With a splitting headache, you reach into your medicine cabinet for some aspirin only to find the stamped expiration date on the bottle has passed (two years ago). So, do you take it or don't you? If you decide to take the aspirin, will it be a fatal mistake? Will you simply continue to suffer from the headache?
Since a law was passed in 1979, drug manufacturers are required to stamp an expiration date on their products. This is the date at which the manufacturer can still guarantee the full potency (and safety of the drug).
"Expired" is defined as something that has come to its end. Popular expressions such as an expired drivers license, passport, or even food, signify that replacements are in order or that there may be consequences. (The same concept applies to the use of expired medications).
“If it has a shelf life
longer than you, don't eat it.” (Kris Carr)
It is important to understand how drug companies determine longevity and expiration of their products. All drugs have unique formulations consisting of active and inactive ingredients (geared to treat specific diseases).
Once a drug is developed; manufacturers determine the length
of time a drug will last without deteriorating. This is known as the drug's
shelf-life. If a medication is used within its shelf-life, maximal efficacy and
safety of the drug is expected.
Medical authorities state expired drugs are safe to take, (even those that expired years ago). It's true the effectiveness of a drug may decrease over time, but much of the original potency still remains even a decade after the expiration date. Placing a medication in a cool place (like a refrigerator) will help a drug remain potent for many years.
Insulin is used
to control blood sugar in diabetes and may
be susceptible to degradation after its expiration date. Oral nitroglycerin (NTG), a medication used for angina (chest
pain), may lose its potency quickly once the medication bottle is opened.
“Ideas have a short shelf life. You must act on them
before the expiration date.” (John C. Maxwell)
If the medication is a biologic
product, insulin, EpiPen, refrigerated liquid, eye drop, injectable, or looks
like it is degraded (or cloudy), it should be discarded and replaced. If
questions still remain about how to handle an expired medication, it is wise to
speak with your pharmacist who can offer additional information and advice.
Vaccines, biologicals or blood products could also be subject to quick
degradation once the expiration date is reached. If a patient finds a
medication is powdery or crumbling, has a strong smell, or has dried up (as in
the case of or ointments or creams), these drugs should be discarded.[i]
For legal (and liability) reasons, manufacturers will not make recommendations about the stability of drugs past the original expiration date.The expiration dates are very conservative to ensure you get everything you paid for. If a drug manufacturer had to do expiration-date testing for longer periods, it would slow their ability to bring you new (and improved) formulations.
Drug expiration
dates marketed in the US last from twelve to one hundred and eighty-four months
from the time of manufacturing. At the pharmacy, "beyond-use" dates
are often put on the prescription bottle label given to the patient. These
dates often say "do not use after..." or "discard after..."
and are required by the Board of Pharmacy in many states. These dates are
typically one year from the date on the stock bottle.
“Words people say not only have a shelf life but have the
ability to shape life.” (Bob Goff)
Once the
original container is opened, either by the patient (or the health care
provider); the original expiration date on the container can no longer be trusted.
The actual shelf life of the drug may be much longer.
If a medication is needed, and the
patient is not able to replace the expired medication, there is no evidence
that it is unsafe to take the medication in most cases. If a medication is
essential for a chronic and potentially life-threatening disease, like a heart
condition, seizure, or life-threatening allergy, it is probably wise to get a
new prescription once the old one is expired.
If an expired medication is for a
minor health problem like a headache, hay fever, or mild pain, it may also be
safe to take pill (although drug potency might not be a hundred percent). If an
expired medication is taken, and the patient notices the drug has limited (or
no therapeutic effect). The medication should be replaced. [ii]
Expiration dates play a prominent role in today’s digital
age. Take this wise advice from Shark
Tank’s, Mark Cuban. “I don't think people realize the risks they face every
time they create a text, or post on a social network. Unless you expressly make
the effort, everything you do online (including texting) has a shelf life of
forever.”
[i] Expired medication may not
adequately treat minor conditions (minor headaches or cold), or serious ones (diabetes or heart disease) either because of reduced potency. Inadequate relief from sickness
could eventually lead to longer sick days. Increased absences and lost
productivity from work (or school) could also happen.
Be sure to check medication expiration dates posted on boxes and vials.
Check with your local pharmacy to see if they have medication disposal
receptacles. It is not recommended to flush unused or expired medications down
the toilet (as they have the possibility of contaminating the water system).
[ii] Sources used for this post:
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