Storing medicines safely in a warm climate
Heat, humidity and sunlight shorten the life of a medicine. Here is a practical routine for a Gaborone household.
Last reviewed 2026-09-18 · 4 min read
Key takeaways
- Keep medicines in their original packaging, away from light and moisture.
- Never move a medicine out of its labelled box — the label is the safety net.
- Check the expiry date before every order; we label parcels with the date.
Why heat matters
Every medicine has a temperature range it stays stable in. Botswana temperatures climb well above that range for much of the year, and heat degrades the active ingredient — sometimes making the medicine weaker, sometimes making it unsafe.
A medicine that has been left in a hot car, on a windowsill or in a direct sunlit cupboard should be replaced rather than used.
A simple routine
The most reliable arrangement is a closed cupboard in the coolest room in the house, high enough that children cannot reach it, and away from the kitchen or bathroom where humidity and heat build up.
Leave medicines in the box they arrived in. The packaging is designed to protect them, and the label tells a pharmacist exactly what is inside if you ever need to hand it over.
- Store below 25°C, out of direct sunlight.
- Keep the box sealed once opened.
- Do not store in a bathroom or above the stove.
- Check the expiry date before each order — we print it on the parcel.
Cold-chain items
Some items must stay refrigerated and are labelled as such. They arrive in an insulated cold pack; put them straight into the fridge on arrival, not into the freezer.
If the cold pack has melted or the item has been left out for more than a couple of hours, call the pharmacy before using it.
Children and accidental ingestion
Keep every medicine above the reach of children and ideally in a locked or high cupboard. Child-resistant caps slow children down but do not stop them.
If a child swallows a medicine by mistake, contact a clinic or emergency services immediately and take the packaging with you.