Why drugs should be kept in cool environment – Pharmacists

According to pharmacists, climate change may alter expiration dates and reduce the effectiveness of medications kept in hot environments.

It was advised that medications be kept cold, particularly in warm climates.

Each drug has unique chemical and physical characteristics that are susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity, as indicated by the senior healthcare providers.

The chemists warned that some medications, especially those that depend on high humidity for stability, may not last as long on the shelf as they once would due to rising temperatures brought on by climate change.

The United Nations defines climate change as long-term variations in temperature and weather patterns brought on by modifications to solar activity or significant volcanic eruptions.

The chemists emphasised in many interviews that the shelf life of drugs may be negatively impacted by high temperatures and extreme heat events brought on by climate change.

Jonah Okotie, a former national secretary of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, clarified that the chemical and physical characteristics of each drug were specific to it and were affected by temperature.

He continued by saying that whereas many drugs are stable in certain environments, others are more sensitive to changes in temperature.

He pointed out that heat and humidity have a big impact on the characteristics of drugs, with heat making drugs deteriorate before their planned expiration dates.

Okotie said, "It's advised to store medications in a cool environment, especially in hot climates, as climate change increases the likelihood of drugs spoiling prematurely."

This clarifies why as well regulators mandate that drugs be kept in cool, dry places. Professionalism is crucial in this regard, unlike in open drug markets where medications are often treated merely as commodities.
"As experts, we go above and beyond to make sure that drugs are kept in cool, dry environments so that their quality is preserved and patients can benefit from them.

"For this reason, consumers should refrain from buying narcotics from street vendors in public markets, as the quality of these products is frequently subpar.

Okotie clarified, "Climate change and heat can alter the properties of these medicines, leading to ineffective treatment, even if the expiration date is still far off."

He says experts are dedicated to keeping medications in the best possible shape because saving lives is their major concern.

He stressed that street vendors do not offer the same degree of supervision as he does when he administers medication because he watches the procedure to make sure the patient recovers.

Okotie emphasised that in order for a drug to continue to be effective, certain humidity criteria must be satisfied.

"You need to measure each drug's water content carefully; if you don't, the medication might not work out well," he went on. The tablets may break or stop working if the water content is too high or too low.

Every medication has a particular threshold for moisture content or humidity. Temperature and humidity changes may be brought on by climate change, but these problems can be successfully handled if experts precisely measure and regulate these variables.

Because they are manufactured in controlled circumstances, "they ensure that drugs are produced correctly regardless of external conditions," according to Okotie.

"To guarantee that patients receive the highest quality, we store these medications in the proper conditions as soon as we receive them. This is the reason quackery should not be allowed since it endangers people's lives, money, and resources, he continued.

In addition, Ifeanyi Onwualili, a certified chemist who was formerly employed by GlaxoSmithKline Nigeria, underlined the significance of comprehending how climate change affects the use of pharmaceuticals.

He advised Nigeria to abstain from buying pharmaceuticals from open markets, pointing out that climate change influences medication availability and distribution worldwide as well as the environmental factors that surround drug use.

Onwualili said that changes in the environment brought about by climate change are associated with a higher prevalence of chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases and mental health disorders.

He emphasised that individuals with respiratory diseases may experience worsened symptoms due to altered environmental conditions, such as increased pollen counts, leading to higher demand for medications to manage these symptoms.
Onwualili also mentioned how pharmacokinetics—the area of pharmacology that examines how the body distributes, metabolises, excretes, and absorbs substances—is impacted by climate change. These compounds include cosmetics, insecticides, medications, and food additives.