Medicines that Are Safe to Take After Their Expiration Date

antibiotics for your stash. It is important to keep in mind that antibiotics are not a one-size-fits-all medication, and certain antibiotics are used for certain problems. A good tip is to write on the bottle what it was prescribed for, and some internet searching can also tell you what other conditions may be treated with that particular antibiotic.

5.) Over the Counter Insulin

This one is for insulin-dependent diabetics specifically, but insulin is of particular importance as managing diabetes is a constant task and even a day or two without needed insulin can be detrimental to one’s health. What many people don’t know is that some insulin is available without a prescription. These insulins are older, less effective versions of the newer insulins used today, but they are absolutely still effective and better than nothing in a pinch. Pricing for over-the-counter insulin varies, but if you can afford it, it’s a great option to have in your stash. Not all pharmacies stock OTC insulin so you’ll need to ask around, although Wal-Mart pharmacies are known for having plenty of it. If you do choose to keep a supply of OTC insulin, be sure to consult your doctor as he or she can provide guidance for using those formulas in an emergency. With these five tips you should be able to get started on building a decent supply of emergency medication. Having a stockpile can provide great peace of mind, and should you ever find yourself unable to refill your medications you can be prepared. Just remember, a medication stash should be tended to regularly, checking for long-past expiration dates and some prescriptions that may have changed according to your condition. Keep instructions for use on all medications, as well as instructions on what to do if you are completely out of medication and have no access to more. Lastly, consider building a great first aid kid as an excellent complement to a medication stockpile! During uncertain times, it is always best to be overprepared.

Should we throw away every medication in our homes once they expire? Now that is a question many people have asked and are still asking. You see, in 1979 the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) passed a law that required every manufacturer to provide a possible expiration date for all medications sold. This date was supposed to guarantee full potency and safety of the drugs. Since then all medications have carried an expiry date. However, the expiration date is only a guarantee from the manufacturer of how long said medication can maintain its stability and potency while in its unopened container. Once the medication is opened, the expiration dates no longer carry much weight. As a result of the introduction of expiration dates on drugs, billions of dollars have gone down the drain in an effort to get rid of unused expired medications due to possible loss of effectiveness and health risk. This level of wastage inspired a need to investigate the possibility of using said medications even after their expiration date. So the FDA and U.S department of defense carried out a study to test medications’ safety and stability after expiration. Prescribed drugs and OTC (over the counter) drugs were tested. This study found that most of the tested medications remained stable and effective beyond their expiration date. In fact, they found out that 90% of the tested expired medications maintained their safety and potency.

According to Francis Flaherty, a former director of the testing programme of FDA, “expiration dates put on by manufacturers, typically have no bearing on whether a drug is usable for longer. A drug maker is required to prove only that a drug is still good on whatever expiration date the company chooses to set. The expiration date doesn't mean, or even suggest, that the drug will stop being effective after that, nor that it will become harmful. Manufacturers put expiration dates on for marketing, rather than scientific reasons. It’s not profitable for them to have products on a shelf for 10 years.” Irrespective of this fact, it was also discovered that the forms (liquid or solid) and method of storage (light, heat, humidity, oxygen etc.) influenced the potency of the medications over time. For instance, solid drugs (tablets and capsules) are more stable than liquids (solutions and suspensions) and therefore tend to remain intact and potent long after expiration. Many OTC medications, especially tablets and capsules, remain effective and safe for use after their expiration date. Ibuprofen tablets, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs), has been found to be potent for 4 to 5 years after opening the container. These medications are used for the relief of moderate pain such as menstrual cramps, joint pains, arthritis, gout attacks etc. In cases of a fever they can function as antipyretic drugs. Tylenol or acetaminophen doubles both as an antipyretic medication to treat fevers and as an analgesic to treat mild to moderate pains such as headaches. Studies have shown that Tylenol or acetaminophen can maintain its potency for up to 4 or 5 years of having opened the container. Liquid forms of acetaminophen should be used by the expiration date since liquid forms deteriorate faster than solid ones. Aspirin or acetylsalicylic acid has proven to remain potent within 5 years of opening. Aspirin also belongs to the NSAIDs family but aside functioning as an anti-inflammatory drug, it functions as an analgesic, antipyretic and antiplatelet medication. However, one side effect of aspirin is bleeding, therefore utmost care must be taken with the consumption of this medication. Anti-histamine tablets such as loratadine (second generation antihistamine) and diphenhydramine (first generation antihistamine) are very efficient for treating and managing allergies, such as hay fever and skin allergies. Based on studies carried out, antihistaminic drugs can be used for over 5 years after opening. Other medications are advised to be used before or by their expiration dates. Antibiotics, which are excellent medications for treating bacterial infections, are prescribed for a full course which means there should be no left overs. Both liquid and solid forms of antibiotics should be consumed by the expiration date. Cough syrups have components that break up easily and do not remain stable over a long period of time, therefore it’s recommended that you consume cough syrups before their expiration date. Nasal syrups have certain preservatives that make them safe to use, however these preservatives degrade overtime reducing the safety of the syrup after a long period of time. Use your nasal syrup before expiration. Eye drops are liquid medicines and so can easily get contaminated and because the eye is a very sensitive organ, it is advisable to dispose of expired eye drops. Use them as prescribed and before expiration. Insulin, vaccines, and epi pens must be replaced once expired as they tend to degrade quickly over a period of time.