Where to keep your medicines, what temperature, and when to throw them out
📌 The simple rule
Most medicines should be stored in a cool, dry place below 25°C, away from direct sunlight, heat, and moisture. Unless the label says “refrigerate”, room temperature in a cupboard is usually fine. Always check the label or ask your pharmacist — some medicines have specific requirements.
✅ Good places
Kitchen cupboard — away from the stove, sink, and oven
Bathroom cabinet — humidity from showers degrades medicines
Car glovebox or boot — temperatures exceed 60°C in Australian summer
Windowsill — direct sunlight breaks down active ingredients
On top of the fridge — heat rises from the motor
Freezer (unless specifically instructed) — freezing can permanently damage some medicines
🌡️ Temperature guide
Medicine labels in Australia use standard storage terms defined by the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration):
“Store below 25°C” — room temperature, in a cupboard. Most tablets, capsules, and creams.
“Store below 30°C” — slightly more tolerant, but still keep cool. Some liquid medicines.
“Refrigerate” or “Store at 2–8°C” — in the fridge, NOT the freezer. Some antibiotics (after mixing), insulin, eye drops, some creams.
“Protect from light” — keep in the original box or a dark cupboard.
“Protect from moisture” — keep the lid tightly closed; do not store in the bathroom.
During Australian summer, room temperature can easily exceed 25°C. If your home is not air-conditioned and regularly gets above 25°C, consider storing heat-sensitive medicines in the fridge door (the warmest part of the fridge, closest to room temperature).
📅 Expiry dates
Never use medicine past the expiry date — keeping a current medication list helps you track what you have and when it expires — expired medicines may not work or could be harmful
Eye drops: most expire 28 days after opening, even if the printed date is later — write the date you opened them on the bottle
Liquid antibiotics: once mixed (reconstituted), most expire in 7–14 days — the pharmacist will tell you; often need refrigerating once mixed
Creams and ointments: check the “period after opening” symbol (an open jar icon with e.g. “12M”)
EpiPens and insulin: check both the printed expiry AND the storage conditions — if you need a replacement, your GP can send an electronic script directly to your phone — if stored outside recommended range, they may not work even before the printed date
👶 Keep out of reach of children
Store all medicines where children cannot see or reach them — a locked cabinet or high shelf. This includes vitamins, paracetamol, cough medicines, and creams. If you manage multiple medicines, a polypharmacy check can help. Child-resistant caps are not child-proof. Australia’s Poisons Information Hotline: 13 11 26 (24 hours, 7 days).
✈️ Travelling with medicines
Keep medicines in your carry-on — aircraft cargo holds can freeze
Use an insulated pouch for fridge medicines (insulin, eye drops) with a cool pack — do not let them freeze
Never leave medicines in a parked car — temperatures in a closed car in Australia can exceed 60°C within 30 minutes
Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor if travelling with controlled or injectable medicines — see our full travelling with medication guide for more detail
Check time zones — if your medicine must be taken at specific intervals, plan for the time difference
🗑️ Disposing of unused or expired medicines
Do not flush medicines down the toilet or throw them in the bin. Return them to any pharmacy for safe disposal — this is free under the Australian RUM (Return Unwanted Medicines) program. Just take your unused or expired medicines to the pharmacy counter.
Information only — not medical advice. Always check the label on your medicine or ask your pharmacist if you are unsure how to store a specific medicine. This page covers medicines only, not vaccines (vaccines have separate cold-chain requirements managed by your healthcare provider).