Storing medication correctly

Rising temperatures pose challenges not only for patients, but also for the healthcare sector. Particularly in pharmacies, doctors' surgeries, fertility clinics and hospitals , the correct storage of medicines is crucial in order to ensure the efficacy and safety of medicines at all times and to comply with regulatory requirements. This applies not only to traditional medicines, but also to pharmaceutical products in general.

Temperature control in medication storage

Some medicines must be stored at the correct temperature. For example, many medicines require storage at room temperature between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. These include numerous tablets and capsules, which can lose their effectiveness if the temperature is too high or too low.

However, pharmaceutical products such as infusion solutions, for example glucose or electrolyte solutions, also require controlled storage. At the wrong temperatures, they can fail or become contaminated. Diagnostics and test kits, such as those for blood or urine analysis, are also often sensitive to heat, as they contain enzymatic or protein-based components that could become inactive if stored incorrectly.

Vaccines and serums, some of which are not classified as medicines, also require precise storage - usually in the range of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. Another critical area is care products with sensitive active ingredients, such as unpreserved eye drops or emulsions, whose stability can be impaired by overheating, which in turn increases microbiological risks.

Last but not least, individual formulations and pharmacy preparations such as suppositories, creams or liquid preparations are often heat-sensitive and must be stored appropriately.

In addition to medicines, blood products are regularly stored and administered, particularly in hospitals, which are considered biological medicinal products and therefore fall under the Medicinal Products Act. These include erythrocyte concentrates (EC), fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and platelet concentrates (PC). These preparations must be stored safely under precisely defined temperature conditions in order to guarantee their effectiveness and safety. Continuous temperature monitoring is essential.

Blood product	Temperature	Special feature
Erythrocyte concentrate (EC)	+2 °C to +6 °C	Refrigerated, shelf life approx. 42 days
Frozen fresh frozen plasma (FFP)	-30 °C or colder	Deep-frozen, shelf life up to 2 years
Thawed fresh plasma (FFP)	Room temperature or +2 °C to +6 °C	A few to several hours depending on temperature storage
Platelet concentrate	+20 °C to +24 °C	With movement (agitation), 5-7 days
Plasma derivatives	Different temperature storage and shelf life depending on the product

Rising outside temperatures therefore pose an additional challenge, as they can jeopardize the proper storage and quality of many medicines. Correct storage in pharmacies, doctors' surgeries and hospitals is therefore essential to maintain the safety and effectiveness of medical care.

With Frimed pharmaceutical refrigerators , VITARIS offers reliable and temperature-stable solutions for the storage of medicines, drugs and biological preparations in hospitals, pharmacies, fertility clinics, laboratories and other medical facilities.

Climate test before the sale of medicinal products

Temperatures above 25 °C can already cause a loss of efficacy or loss of quality in many medications. The changes are often not visible - the preparations look inconspicuous on the outside, but no longer work as intended. Heat and sunlight can lead to the decomposition of active ingredients - an underestimated danger in everyday pharmacy and practice work.

But how do you know whether the storage conditions are really optimal and whether medicines retain their full effectiveness? This is precisely where precise stress tests come into play, such as those carried out in climate chambers from Aralab, which VITARIS also distributes. These tests simulate extreme environmental conditions in order to test the stability and shelf life of medicines under realistic but challenging circumstances. They help to gain precise insights into how different temperature and humidity conditions affect the quality of medicines.

At VITARIS, we not only offer laboratory refrigerators for storing medicines, but also climatic chambers that have been specially developed to monitor all relevant environmental influences such as temperature and humidity under realistic stress conditions. This makes it possible to meet the specific requirements for the storage of medicines even more precisely and to ensure the safety and efficacy of medicines even under extreme storage conditions.

Which medicines need to be refrigerated?

