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The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has urged patients to store their medicines at below 25C over the next few days unless storage instructions state otherwise as the UK braces itself for a Bank Holiday heatwave.

Temperatures are expected to reach 33C which would be a record high in May, beating the 32.8C recorded in London’s Camden Square in 1922.

The NPA warned medicines exposed to high temperatures could lose their effectiveness or cause unwanted side-effects and said they should be kept “in a cool dry place, away from heat zones and direct sunlight” unless they are drugs that need to be refrigerated.

The NPA also reminded patients “to take precautions in the hot weather, including keeping curtains and windows in direct sunlight closed in the hottest hours of the day, drinking plenty of fluids and wearing appropriate clothing and sun protection when outdoors”.

“People with asthma should also remember to take their preventor inhalers, with warmer weather being a trigger for asthmatic symptoms,” it said.

The NPA reminded patients that insulin should always be kept in the fridge at between 2°C and 8°C until opened, while liquid antibiotics or reconstituted drugs often need to be refrigerated and inhalers can be sensitive to extreme temperatures and pressure.

NPA chairman Olivier Picard said: “As we enter a bank holiday weekend with potentially record-breaking temperatures, it’s important that people take practical steps to protect their health.

“Although we can enjoy hot weather, heatwaves can quietly affect our bodies, our breathing, and even the way our medication works.

“It's important we take sensible precautions, including double checking that your medication is stored correctly in a cool dry place as per any storage instructions, ideally below 25 degrees, as well drinking plenty of fluids and keeping your home cool in the hottest hours of the day.”