One in five UK adults store their medicines in their bathroom, a new survey from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has found.

The survey of 2,199 individuals was commissioned by the RPS and carried out by YouGov in August. It also found that 45 per cent keep their medicines in the kitchen.

RPS chief scientist Parastou Donyai said: “It’s important to store your medicines in the right place as this could affect how they work.

“Medicines should be stored in a cool, dry place and are particularly affected by heat and moisture. Keeping your medicines in the same place as where you have baths and showers could make your medicines less effective or spoil them. 

“Instead, keep your medicines in another room, for example your bedroom. If you keep them in the kitchen, make sure this is in a kitchen cabinet, away from sources of heat such as the hob, oven or windowsill.

“If you have small children or pets in the home, always make sure your medicines are kept in a lockable storage box somewhere out of their reach and sight.”