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Heat and medication: This is how your medicines remain effective and safe!
Find out how rising temperatures affect medication storage in Berlin and what tips pharmacists give.
Heat and medication: This is how your medicines remain effective and safe!
Rising temperatures in Germany require special attention in the handling of medication. Heat, direct sunlight and high humidity can significantly affect not only the stability, but also the effectiveness of drugs. Pharmacist Katrin Peise from AOK Nordost and the Hitz coordinator Charlotte Matthei from the Steglitz-Zehlendorf district office give valuable tips for the correct storage and dosage of medication during the summer heat to avoid health risks, such as Berlin.de is reported.
It is particularly important to store medications in cool, dry places. Direct heat can be particularly stressful on liquid preparations such as solutions, suppositories and ointments. At high temperatures, these could lose their consistency or even liquefy, which can have a negative impact on both the effect and the dosage. Some medications, such as insulins, need to be kept in the refrigerator, while others, such as tablets, should ideally be exposed to temperatures no longer than 25 degrees Celsius. The consumer advice center NRW points out that even short periods of high temperatures can be crucial if they last for longer periods.
Special recommendations for medication
When using medication, those affected should pay attention to additional risks. For example, the use of painkillers such as ibuprofen in combination with sporting activities can damage the kidneys in the heat. The dosage of blood pressure -lowering medication should also be checked by a doctor, since the heat can increase the effect and could cause circulatory problems. Many medications react delayed to short -term heat damage, which is an additional challenge, as from a report of ZDFheute emerges.
To ensure that the medication keeps their full effectiveness, it is advisable to study the package insert exactly and to clarify any uncertainties directly with the pharmacist or the family doctor. Above all, cool boxes for temperature -sensitive medication should be used when traveling to ensure a continuous cold chain.
Awareness activities
In order to help the citizens appropriately, the Steglitz-Zehlendorf district has created a heat card that listed cool places and drinking fountains. In addition, various events are planned for September 2025, including a heat protection walk on September 18 as part of the neighborhood conference and a heat quiz on September 19 at the summer festival of Mittelhof e.V. These initiatives should help to sharpen the awareness of health risks at high temperatures and to promote the correct use of medication.
In summary, it can be said that at continuing high temperatures, increased mindfulness is necessary when dealing with medication. By implementing the given tips and obtaining professional advice, serious health consequences can be avoided.