"Don't Eat or Throw It Away"—The Surprising Role of the Small Packet Inside Your Pill Bottle [Health Issue]

[Financial News] Experts advise not to throw away the silica gel packets found inside medicine bottles, as they help prevent moisture. Disposing of them unknowingly could allow moisture to degrade the effectiveness of your medication.
On the 16th (local time), the American lifestyle media outlet The Cool Down highlighted a recent video posted by pharmacist Kimberly White, who runs a social media account dedicated to pharmaceutical information.
In the video, White explains why you should not discard the silica gel packets inside pill bottles.

These silica gel packets, often labeled 'Do Not Eat,' are included in prescription and other medicine bottles for a reason.
Silica gel, which is primarily composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2), acts as a desiccant to absorb moisture. White explained that silica gel helps keep medications dry. She also noted that exposure to moisture can reduce a drug’s effectiveness, and silica gel helps prevent this from happening.
White also emphasized the warning printed on the silica gel packet. She stressed, "Silica gel should never be ingested and must be kept out of reach of children."
The Cool Down, which introduced White’s video, added another reason to keep silica gel with your medication: it can also be beneficial economically. By maintaining the quality of medications and preventing loss of efficacy, silica gel can help reduce unnecessary refills or replacements.
According to the U.S. pharmaceutical information site GoodRx, prescription drug costs have risen by 37% over the past decade. As of 2024, Americans spent $61 billion out-of-pocket on prescription medications.
y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter