Common Pharmaceutical Storage Terms Defined

Pharmaceuticals must be stored at specified temperatures, or it could result in physical characteristic changes such as taste, color, or smell. Improper temperature storage could also alter the intended potency or effectiveness and could cause harm to the person taking the drug.

Temperature storage guidelines are found on the pharmaceuticals’ labels. In ideal cases, the labels have the temperature ranges listed as degrees in Celsius. Other times, labels will use words like “ambient” or “room temperature,” which makes understanding the temperature range a bit more challenging.