good first stop. They can help you decide whether it is still suitable to use and whether you may need a replacement. If a medicine no longer seems to be working properly, the MHRA advises speaking to a pharmacist or doctor. There is also a public reporting route. Suspected problems can be reported through the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme, which helps regulators monitor safety concerns.
The wider lesson is easy to miss because it feels so ordinary: medicine safety is not only about taking the right dose at the right time. Storage is part of using a medicine properly. A quick check before a journey, a heatwave or even a very warm afternoon can make a real difference. For readers, this is a good piece of summer health literacy to keep with you. Before you head out, have a look at where your medicines and devices are being kept. The MHRA has also published broader 'Summer-proof your health' advice for people who want more guidance on medicines, medical devices and staying safe in hot weather.