Professional storage in hospitals, pharmacies, fertility clinics and doctors' surgeries

These quality standards are considered essential in practice::

• Regular temperature checks (manual or digital, at least twice a day)
• Documentation of the temperature logs
• Alarm when temperature limits are exceeded or not reached
• Suitable storage locations - separate from food or everyday objects
• Staff training on storage and emergency measures in the event of cold chain interruption

These specifications not only protect the health of patients, but also meet the requirements of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), the Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) and Good Distribution Practice (GDP) in accordance with Swissmedic's specifications.

Storage in treatment rooms and private households

Medicines that are stored at room temperature (15-25 degrees Celsius) (e.g. many tablets, ointments) are also sensitive to moisture and heat. These include medicines such as NeoCitran, Paracetamol-Mepha or Pantoprazole from Sandoz. Incorrect storage can lead to changes in consistency, release or shelf life. The bathroom, windowsill or kitchen are unsuitable storage locations - not only at home, but also in treatment rooms.

Patients should be fully informed, including about correct storage at home. Even if your facility works professionally, there is a possibility that medication may be stored incorrectly after dispensing.

Therefore:

• When collecting patients, expressly point out the correct storage at home (room temperature),
• or other storage locations)
• Provide cool bags if necessary.
• Explain why, for example, the bathroom is taboo (high humidity, temperature fluctuations, possibly light)
• Some medicines must not be stored in the refrigerator. The package leaflet should therefore always be observed to ensure that they are stored correctly.

This not only keeps your quality high - but also the effect of the therapy in everyday life.

Frimed Refrigeration

A medical refrigerator (also known as a pharmaceutical refrigerator or laboratory refrigerator) differs from a conventional refrigerator for domestic use in many respects. The requirements for medical refrigerators are particularly high, as they are used to store medicines, vaccines and other temperature-sensitive products in facilities such as hospitals, pharmacies, fertility clinics and research facilities. These special refrigerators must meet certain criteria that differ significantly from normal household refrigerators in terms of technology and regulatory requirements.

Our customers, such as hospitals, pharmacies and research institutes, have specific requirements relating to the safety and quality of medicines. The most important needs include:

• Reliability: Consistently precise temperature control that ensures uninterrupted cooling.
• Safety functions: Alarms for temperature deviations, door opening and faults.
• Documentation and traceability: Continuous recording of temperature values and an easy way to export them for tests or audits.
• Energy efficiency: Despite the high demands on precision and safety, medical refrigerators must also be energy efficient in order to minimize operating costs.
• Customer service and maintenance: Facilities such as hospitals often need fast and reliable service for repairs and maintenance to avoid downtime.

We are proud to be a specialist dealer of the Frimed brand. As a renowned specialist in the field of professional refrigeration and freezing technology, Frimed offers a wide range of products that impress with their technical innovation, ease of use and reliability.

Frimed has stood for pioneering developments in refrigeration technology for many years - particularly in the areas of energy efficiency and product safety. The sophisticated design and high-quality workmanship of the appliances meet the highest requirements, whether for medical, pharmaceutical or laboratory use.

The Frimed medicine fridges, which have been specially developed for the safe and standard-compliant storage of temperature-sensitive preparations, are particularly popular.

Benefit from the expertise and experience of the Frimed brand - whether in the healthcare sector, in the laboratory or in research.

As an authorized Frimed specialist partner, we guarantee reliable service and competent support throughout Switzerland.

Our service includes installation, qualification, maintenance and repair - all from Switzerland.

Conclusion

Heat, humidity and unsuitable storage locations can significantly impair the quality and effectiveness of medicines. Consistent, controlled storage is therefore essential for pharmacies, hospitals, fertility clinics and doctors' surgeries - not only to comply with standards and legal requirements, but above all in the interests of patient safety. Modern medical refrigerators provide the necessary basis through precise temperature control, reliable safety functions and seamless documentation. They reflect the high requirements for safety, reliability and regulatory compliance.

Talk to our team now about suitable storage solutions - before the summer temperatures become a challenge!