January has long been the month of resolutions and renewal. And if Dr. Marla Shapiro had her way, it would also be the month of medicine cabinet cleanup.
Shapiro says the beginning of the year is a great time to go through your cache of medicines, lotions and potions -- and dump the ones that have grown old and could do more harm than good.
"It's a good time to do this, it's the beginning of the year and you can remember that at least once a year," Shapiro tells Canada AM. "You probably should do this every six months, but at least once a year."
Shapiro recommends that we begin the process by pulling everything out of our cabinets and giving them a good wipe-down and disinfection. At the same time, toss out errant items such as open razor blades, dirty cotton balls and items that belong elsewhere.
Next, take a thorough look at each of your medications -- both prescription drugs and over-the-counter remedies -- and check their expiry dates. Drugs that have deteriorated are not going to be effective and may even become dangerous.
"Lots of patients will think the expiry date is a flexible date. Maybe they are by two or three days, but certainly not by six months or a year," Shapiro says. "Anything that's expired, immediately throw it out."
She also advises against adding one bottle of pills to another because it makes keeping track of the expiry dates impossible. And if you find something that should have been refrigerated, toss it out.
The next set of things to look at are those prescription bottles with only a couple of pills left in them. If it was a prescription for antibiotics, for example, that you didn't finish, throw it out.
When disposing of medications, remember that some medications should not be flushed down the toilet, particularly medications that have been exposed to sunlight or have been improperly stored since municipal water treatment systems cannot always eliminate them from public water.
If you have small children at home, it's not a good idea to place them in the garbage either, since curious toddlers can find them.
"If you're not sure about disposal, go to the pharmacist and ask the pharmacist, 'how can I dispose of these medications?'"
Next, return your current medications to your cupboard but group "like with like" to avoid mixing and possibly overdosing on medications.
"A lot of over-the-counter medications that are cold preparations will have acetaminophen base, plus you'll have acetaminophen such as Tylenol in your cupboard. When you combine them together, you're overdosing. So read the labels and categorize them by the contents of the medication."
Another good idea, Shapiro says, is to bring your daily medications in to your doctor to remind him or her of what you're taking together.
"Put them in a bag and take them to your doctor once a year and say this is what I'm taking, should I still be taking this? Are there any medications that interact with each other?
Don't forget to inform your doctor about any herbal remedies or vitamins you're regularly using, since some of these can interact with prescription medication -- such as St. John's Wort and antidepressants.
Finally, remember that there are other items besides medications that need to be thrown out as they age. Sunscreens, for example, lose their efficacy if used after their expiry date, putting you at risk of sunburn.
Creams and makeup break down with time and can become contaminated, so toss those regularly too. Mascara, for example, should be replaced every three months while lipsticks need to be tossed after about a year.
Though replacing all these products can be costly, anyone who has ever dealt with an eye infection knows that it's worth it to save yourself from pain later on.
