Time for a mid-summer medicine cabinet check-in

Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors, reconnect with friends, and soak up some sunshine. But it’s also the perfect time to give your medicine cabinet a much-needed review.

Over time, it’s easy for prescription medications, over-the-counter remedies, and supplements to accumulate—some of which may be expired, unnecessary, or no longer appropriate for your health needs. A mid-summer check-in can help you stay safe and organized.

Why it matters:

• Expired medications can be risky. Heat and humidity can degrade medications faster, especially if stored in bathrooms. Using expired products can reduce effectiveness—or worse, be harmful.
• Your needs may have changed. If you’ve started a new medication or experienced changes in your health, it’s a good idea to review what you’re taking with your pharmacist or doctor.
• Prevent interactions. A periodic review helps ensure your medications—prescription and non-prescription—are still safe to take together.
• Declutter safely. Remove anything you no longer use and dispose of medications properly at your local pharmacy. Never flush them or throw them in the trash.

Take 10 minutes this summer to tidy your medicine cabinet—and if in doubt, book a medication review with your pharmacist. It’s a simple way to support your health and peace of mind.

McMaster Optimal Aging Blog Posts are written by faculty, staff, PhD students, and external collaborators, and are assessed for accuracy by members of the Portal scientific leadership team.

DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org)