Does medicine really expire?

[janinegirly]

Just wondering if I should throw out bottles of expired OTC medicine? Usually I figure it's fine if it isn't years past the date and not for something really critical.

For example I have a bottle of vitamins..not really medicine, but do I throw it out if it's 6 months past the date? I'm trying to get better about taking them again, but would rather not splurge on another bottle.

 

[Steel]

I''m sure the manufacturer would prefer you dispose of meds and non medical products when the expiry date passes. So that should be the rule.

But I am so laid back, I think eh whatever and pop ''em anyway. I imagine in this litigious world, that most products would last waaaay past the BBE date if not forever!

 

[elrohwen]

Not sure if this is correct thinking, but I tend to think of it like most processed food - whatever happens after the expiration date isn''t going to kill you. In all likelyhood, they''re just less effective after a certain date, but I don''t really care if my Advil is slightly less effective, know what I mean?

I take them anyway

 

[kama_s]

Most medications have a shelf life of a year past their expiry. That said, I wouldn't take the risk for critical medication - such as asthma - when the loss of efficacy can be quite detrimental.

Your vitamins are ok to consume 6 months after expiry.

ETA: This is not my professional opinion, merely my personal (and possibly skewed) opinion.

 

[hisdiamondgirl]

My mom who is not usually allergic to aspirin had a horrible reaction to expired aspirin once. Her face was so swollen that she looked disfigured for a couple of days!

The doctors told her that people who aren''t normally allergic to aspirin can react very badly to it if it is expired!

 

[zoebartlett]

Date: 3/9/2010 5:11:07 PM
Author: elrohwen
Not sure if this is correct thinking, but I tend to think of it like most processed food - whatever happens after the expiration date isn''t going to kill you. In all likelyhood, they''re just less effective after a certain date, but I don''t really care if my Advil is slightly less effective, know what I mean?


I take them anyway

I agree!

 

[Prana]

I took aspirin once that I hadn''t realized expired. My face swelled to the size of a balloon, my eyes swelled shut, it was not pretty. I think that the chemical aspects of many medications do change if a medication is expired. I wouldn''t take an expired medication.

 

[elrohwen]

Whoa, good to know, HDG and girlface!! That does change my opinion a bit.

 

[neatfreak]

Medicines do have a shelf life. For the most part medicines just get less effective over time as they break down. But they also can change in other ways too as they break down. So while I don''t freak out about medicine a few months past the expiration date I do throw it away if it''s much past that. And I wouldn''t take expired meds for anything critical.

 

[paeony]

Date: 3/9/2010 5:30:26 PM
Author: hisdiamondgirl
My mom who is not usually allergic to aspirin had a horrible reaction to expired aspirin once. Her face was so swollen that she looked disfigured for a couple of days!

The doctors told her that people who aren''t normally allergic to aspirin can react very badly to it if it is expired!

Can''t say I''ve ever heard of this, but Aspirin does break down easily.. to acetic acid and salicylic acid
Acetic acid is basically vinegar, so if you open the bottle and it smells strongly of vinegar-- throw it out!
Salicylic acid can really upset your stomach-- so you don''t want to take it once its broken down.

(oh, also, never keep meds in a medicine cabinet in a bathroom-- the moist, warm air degrades them faster!)


Antibiotics are really no good after expired-- and at least Tetracycline can be very dangerous if you take it after expiration (kidney damage)

 

[perry]

The US Military has spent millions testing the life of drugs past their "expiration date." They intentionally store medicines in very hot, very cold, and other extremes. The general conclusions is that virtually all pill medicines are effective for years after their stated shelf life. Liquid medicines do not fare near so well - and in that case it is the exception that last.

Why does the military start and continue this testing: Because they have a humungous stockpile of drugs and medications for a major war effort (and certain natural disasters). The cost of replacing the drugs by their due dates would be staggering. So they started a testing program several decades ago.

Do some web search on the topic and prepared to be amazed at how long many pill medications actually last without significant degradation.

Have a great day,

Perry

 

[Karl_K]

most pills are good for years past the expiration date.
I look at it and smell it and as long as i don''t look or smell weird I have taken 15 year old otc meds that were stored in a cool dry place and in the dark.
Do not store meds in your bathroom!

The old albuterol inhalers did not degrade as long as they did not lose propellant the new ones degrade quickly some don''t even make it to the expiration date before getting rancid.


Capsules and particularly gel caps do not keep as well and I would toss them if they were a year out of date.