You may feel a headache at the end of a long day. Maybe he yanked you in the back, rearranging the furniture in the living room. Or maybe you tried too hard during your workout and now it hurts. Whatever the reason, you open your medicine cabinet and take an ibuprofen tablet. But as you turn it around, you realize it expired last year.
Generally, you would run to the pharmacy for a new package, but you have been reducing your outlets due to the new coronavirus pandemic. Is there something wrong with taking that over-the-counter medicine after your "consume before" date, or could it be harmful?
First: consider the health risks
Taking expired medications can be dangerous. Problems include:
- It may not really work : If a drug has been broken down, it may not give us the desired benefit because it has a lower concentration than expected. That is, expired medication may not be effective. That is particularly troublesome with prescription medications; if they are not effective, you could be in danger.
- It could have side effects : This is because the drugs "produce toxic [compounds]."
It is best to safely dispose of all outdated medications.
How to get rid of unwanted medications?
Do not throw away expired or unused medications in the trash. Follow the instructions below:
- Take unwanted medications to a pharmacy or drop-off site.
- If the medications are okay to flush down the toilet, do it.
- For medications that don't need to be rinsed, crush the pills and mix them with unappealing trash (like coffee grounds or cat litter), then put the mixture in the sealed plastic bag. Put that bag in the trash.
- For prescription drugs, remove any identifying information (such as your address) before you discard the container.
Can expired medications relieve pain?
Despite the risks, studies show that many drugs, when stored carefully, remain powerful well beyond their expiration dates.
We remember that we are talking at all times about over-the-counter medications. For a drug to be approved, the manufacturer must demonstrate that it will remain stable for up to three years. Because of that, most medications have an expiration date of up to three years.
Basically, a medication is guaranteed to remain effective until the expiration date. But that doesn't mean it will go wrong after that date. Since manufacturers only have to demonstrate that the product is effective for two to three years, there is no financial incentive for them to extend the expiration dates, even if the drug remains potent for a longer period of time.
For example, there was a study that looked at 122 over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceuticals and found that when properly stored in unopened containers, drugs remained stable for an average of 5.5 years after their expiration date, and some they were still fine after 20 years. This research found that acetaminophen (the generic version of paracetamol) can be extended for at least 24 months after the "maximum expiration" date.
An important exception: Always discard outdated aspirin , which breaks down relatively quickly. Aspirin pills are broken down into vinegar and salicylic acid that irritates the stomach.
How to extend the shelf life of your over-the-counter drugs?
An important factor in the potency of a drug is how it has been stored. Moisture, exposure to direct sunlight, and high temperatures contribute to degradation. That is, keep them away from the bathroom, where the chemicals will be exposed to heat and humidity.
Instead, store medicines in a cool, dry place like a dresser drawer or closet that is out of the reach of children or pets. It is also recommended to keep it in the original container, close the bottle tightly and put a cotton ball, which can absorb moisture.
Are there benefits to taking expired medicines?
Aside from the fact that you won't expose yourself to potential COVID-19 pathogens by taking an additional trip to the pharmacy, you 'll save money.
Anyone could save thousands of euros if they used the same pack of paracetamol or ibuprofen for 10 to 15 years. Logically, it is not something that suits manufacturers, because they would see their profits reduced.
In addition, the use of over-the-counter medicines with expired dates can have a positive environmental effect . Evidence of pharmaceutical contamination has been found in water and sediment samples in lakes. If a longer shelf life could reduce the disposal of medicines, such a measure could also reduce the harmful environmental consequences.
Can we face serious health hazards?
Unless you are taking an old aspirin tablet, which could cause stomach problems, you should be calm. It is normal to be alert when taking an expired medicine, because you do not know the side effects that it can cause; But experts say there is not much to fear. That being said, we really don't know for sure. There are no published studies showing that it is safe and effective.
Still, depending on what the medications are and how they were stored, old pills may not give the results we want.
Mild pain relievers , such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or antihistamines for nasal allergies, can be easily monitored for efficacy.
In other words, if your head is throbbing after taking 2010 ibuprofen, it's probably time to stock up on a fresh supply. If your headache goes away, then it is still in top condition.
