HEALTHNET

Will the medicine be still effective if it is expired?

After the expiration date, the drug may become less effective...

(Posted on 1 March 2007)

Q1. Will the medicine be still effective if it is expired?

A1. The expiration date specifies the date the manufacturer guarantees full potency and safety of the drug. After the expiration date, the drug may become less effective, but the rate of deterioration may vary depending on the nature of the drug and the way it is stored.

A large scale study performed by the Food and Drug Administration at the request of the US military (which had large stores of unused expensive medications) found that most drugs were safe and effective up to five years after their original expiration dates. One must not generalise the result to drugs stored in leaky bottles and broken packages put in a humid and hot corner in the bathroom or kitchen. Exposure to air, humidity, temperatures and sunlight can all contribute to instability.

Anything that comes in a solution form can degrade very rapidly. Some drugs, such as insulin for diabetes and nitroglycerin for angina, need to be fresh. There has been a case report of possible kidney damage caused by an outdated antibiotic called tetracycline. When you need a drug, you want 100 percent certainty, especially when your life depends on its action. It is therefore advisable to assume a "better safe than sorry" approach to refrain from taking expired medicine.

Q2. Is it ok if I take expired medicine?

A2. An expired medicine that is not properly labeled, that has changed color, consistency or smell is likely to do more harm than good to your health. Even though when an expired medicine is looking fine in every aspect, no one can guarantee its effectiveness and safety once expired. You are on your own.

Most experts would say it's not worth taking the chances on expired medications. It is surprising that surveys have found that over 50 percent of people in an advanced country have taken expired medication, some knowingly. People are taking unwarranted risks in doing so. It is like preparing a meal out of expired food items in the supermarket. Most of the time it is OK, but you can become seriously ill once in a while.

Reports of ill health directly caused by expired medicines are fortunately rare. The worst thing that could happen is that the drug won't work as expected, you might think. But confusions can arise when your condition is subsequently assessed by healthcare professionals. Symptoms may be partially masked and cause delay in diagnosis and proper treatment.

Q3. What is the proper way to store medicine?

A3. Drugs are chemicals. Chemicals are more stable if they are protected from heat, sunlight, and humidity. If you can find space in the refrigerator for an air-tight container that is child-proof, you are lucky. Alternatively you can put your locked medicine cabinet in a cool dry place in the house, such as the hall closet or the dresser drawer. Never leave your medicine lying around in the kitchen cupboard or on bathroom shelves. Apart from the fluctuations in temperature and moisture, they are easily assessable to unsupervised children.

It is good practice to keep a log book with your stock of medicine, recording the particulars such as their pharmacological names, indications and dosage, number and color of tablets and expiry dates. Your medicine cabinet needs to be cleaned out every six months. Dispose of anything that is not properly labeled, leaking, appear damage or has passed its expiry date.

Drugs prescribed by a doctor are meant to treat the medical condition of that particular patient. You should not save up unfinished medicine for future use, or give them to other members of the family. Some liquid medicines such as antibiotics are prepared from dry powders. Expiry date on the bottle refers to the dry powder. Once made into liquid, the drug should either be consumed or discarded within a week or two.

Never flush medicine down the toilet. The best choice to dispose of expired medications is to return them to your pharmacy.

Source: Quality HealthCare