Pharmacist warns against storing medication in cars during summer heat

Stephanie Tiede, a pharmacist from Hamburg and board member of the German Federal Pharmacists Chamber (BAK), advises that medicines should be kept at no more than 25 °C and in a dry place. Kitchens and bathrooms are unsuitable; a bedroom drawer or cupboard is preferable. The German Association of Pharmacists lists heat‑sensitive drugs that can lose efficacy in high temperatures.

Travelers are urged to carry a small travel kit with essentials such as painkillers, disinfectant and plasters. Medications must not be left in a car; if unavoidable, they should be stored in the trunk and protected with cooling packs. Any change in a drug’s appearance, taste or smell should prompt a consultation with a doctor or pharmacist.