How to Store Emvit-Win Softgels in Indian Homes
Emvit-Win: Mecobalamin, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Benfotiamine, Vitamins, Minerals & Lutein Softgel Capsules
Softgel capsules are more sensitive to heat and damp than plain tablets. Here is how to keep Emvit-Win in good condition through Indian summers and the monsoon, at home and while travelling.
Why Softgel Capsules Need Extra Care
A soft gelatin capsule is not like a hard coated tablet. The shell contains gelatin and a plasticiser, and it responds to its surroundings. In heat the shell softens and capsules can stick to one another; in damp air the shell can take up moisture and become tacky, while very dry air can make it brittle.
The contents matter too. Mecobalamin is sensitive to light, and Lutein is a carotenoid that degrades with light and air. That is why the pack instruction for Emvit-Win asks for a cool, dry and dark place, protected from light and moisture, and why the blister foil is part of the protection rather than just packaging.
Where to Keep Emvit-Win at Home
- A closed cupboard or drawer in an inner room, away from windows and direct sunlight
- Away from the kitchen platform, the area near the stove and the top of the refrigerator, where heat builds up
- Away from the bathroom cabinet, which sees steam every day
- Off the car dashboard and out of the glove box, where temperatures climb sharply
- Out of reach and out of sight of children, ideally in a box that latches
Refrigeration is not asked for unless your pharmacist tells you so. Putting strips in the fridge and taking them out repeatedly causes condensation on the foil, which does more harm than good.
Monsoon Humidity and Summer Heat
During the monsoon, cupboards in ground floor homes can stay damp for weeks. Keep the strip inside its outer carton, which adds a second layer against light and moisture, and store the carton in an airtight tin or a plastic box with a tight lid. Do not add loose cotton wool, which holds moisture against the foil.
In peak summer, an inner cupboard is cooler than a wardrobe on an outside wall that gets afternoon sun. If your area has long power cuts, remember that a closed room heats up quickly. Before taking a capsule, glance at it. If softgels look stuck together, leaking, unusually soft, discoloured or misshapen, or if the blister is torn or the foil has lifted, do not take them. Show the strip to your pharmacist.
Carrying Emvit-Win While Travelling
Carry capsules in hand baggage rather than checked luggage, since the hold can get very cold and the bag can go missing. Keep them in the original blister with the carton, and carry a copy or photograph of your prescription, which also helps if you are asked at a checkpoint.
On a train or bus, keep the strip inside a small box rather than loose in a bag where it can be crushed. In a hot car, keep medicines with you rather than in the boot. For a long trip or a festival visit, count the days and get a refill from your chemist before you leave. If you use a weekly pill organiser, fill it a day or two at a time instead of a whole month, so the capsules stay in the blister for as long as possible.
Expiry Dates and Getting Rid of Old Capsules
Check the expiry printed on the blister and on the carton, not only on the outer box you may have thrown away. Note the batch number as well; it is the detail a pharmacist or the marketer needs if there is ever a query about a pack.
Do not use capsules after the expiry date, and do not keep leftover strips from an old prescription to use later for a family member. For disposal at home, the practical approach is to remove the capsules from the blister, mix them with an unappealing waste material such as used tea leaves in a sealed pouch, and place them with household waste, keeping the empty strip separate after tearing off any details. Better still, ask your chemist whether they accept returns of unused medicines. Never flush capsules down the toilet and never leave strips where children or animals can reach them. This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice from a registered medical practitioner.
Frequently asked questions
- Should Emvit-Win be kept in the fridge?
- Not unless your pharmacist advises it. A cool, dry, dark cupboard is what the pack asks for, and repeated fridge use can cause condensation on the foil.
- The capsules have stuck together in the strip. Can I still take them?
- Do not take them. Sticking suggests heat or moisture exposure. Show the strip and batch number to your pharmacist before using any more from that pack.
- Can I shift the capsules into a plastic bottle?
- No. The blister foil protects against light and moisture. Keep capsules sealed in the blister until you take them.
- How long does one pack last?
- That depends entirely on the daily amount your doctor prescribed. The pack size is 10 x 1 x 10 softgel capsules, so plan refills before the strip runs out.
- What if I find the pack seal broken at purchase?
- Do not accept it. Ask the chemist for a sealed pack and note the batch number, and you can raise the matter with the marketer if you have a concern.
- Can I keep it in my handbag every day?
- Only for the day's dose, in a small hard case. Long term storage in a bag exposes capsules to heat, pressure and damp.
Need Emvit-Win for your pharmacy, hospital or clinic?
EMK Omni Pharma supplies through authorised channels across Karnataka. Send an enquiry and our team will respond during business hours.
Medical Disclaimer
This product information is intended for general awareness only and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult a registered medical practitioner before using any prescription medicine.