Medication can help you when you are sick or hurt. When used correctly, medication can even save your life. However, medication can be dangerous if used wrongly or in the wrong amounts. Our pharmacist was interviewed on Channel NewsAsia Primetime Morning (08022006) on the storage and disposal of medicines. How to Use, Store and Dispose of your Medicines Safely   MOST ACCIDENTS WITH MEDICINES OCCUR AT HOME BECAUSE OF CARELESSNESS.   Using Medicines   Follow your doctor's directions for taking medicine. Always take the right amount of medicine at the right time. Store medicines in a refrigerator only if instructed to do so. Always check the label for the name and dosage of the medicine, and the expiration date, before taking or giving medication. Do not take medicine in the dark. If interrupted while taking or giving medicines, for example, a phone call or ringing doorbell, take the medicine or child with you to prevent chances of poisoning. Avoid taking medicine in front of children. They are curious and love to imitate adults. Never borrow or take other people's medicines. Do not allow a child to play with medicines. Do not refer to medicines as sweets. A child may eat the medicine, thinking it is a sweet. Explain to children what medicine is for, and why it is dangerous if taken by the wrong person. If someone throws up their medicine, do not give them extra medicine as it may cause an overdose.  Medicine can pass from you to your unborn baby if you are pregnant. Medicine can also pass into breast milk if you are breast-feeding. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or the DPIC staff before taking any medicine. Be aware of potential drug interactions. Some medicines interact dangerously with food, drink, herbs or other medicines. Always tell your doctor or pharmacist all the prescription and over-the-counter medicines that you are currently taking. If in doubt, discuss it with your doctor, pharmacist or call the DPIC.  Storing Medicines   Keep medicines in a cool dry place away from sunlight. A kitchen or bathroom cupboard may not be suitable places due to heat and moisture found there. Store medicines in a refrigerator only if instructed to do so. Keep medicines away from children and pets. Use a “childproof” container if you can. Keep medicines for internal use (e.g. cough mixtures) separate from those for external use (e.g. skin lotions). Never transfer medicines from their original bottles to other containers. Never mix different kinds of tablets or capsules in the same bottle. You should know about all the medicines in your cabinet. Dispose of any medicine that is unlabelled, unfamiliar or no longer needed. Medicines can go bad. Do not take a medicine if:   It is past its expiry date. The labels on the bottle cannot be read. The colour, appearance, smell or consistency has changed. The medicine causes adverse effects that did not previously occur. The medicine is no longer effective.   Disposing of Medicines   When you collect medicines from your doctor or pharmacist, check if the course needs to be completed. If not, when you are well again, flush all the remaining medicine down the toilet. Tablet and capsules should be crushed or dissolved before being flushed away. Liquid preparations (eyedrops, lotions, mixtures) should be poured out and flushed away. Creams and ointments may be squeezed out onto a piece of tissue, then to be flushed away. Do not throw medicines away in the rubbish bun in their original state, to avoid accidental poisonings.   STORE YOUR MEDICINES PROPERLY TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY.   WHEN IN DOUBT, ASK YOUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL, OR CALL THE DRUG & POISON INFORMATION CENTRE HOTLINE AT 6423 9119 (24-hours).   Click here for a Medication Safety pamphlet on medication safety tips.   Click here for a Medication Safety card.   Click here for the Drug & Poison Information Centre's Patient Information leaflet for information on how to poison-proof your home and for first aid procedures for poisoning.