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Medications left inside vehicles during the summer heat can lose their structure and effectiveness due to high temperatures, according to Professor Dr. Ismail Tuncer Degim, dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Biruni University in Istanbul.
Taking the correct dose at the correct time is not enough on its own, Degim said, noting that proper storage is also a critical part of treatment. Each medication has its own specific storage requirements, he added.
"Even if there is no visible change in a medication's appearance, it may still have been affected by heat. Medications left in a hot car for an extended period should not be used without consulting a pharmacist," Degim said.
Some medications must be kept at room temperature, he explained, while others require cold-chain conditions between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius (35.6 to 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit), as indicated on the packaging and instructions.
The interior temperature of a car parked in direct sunlight can rise rapidly, Degim noted, adding that the glove compartment and trunk are not suitable storage areas either, despite common assumptions that they are safer since they are not in direct sunlight.
"Every part of a vehicle is affected by high temperatures. Heat can alter a medication's active ingredient or excipients, which may prevent the drug from working as intended and put the treatment process at risk," Degim said.
The degree to which a medication is affected by heat depends on its content and pharmaceutical form, Degim said, noting that tablets, capsules, syrups, drops, creams, suppositories and injectable products all require appropriate storage conditions.
Creams and suppositories may melt, while syrups may change in consistency or color. However, a normal appearance does not necessarily mean a medication has not been affected by heat, he cautioned.
Insulin, vaccines and certain biological drugs are especially sensitive to temperature changes, Degim said, stressing that maintaining an uninterrupted cold chain is essential.
Medications requiring cold storage should be transported in insulated bags, without direct contact with ice, and should not be frozen, since freezing can damage a drug's structure as well.
Degim advised that medications suspected of prolonged heat exposure should not be discarded or used without first consulting a pharmacist, who should be informed of how long and under what conditions the medication was exposed.
He also noted that heat can cause plastic water bottles left in vehicles to release chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates into the water, a risk that is more pronounced with prolonged sun exposure. Infants, children, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses face greater risk from such exposure, he said.
Degim recommended keeping medications away from direct sunlight, storing them in their original packaging where possible, and planning for medication storage during travel and holidays.
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