You might have your prescriptions and over-the-counter medications in the same cabinet. If you look very well, you may notice that you’ve had some of those medications for a couple of years. When was the last time that you checked the expiration date?
Do Medications Really Expire?
Prescribed and over-the-counter medications have expiration dates, just like foods and other goods. We are more used to looking at the expiration dates on food items, and we should transfer that habit to medications. This is generally good practice, and the reality is that there is a reason for the text on the side of the bottom of your medication bottle.
The expiration date reflects how long the medicine will keep its strength. It is the last day that the manufacturer guarantees you that the medication will work 100%. You don’t want to take a drug you think will work but doesn’t. This is usually the case when an expired medication is taken. Most medicines don’t work after expiring.
Whether your medication is a written prescription or you bought it over-the-counter at your local pharmacy, they all expire. Some of the more common medications have an expiration date of 3-5 years, but this depends on the type of medication. Even then, it would be best if you did not follow that 3-5 year guideline. For example, you may have bought the medication 2 years after it was manufactured, and you’re left with 1-year or, at most, a 2-year “life expectancy” for the medication.
So yes, medications do expire, and paying attention to the date they expire is very important.
Risks of Taking Expired Medications
There is a risk in taking expired medications and an even higher risk if they are not stored properly. As mentioned before, expired medication isn’t as effective, but effectiveness isn’t the only risk you’re taking. Once expired, the medicine’s chemical compounds might become toxic and cause unintended side effects. If there is a patient with a severe disease, who has taken an expired medication, this might cause them serious harm.
You may think that an 80% effectiveness is still okay to take. The reality is that you don’t know what percentage of effectiveness the medication is at that moment. Tablets tend to be a little more stable than liquid medication, but that doesn’t mean they should be taken past the expiration date. For experied prescribed medication, your pharmacy may ask that your doctor re-prescribe it. It is best to always visit your doctor and ask if you should continue using what you have or if they should prescribe you a refill.
Over-the-counter medications like Tylenol and other popular medicines that treat pain and aches are less likely to harm you if they expire. A study conducted by the US military shows that some of these medications keep their strength one year after their expiration date. The only thing about this is that the study showed that the results varied from batch to batch. With that being said, you can’t tell if you have a batch that might last an extra year. So, your best bet is not to take the risk and dispose of it.
Which Medications Should Not Be Used After Expiring
Speaking of risks, some medications are not worth the risk and really should not be used after the expiration date. You are advised not to take these medications because their compounds break down quickly, which can be a big problem in the body. Here is a list of medications you should not take after expiring, what they treat, and the side effects they cause if used.
Treats Diabetes.
This medication breaks down quickly after expiring, which makes it less effective. It can cause high blood sugar levels.
Treats life-threatening allergic reactions that close off the throat and airways.
This medication breaks down quickly and might not stop the life-threatening allergy.
Treats Bacterial Infections.
This medication can become contaminated with bacteria after expiration. It can make the patient sticker and fail to treat the existing infection.
Treats chest pain and heart attacks.
This medication is sensitive to heat & moisture and breaks down quickly. It can fail to stop a heart attack
It is used for pregnancy prevention, monthly bleeding regulation, & acne, and treats other hormone-related conditions.
This medication is not as effective if expired. It can lead to unwanted pregnancies, breakthrough bleeding, and spotting.
Treats many eye conditions and illnesses.
This medication is not as effective after it expires. It can lead to eye infections like pink eye.
Learn How to Properly Store & Dispose of Your Medications
Storing Medication
It’s important that you know how to store your medications properly. Heat and moisture are factors that break down medication quickly. All prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines should be kept in cool and dry locations. This means keeping them in a kitchen cabinet, drawer, or closet shelf is okay. If your medicine cabinet is near an appliance that produces a lot of heat, like your oven, then you should move them.
For many, it is common to keep them in the bathroom, but we’re here to tell you that this is not the best idea. The bathroom can get damp and very warm. So, if you have your medications in your bathroom, think about finding a new spot for them.
For prescription medications, pay attention to any storage instructions if they come with any. Be aware that you may need to keep it in the fridge, not the cabinet.
Disposing of Medication
Disposing your medication properly is just as important as storing it, so let’s get into that. There are various ways to dispose of your expired medicines. Proper disposal instructions are given if your medication comes with an information label or pamphlet. Not all medicines have information labels, so here are other ways to dispose of medication.
Dispose of medications by visiting your local drug take-back location. The FDA recommends this and is the best way to go about it. Most health systems, police departments, and pharmacies have unused and expired medication drop-off boxes so that you can utilize them. You can also throw medication in the thrash, but you must follow a process. If you want to throw them in the trash, mix them with used coffee grounds, dirt, or even kitty litter. Do not crush any tablets or open capsules before mixing them.
It is not advised to put medication in the trash, but it can still be done. The trash goes into landfills, and once the drug decomposes, it can infiltrate the ground, which is harmful to the environment. Flushing medication down the toilet is also not advised and should not be done at all. This has more of an impact on the environment than throwing them in the trash.
Bottom Line
If you haven’t done so yet, it’s time to take a look at your medicine cabinet. Go through all the medications, pills, liquids, gels, creams, prescriptions, and over-the-counter medications. Look at the expiration date and determine if it needs to be disposed of and replaced.
