How to Secure Medications During Home Renovations or Moves

When you’re tearing down walls or packing up your life for a new home, your medications shouldn’t be an afterthought. A pill bottle left on a dusty shelf, insulin sitting in a hot car, or a bottle of opioids tucked in a box with random tools-these aren’t just mistakes. They’re risks. In New Zealand, nearly 1 in 3 adults takes at least one prescription medication regularly. During home renovations or moves, those medications can become dangerous if not handled properly.

Why Medications Are at Risk During Moves and Renovations

Most people don’t think about their pills until they’re packing boxes. But medications aren’t like books or dishes. They’re sensitive. Heat, moisture, and sunlight can make them weaker-or even toxic. And if kids, pets, or visitors find them? That’s when accidents happen.

Medications like fentanyl patches, oxycodone, or even common painkillers can cause overdose in tiny doses. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says 55% of Americans keep prescription drugs at home. In New Zealand, the numbers are similar. Yet, no official guide tells you how to handle them when your house is under construction or you’re moving across town.

Here’s what actually happens: pills get tossed in a cardboard box with clothes. Insulin sits in the trunk for hours. Old antibiotics are shoved into a drawer because “maybe I’ll need them later.” That’s not just careless-it’s dangerous.

Where to Store Medications During Renovations

If you’re remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, you’re probably losing your main medicine cabinet. Don’t panic. You just need a new spot that meets three rules: cool, dry, and locked.

Temperature matters. Most pills need to stay between 15°C and 25°C. That’s room temperature-not a garage, not a sunlit hallway, not a shed. If your house is being rewired or insulated, the temperature can swing wildly. Keep your meds away from windows, radiators, and vents.

Choose a locked cabinet in a part of the house that’s untouched by the renovation. A bedroom closet, a locked drawer in the living room, or even a small safe you can buy for under $50 will do. Don’t use the bathroom-even if it’s not being renovated. Steam from showers ruins pills. Moisture makes them break down faster. Blood glucose strips fail in humid air. Pills do too.

Label everything clearly. Use masking tape and a marker to write: “MEDICATIONS-DO NOT TOUCH.” If you have children or grandchildren visiting, tell them: “This box is off-limits.” Don’t assume they’ll understand. Kids are curious. And some medications look like candy.

How to Pack Medications for a Move

Packing meds for a move isn’t like packing socks. You need to treat them like fragile electronics.

First, don’t throw them in a box with books or tools. Use a small, sturdy container-like a plastic storage bin with a tight lid. Line it with bubble wrap if you’re moving in winter or summer. Heat and cold can ruin medications just as much as moisture.

Keep them with you. Don’t let movers pack your pills. Put them in a carry-on bag, a backpack, or a tote you keep beside you in the car. If you’re driving, keep them inside the cabin-not the trunk. A car can hit 50°C on a summer day. That’s enough to melt patches, warp capsules, and ruin insulin.

Insulin, epinephrine pens, and other refrigerated meds need special care. They must stay between 2°C and 8°C. If you’re moving more than a few hours away, use a small cooler with ice packs. Don’t let them freeze. Frozen insulin is useless. You can’t tell by looking. Once it’s frozen, it’s ruined.

Always keep pills in their original bottles. No dumping into ziplock bags. The label has your name, the doctor’s name, dosage, and expiration date. If you lose that, you risk taking the wrong pill-or worse, giving someone else your medicine.

What to Do With Old or Expired Medications

Before you move, clean out your medicine cabinet. Toss anything you haven’t used in over a year. Or anything that’s expired. But don’t just throw it in the trash.

The safest way? Take them to a pharmacy that offers a take-back program. In New Zealand, many pharmacies run these programs. You drop off old pills, and they’re incinerated safely. No pollution. No risk to kids or wildlife.

If there’s no take-back option nearby, here’s what to do: Remove pills from their bottles. Mix them with something unappetizing-used coffee grounds, cat litter, or dirt. Put the mixture in a sealed plastic bag. Then throw it in the trash. This stops people from digging through your bin and finding pills.

Some drugs are dangerous enough to flush. Fentanyl patches, certain opioids, and a few others can kill someone in seconds if found by accident. Check the label or ask your pharmacist. If it says “flush,” do it. Don’t wait. Your safety matters more than the environment in these cases.

Keep Kids and Pets Safe

Children and pets are the biggest risk during moves and renovations. They explore. They climb. They chew.

During renovations, keep all medications in a locked space-high enough that a child can’t reach, even on a chair. A locked cabinet on the highest wall in the unused room is ideal. If you’re using a small safe, make sure it’s bolted down or heavy enough that a toddler can’t drag it.

For pets, it’s even simpler. Dogs will eat anything. Cats will lick anything. A single pill of ibuprofen can cause kidney failure in a dog. A single dose of acetaminophen can kill a cat. Keep all meds out of reach. Even if you think your pet is “too smart,” they’re not.

During the move, keep a small travel bag with daily meds for kids and pets. Don’t leave it in the car. Don’t leave it unattended. Treat it like your phone or wallet.

When to Talk to Your Doctor or Pharmacist

Don’t guess. If you’re unsure about any medication, call your doctor or pharmacist. Especially if you have:

• Insulin, epinephrine, or other temperature-sensitive drugs
• Controlled substances like opioids or benzodiazepines
• Medications with unclear expiration dates
• Drugs that are hard to replace (like rare specialty meds)

Your pharmacist can tell you if your meds can be safely stored in a cooler, if they need special handling, or if you should get a new supply before moving. Some pharmacies will even mail you a fresh supply if your current one won’t survive the move.

Ask: “Is this medication safe to move? How do I store it during the transition?” Simple questions like this can prevent hospital visits.

Final Checklist: Your Medication Move Plan

Before you start packing, run through this:

1. Sort all meds: keep, toss, or flush (check labels)
2. Take expired or unused meds to a pharmacy take-back drop-off
3. Keep daily meds in original bottles with labels
4. Pack meds in a small, insulated container
5. Keep them with you during transport-not in the trunk
6. Store them in a cool, dry, locked space in your new home before unpacking anything else
7. Update your medication list with your new doctor or pharmacy

Medications aren’t clutter. They’re lifelines. Whether you’re taking them for high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety, or chronic pain, they keep you alive. Don’t let a renovation or move put them at risk.