A cynical view and one that may be right! The more we throw out, the more we'll need to buy to replace them. Drug makers say that extensive testing of drug stability over prolonged periods of time would be ideal but is too expensive, especially considering that people may keep drugs in so many different environments for example, hot, cold, humid, dry, etc.
Also, improvements in drug manufacturing and changes in drug information over time would require repeated "longevity" testing that would be impractical. Better, they say, to pick a shorter period of time for which there is confidence a drug will stay stable and stick with that.
That might be acceptable if it weren't for the pharmacist who may reduce the expiration to one year from when the prescription is written! Some states require pharmacists to do this. This came from a recommendation from the U. Pharmacopeia, a not-for-profit group that establishes standards for drug makers. The logic is that when a drug is taken out of its original container and put in a pharmacy canister, moisture and air can degrade the pills or capsules.
In addition, a patient's condition may change, new drugs may become available so that the old drug is no longer the best option , or new information may become available such as potential interactions with other drugs. So, limiting the prescription to a year from when it's originally filled adds an extra level of safety, requiring the doctor to review whether continuing with the old medication beyond one year is still a good idea.
Even with the best of intentions, this conservative standard makes it even more likely that enormous amounts of perfectly good medications will be thrown away in this country each year. The same goes for the majority of over-the-counter medications--they are not very likely to harm you even if taken after their expiration dates. In extremely rare cases, the use of expired prescription drugs has led to seizures and even death. The commonly prescribed antibiotic tetracycline, for example, can degrade into a poison over time.
Taking expired antibiotics may also aggravate rather than destroy an infection. To ensure that over-the-counter and prescription medications retain their potency at least until their expiration date, experts urge consumers to properly store drugs. In fact, the traditional medicine cabinet may accelerate the rate at which drugs lose their potency.
This means that someone taking a less potent, expired sleeping pill may take additional pills to help them fall asleep, inadvertently consuming too large a dose.
To be safe, replace sleeping pills soon after they expire. If you have expired antihistamines hanging around in your medicine cabinet, they're probably still effective.
Most drug companies test for effectiveness only for the first two to three years after opening, which is why labels rarely list a later expiration date. Because diazepam, which is sold under names including Valium, is a prescription drug, there are additional guidelines for its expiration date. Because probiotics are alive, they can become far less effective over time or if they're improperly stored. It's best to them discard based on the manufacturer's guideline, which is usually one year," Langdon said.
To keep your probiotics fresh and effective, store them in a cool place away from sunlight. Some probiotics should be kept in the refrigerator.
As prescription drugs, Adderall and Mydayis should be used according to your physician's instructions and consumed within one year. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation.
Sophia Mitrokostas. Though all medications have an expiration date on their packaging, most stay potent long after that date.
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