How to Store Medicines at Home So They Stay Good
November 5, 2026 · 3 min read
Medicine kept somewhere hot, damp, or out of its own packaging can spoil before its expiry date. Here is how to store it, following Indonesia's Ministry of Health.
Almost every home has a medicine box. It holds all sorts of things, from fever tablets and cough syrup to creams and everyday medicines for blood pressure. What people rarely think about is where that box is kept. Medicine stored carelessly can spoil faster, so it works less well even when the expiry date is still far away.
Indonesia's Ministry of Health teaches a simple approach called DAGUSIBU, short for get, use, store, and dispose. This article is about storing.
Room temperature, out of the sun
Most medicines are fine at room temperature, between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius. Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from hot or damp places.
One habit worth breaking is leaving medicine in the car for a long time. A car parked in the sun can get far hotter than room temperature.
Not every medicine belongs in the fridge
Many people think medicine keeps longer in the fridge. That is not always true. The Ministry of Health's guidance says liquid medicines such as syrups should not go in the fridge, so that they do not freeze, unless the label says otherwise.
On the other hand, some medicines must be kept cold, at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. Insulin is one example. Suppositories and pessaries are usually kept in the fridge too, because they can melt at room temperature. Simply follow the storage instructions on the label or packaging.
Keep it in its own packaging
Keep medicine in its original container and do not remove the label. The label shows the name of the medicine, how to use it, and other important information. Medicine moved into another container is easily mixed up, especially when tablets look alike.
Check it now and then
Open your medicine box from time to time. Check the expiry dates and look at the medicines themselves. If the colour has changed, the smell is odd, or tablets have clumped together, do not use them, even before the date. Medicine that has expired or spoiled should not be kept.
Out of children's reach
Put the medicine box somewhere high or closed, so children cannot open it themselves. Brightly coloured tablets are often mistaken for sweets by small children.
In short
- Store at room temperature, 15 to 30 degrees Celsius.
- Avoid direct sunlight, damp places, and hot cars.
- Do not put syrups in the fridge unless the label asks for it.
- Keep medicine in its original packaging with its label.
- Check expiry dates and the state of the medicine regularly.
If you are not sure how to store a particular medicine, just ask a Coapotek pharmacist.
Sources
- Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Directorate General of Advanced Health Services. Bagaimana Penyimpanan Obat yang Benar (How to store medicine properly), 1 August 2023.
- Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Directorate General of Advanced Health Services. Dapatkan, Gunakan, Simpan, Buang (DAGUSIBU) (Get, use, store, dispose), 19 December 2023.