A complimentary check
Medicine cabinet check
Together with you, we go through your home medicine cabinet to establish which products are still within their shelf life, which ought to be replaced and what, if anything, is missing, and we offer this service entirely free of charge. We recommend such a check once a year and whenever circumstances in your household change, for instance after the birth of a child, when a family member comes to require care, or before an extended holiday.
What to bring with you
The simplest approach is to bring along everything you keep at home as part of your medicine supply, including opened packs: painkillers and fever remedies as well as ointments, drops and whatever has accumulated in the bathroom cabinet. We then check not only the expiry dates but also whether the way each product has been stored is appropriate to it.
For your regular medication, a list giving the name, strength and time of day at which you take each medicine is usually sufficient, as it allows us to judge whether the products in your medicine cabinet are compatible with your current treatment.
What a medicine cabinet should contain
There is no such thing as a medicine cabinet that would suit every household equally well, since children, a pregnancy, allergies or long-term medication each alter what it makes sense to keep. The following basic selection has nonetheless proved its worth, and we will adapt it with you to the particular needs of your household:
- Pain relief and fever-reducing medicines suitable for the ages of everyone in the household
- Remedies for diarrhoea, heartburn and nausea
- First-aid supplies: plasters, sterile dressings, a mild disinfectant and a pair of tweezers
- A product for insect bites and, from spring to autumn, tick repellent for time spent outdoors
- Sun protection
- A clinical thermometer
- An adequate supply of your own regular medication
Storing medicines correctly
Although the medicine cabinet is often kept in the bathroom, the warmth and humidity there make it a rather unsuitable place. A dry cupboard that is protected from light and out of the reach of children is far preferable. Certain products, such as some suppositories or eye drops, must moreover be kept in the refrigerator, as both the packaging and we ourselves will point out when they are dispensed.
It is also worth bearing in mind that eye drops and liquid medicines are often usable for only a few weeks once opened; in such cases the decisive date is the period of use after opening rather than the expiry date printed on the pack.
Free disposal of expired medicines
We accept medicines that are no longer needed or have passed their expiry date free of charge and ensure that they are disposed of properly, since medicines should on no account be thrown away with household waste or flushed into the drains. You may remove the outer cartons and patient leaflets beforehand if you wish, although this is not necessary.
You are welcome to bring your medicine cabinet in during our opening hours, which are Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, and Saturday, 8 am to 12 noon. You will find us at Heinrichstraße 3, 8010 Graz. Should carrying everything prove difficult: there is a disabled parking space directly in front of the pharmacy, where we will gladly come out to your car if you give us a call; in addition, there are loading zones on both sides of Heinrichstraße.
Frequently asked
Is the medicine cabinet check free of charge?
Yes, we review and replenish your medicine cabinet free of charge, and the proper disposal of medicines that are no longer needed or have expired is likewise provided at no cost.
How often should a medicine cabinet be checked?
For most households we recommend an annual review, which is also worthwhile before travelling and whenever your household changes, for instance after the birth of a child or when new long-term medication is added.
What should not be kept in a medicine cabinet?
A medicine cabinet should not contain products that are past their expiry date, opened drops and liquid medicines whose period of use has elapsed, or leftovers from earlier courses of treatment that can no longer be attributed to any particular use. We will gladly dispose of such medicines for you.
Can I return expired medicines to the pharmacy?
Yes, you can hand them in during our opening hours at Heinrichstraße 3, 8010 Graz, and we will dispose of them properly and free of charge.
Should medicines be kept in the bathroom?
We advise against it, as bathrooms are usually too warm and too humid. A dry cupboard out of the reach of children is better suited, while certain individual products, as indicated on their packaging, need to be stored in the refrigerator.
What should I bring to the check?
Please bring every product from your medicine cabinet, including opened packs; for your regular medication, a list giving the name, strength and dosing schedule of each medicine will suffice.
