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tazzygirl -> RE: Sell by dates? (8/18/2010 9:19:00 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Toppingfrmbottom
Cynthia, one day I went through our medicin cabnit and threw away like 20 bottles of pills, all of them mostly from 1995, and I did this in 2009 and my dad said why'd I do that and I said they're over 9 years old an he said pills don't expire it's bullshit that pills expire.
But either way, it was out of his hands I already threw them out lol.
quote:
ORIGINAL: CynthiaWVirginia
[sm=goodpost.gif]
Thank you, pissdoll, for teaching me something I didn't know.
Btw, everyone...the reason why I have a niece...is because of drug manufacturers taking expired birth control, relabeling them with a better date and then selling them to the Army. Yeah, they got spanked for it but not hard enough.
Lots of women in the Army got knocked up while on that pill that year.
I know this thread is about expired OTC drugs and food, but...there is a reason we have rules, and nobody should buy expired things without being aware and giving consent. When I buy OTC meds, they stay in my medicine chest for a year or two...that is too long for something that is expired already.
TFB
No offence, but your dad gave you bad advice.
If the medication has been opened, or stored in a high temperature or high humidity environment (like your bathroom medicine cabinet), it is wise to dispose of it. Tetracycline type antibiotics and some seizure medications can cause serious toxicity if taken beyond the expiration date. Liquid drugs are less stable than tablet/powder/capsule medications. Some medications are especially affected by age. For example, taking oral contraceptives that have expired may produce an unexpected pregnancy. Some drugs obviously disintegrate, such as acetilysalycilic acid, that develops an acidic smell when it is old
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5236/expired_drugs_are_they_safe.html?cat=5
and this from Walgreens
Topic: Drugs, Safety
Question: Do medications and supplements really go bad at their expiration date?
Answer:The expiration date on a medication is the date until which the manufacturer can guarantee its safety and full potency. Proper storage can help ensure that the medication does not “go bad.” In fact, medications stored under proper conditions may retain all or much of their potency for at least one to two years following their expiration date, often longer. However, since some medications become harmful if taken after they have expired, it is never recommended to take expired medication.
Medications stored under adverse conditions, such as heat, humidity, and direct light, may actually expire before the stated expiration date. One place that is notoriously bad for storing medications is the typical bathroom medicine cabinet. The heat and humidity that can build up during bathing make it exactly the wrong place to keep medicine. Those conditions can cause a medication to break down, lose its potency, or in some cases become toxic. On the other hand, a refrigerator is ideal for certain medications and supplements: It’s cool, dark, and dry. Be sure to always read directions on medicine containers—both prescription and over-the-counter—as special storage instructions should be listed.
Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:
§ Throw away any pills if they are discolored or powdery, or smell unusual or strong.
§ Toss capsules that are cracked, leaking, or sticking together.
§ Discard any liquids that have become cloudy or filmy, or any hardened or cracked creams.
§ Store medications in a cool, dry location, out of the reach of children and pets. Make sure those requiring refrigeration are stored in and returned after use to the refrigerator, and again—out of children’s reach.
§ Avoid storing different medications in one container because chemicals from one medication can alter another in potency or cause harmful side effects. If different medications have been stored in the same container for any period of time, throw them away.
§ Note that certain medications, such as insulin and liquid antibiotics, break down quickly and should be used by the expiration date.
§ Be especially cautious with medications used for a serious health condition compared to an aspirin for a headache. You want to be sure it’s at its full potency. So take storage precautions very seriously.
§ When in doubt about a drug’s storage or safety, ask your pharmacist.
http://www.walgreens.com/marketing/library/ask/aap/drugssafety/drugssafety_expirationdate.html
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