Safe Drug Use After a Natural Disaster

September 5, 2012 2:44 PM Topics: Patient safety, Disaster response, and Patient counseling

In the wake of Hurricane Isaac, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reminds consumers of safety tips for using medications after a natural disaster occurs. Storms, flooding, wildfires, and other natural disasters can expose medications to unsafe water or excessive heat, and may leave drugs without required refrigeration. The FDA Web page, “Safe Drug Use After a Natural Disaster,” explains when it is safe to continue to use the medication and when it should be discarded and replaced. The page also provides resources for obtaining medications during an emergency. FDA encourages consumers to contact their pharmacist or doctor with any questions about whether their medications are still safe to use.