Do you need a medication lockbox?

Medications play a crucial role in many people’s lives by helping manage and treat health conditions. They’re also commonly used for everyday ailments that come and go, such as headaches. Survey research of 21,000 people collected from June 2023 to April 2024 suggests that, in a typical week, nearly 2 in 3 U.S. adults use at least one prescription or over‑the‑counter (OTC) medication.

With so many households having medications on hand, it’s common to have questions about how to store them safely. This may be especially true if you’re concerned that others might be able to access them.

A 2022 study of data spanning 2009 to 2020 found that about 35,000 children under age 6 end up in the ER every year because they access medications they should not. There’s also a concern for some people about family members or visitors having access to habit-forming medications or potent ones that might be harmful even with a single dose.

Here, GoodRx, a platform for medication savings, discusses one of the safest ways to store your medications at home — a medication lockbox.

Key takeaways:

• Keeping your medications stored away and safely protected can help prevent accidental ingestion, especially if you have children or pets in your household.
• A medication lockbox can help you store your medications so that only you or those you trust have access to them. Lockboxes can help protect children, pets, or anyone at risk of misuse or self-harm.
• Medication lockboxes come in different shapes, styles, and sizes, with a range of features to fit your personal storage needs.

Should you get a medication lockbox?

It’s not a bad idea to have a medication lockbox, especially if you have kids or pets at home. Even if you live alone, you may be concerned about visitors or find a lockbox useful for keeping your medications safe and private when you’re traveling.

As this article will detail later, there are multiple ways to store medications out of reach of people who should not have access to them. However, storing medications in child-protective bottles or even in a hidden spot may not be enough to deter children, pets, and other people from accessing your medications.

Storing medication securely is essential. And a medication lockbox can add an extra layer of security. In fact, experts say parents and caregivers should ideally store all medications in a lockbox or locked cabinet to prevent accidental poisoning.

But not many parents use a medication lockbox. One small 2020 study of 50 caregivers with children found that only 4% of parents used a locked container or drawer to store medications. But more than 90% said they would use a lockbox if one were available to them.

Some medications are also riskier than others. Their potential risks exemplify the benefits of a medication lockbox. For instance, proper storage of opioid medications is a concern for many healthcare professionals. Research shows that opioids are the most common substances involved in fatal poisoning among young children. In one small 2018 survey of adults prescribed opioids for pain, only about 1 in 4 stored their opioids in a locked location at home.

What are the benefits of a medication lockbox?

Using a medication lockbox can help you store your medicines more safely while offering many potential benefits.

• Privacy: Many people prefer to keep their medications private, even from roommates, family members, or friends. A lockbox helps keep your medications accessible to you while limiting who can see or handle them.
• Protection: A lockbox keeps your medications in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. These are ideal storage conditions for most medications that don’t need refrigeration. Just be sure to follow any special storage instructions on your prescription or package label.
• Portability: Many medication lockboxes come with handles so you can easily take them with you on day trips, work shifts, or an overnight stay. Having your medications in one secure place can help you stay organized and reduce the worry of forgetting something.
• Poison prevention: A lockbox adds an extra layer of safety for children and pets by keeping medications out of reach and locked away. This can lower the risk of swallowing them accidentally or taking the wrong dose.
• Self-harm prevention: For people who are struggling with thoughts of self‑harm, keeping medications out of easy reach can add a layer of safety and create more time to reach out for help.
• Misuse prevention: Locking up medications, especially opioids, stimulants, and other controlled substances, can reduce the chance that someone else might misuse them.
• Security: A lockbox can also be used to store other products that can be harmful if swallowed or misused, such as cannabis edibles and vaping products. Keeping these items locked up helps protect children, teens, and pets and lowers the risk of accidental poisoning or misuse.

How do you get a medication lockbox?

Many lockboxes are used to store other valuables, such as jewelry, money, or important documents. These lockboxes could also work for your medications. However, there are special medication lockboxes that you may prefer.

There are multiple styles of medication lockboxes available for purchase. And many local pharmacies readily carry them. If you regularly keep controlled substances at home, consider checking with your local health department or community prevention programs. They may be able to connect you with low‑cost or free medication lockboxes.

How do you choose a medication lockbox?

Ultimately, you’ll want to consider how large a storage space you need, the number of medications or devices you have, and what works well in your life and living space. For example, if you have a small number of prescription vials, you may prefer pill bottles with locking caps that require a combination to open instead of a full-sized lockbox.

You should also decide if you want to store all or only some of your medications in the lockbox. For instance, you may choose to lock away only prescriptions that could be potentially misused by others, such as opioids, benzodiazepines, or cannabis.

Another thing to consider is how you want to keep the box locked. Many lockboxes use a key, numerical code, or both. You’ll want to choose locking features that work best to deter others who may have access to the box. For example, a simple key may keep out a small child, but an adult may be able to pick such a lock.

Features and types to consider include:

• Wall‑mounted or cabinet lockboxes: Some are made to sit on a countertop, while others can be mounted on a wall or inside a cabinet or closet.
• Compartment inserts: Some lockboxes have compartments or inserts to keep pill bottles steady, so they do not shake around if you’re transporting the box.
• Travel‑friendly designs: Smaller, grab-and-go styles may be easier to take on trips, while larger ones can hold additional supplies or devices.
• Key or combination locks: Many boxes use a key or a numerical code. Some come with a backup key for use if you forget the combination.
• Cushioned interiors: Padding can help protect glass bottles or vials while moving the lockbox.
• Different exterior materials: Options may include metal, hard plastic, sturdy fabric, or flexible plastic.
• High‑tech options: Some lockboxes connect to a smartphone app via Bluetooth and can be locked or unlocked electronically.

What medications should you put in your lockbox?

You may want to put medications that are more prone to overdose, misuse, or accidental poisoning in a lockbox. Examples of these medications include:

• Heart or blood pressure medications, such as blood thinners and calcium channel blockers.
• Blood glucose‑lowering (blood sugar-lowering) medications, such as sulfonylureas.
• Opioid pain medications, such as oxycodone (Roxicodone, OxyContin).
• Benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax).
• Stimulants, such as mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall).
• OTC pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).
• Some antidepressants, such as bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL).
• Topical hormones, such as testosterone gel (AndroGel).
• Topical steroids, such as clobetasol.
• Hazardous drugs, such as chemotherapy medications.
• Iron-containing supplements.

Considerations when deciding what to put in a lockbox

The first step you need to take before using a lockbox is to organize your medications. Gather up all of your medications and determine if any of them are expired or no longer needed. You should then dispose of them safely at a designated medication drop box or drop-off location.

Once you have done this, determine if any of your medications need special storage. For example, with some injectable medications, such as insulin, you’ll need a refrigerator.

Generally, most medications should be stored in a cool, dry place away from extreme temperatures. These room‑temperature medications are generally good candidates for a lockbox. Just keep in mind that a lockbox left in a very hot or cold environment won’t protect your medications from extreme temperatures.

If you have young children or pets, you may want to lock away liquid, chewable, or gummy dosage forms that can look like candy or food. This can help prevent accidental ingestion.

What medications shouldn’t go in a lockbox?

Another thing to consider is not locking up medications that are needed in an emergency, such as epinephrine (EpiPen, Auvi-Q, neffy) for severe allergic reactions, rescue inhalers for lung conditions, or under-the-tongue nitroglycerin tablets (Nitrostat) for chest pain or heart attacks. Needles and syringes for injectable medications also may not fit in a lockbox, so it’s best to store them in another location that’s out of reach if this is the case.

What is the typical shelf life of medications?

The typical shelf life varies depending on what medication you’re taking. But in general, many oral pills will last for one to two years after they’re manufactured. If you store your medications as recommended by the manufacturer, they should last until their expiration date. This date can be found on your prescription label or OTC package. But keep in mind that storing medications safely won’t extend their shelf life.

A notable exception is reconstituted medications, such as liquid antibiotics. These only last a short time after your pharmacy mixes them — usually about one to two weeks. And most insulin vials or pens expire within 28 days after being opened.

If you’re ever unsure about a medication’s expiration date or how long it’s good for, ask your pharmacist.

Where should you store your lockbox?

Your lockbox should ideally be easily accessible by you or a trusted person who helps you with your medications, such as a spouse or nurse. Anyone with access should know how to operate the box, such as having a key or knowing the combination. Do not share the key or combination with anyone else. After using your medications and returning them to the box, lock the box and store it in a location that is out of sight.

Keep in mind, a medication lockbox is only a deterrent for others but is not a perfect method for keeping people out. A determined individual can still take the lockbox or try to force it open, especially outside of your presence.

Are there alternative methods to store your medication?

Medication lockboxes aren’t the only way to store your medication. Any locking container, such as a safe, offers similar benefits as a medication lockbox. Other methods, such as hiding pill bottles, are less secure. But storing your medication up high and out of sight is a good place to start.

There are also other ways to help prevent children from accidentally accessing medications. The CDC’s PROTECT Initiative includes the Up and Away campaign. It aims to teach parents, grandparents, and other caregivers how to use and store medications safely around children.

Some helpful tips include:

• Store medications in a high place out of the reach of children.
• Never leave medications out in the open — including on a counter or bathroom sink — where children can get them.
• Use child protection caps and make sure they are sealed tight. Listen for the click these caps make when fully closed, or twist until the cap no longer turns.
• When traveling with medications, keep them in their original containers with their child-resistant caps.
• Teach children about medication safety and who to trust to take medication from. Never tell your child that medicine is candy, even if they don’t want to take their medication.
• Tell your guests to put any bags, purses, or suitcases that contain medications up high or behind a locked door while at your house.

If you believe your child has accidentally taken medication, contact the Poison Control Center immediately at 1-800-222-1222 or online.

The bottom line

Not everyone needs a medication lockbox. But having one available can be helpful in many situations. If you have controlled substances or live with young children or anyone at risk for misuse or self-harm, a lockbox can provide an added layer of safety.

Not all medications need to be — or should be — stored in a lockbox. You can always talk to a healthcare professional for personalized advice about what should and shouldn’t be stored in one.

Medication lockboxes vary in size, shape, lock types, and other features. Even if you don’t use a lockbox, always practice safe medication storage. This includes keeping your medications up high, away from extremes of temperature, and away from kids and anyone who might misuse them.

This story was produced by GoodRx and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.