expiration dates on drugs
 

since some here are storing drugs I thought this might be of interest.


The expiration date on the manufacturer's package is based on the stability of the drug in its original closed container. The date does not necessarily mean that the drug was found to be unstable after a longer period; it means only that real-time data or extrapolations from accelerated degradation studies indicate that the drug will still be stable at that date. The expiration date for new drugs is usually 2-3 years from the date of manufacture.

Once the original container is opened for use or dispensing, the expiration date on the container no longer applies. Retail pharmacists who repackage drugs, in accordance with the standards of the US Pharmacopoeia (USP), label them with a "beyond-use" date generally one year from the date the prescription is filled.

The only report of human toxicity that may have been caused by chemical or physical degradation of a pharmaceutical product is renal tubular damage that was associated with use of degraded tetracycline (GW Frimpter et al, JAMA 1963; 184:111).

Stability: Shelf life is the time a product, stored under reasonable conditions, is expected to remain stable (generally retain >90% of potency) (B Kommanaboyina and CT Rhodes, Drug Dev Ind Pharm 1999; 25:857). Data from the Department of Defense/FDA Shelf Life Extension Program, which tests the stability of drug products past their expiration date, showed that 84% of 1122 lots of 96 different drug products stored in military facilities in their unopened original containers would be expected to remain stable for an average of 57 months after their original expiration date (JS Taylor et al, 2002 FDA Science Forum Poster Abstract, Board AC-08, www.fda.gov, search 2002 FDA science forum).
Source(s):
http://www.byui.edu/healthcenter/faq/7.h...

Re: expiration dates on drugs
 

Thanks for the info.

We just got a big bottle of amoxicillin.

It is dated 24 months to expiration.

Re: expiration dates on drugs
 

I used to work in a Tylenol plant at I can tell you they test their drugs at the extremes of storage. For example Tylenol lots were stored in what was called the "louisiana Room".
The purpose of the room was to simulate an unconditioned medicine cabinet in Louisiana . . one of the hottest and humid locations in America.
At certain sample periods a box of product would be removed from the room and tested for "efficacy", the effectiveness of its medical components. In the case of Tylenol, it is still a highly effective and safe drug YEARS after the expiry date even in harsh storage conditions. I'd give it half a decade in cool and dry conditions. . easily!

Re: expiration dates on drugs
 

Hubby just read something about this, and that meds are good for many years!

Re: expiration dates on drugs
 

do any of you store your meds inthe ref , it help it last longer

Re: expiration dates on drugs
 

Just a thought. My ex was charged with "possessing dangerous drugs without a prescription". She is bi-polar and was drunk, acting like an ass, and had it coming however, that charge leads me to wonder if our good protectors could charge you during a raid for scripts out of date. I don't intend to get raided and I do have a large stash of amoxicillian but it is something to think about.

Re: expiration dates on drugs
 

I've never found Tylenol to be effective at ANYTHING. Never alleviated any pain or discomfort unless it was accompanied by narcotics.

Just a placebo, IMO. Oh, and toxic to kidneys.

Re: expiration dates on drugs
 

I tend to rely on Ibuprophen, got a lot of it just in case.
Thanks, Av for the research. This was the study I recall seeing before-my concern is that "-cillins" are bio based and possibly less shelf stable than one might hope. Think Aspirin, and that Vinegar smell when it goes bad.
freezing = good?

Re: expiration dates on drugs
 

Expiration dates = the influence of lawyers and politicians.

Most products are not dangerous or even unusable after the labeled expiration dates (though slightly diminishment of effect or taste occurs). For example, bottle water is "expired" two years after manufacture, but if stored correctly, it will last many more years than that.

Same with almost all pharmaceuticals. Oxidation, light, and heat are the main problems, so keep the oxygen, light, and heat away, and the pharmaceutical will last beyond the expiration date.

Re: expiration dates on drugs
 

Does anyone have hard info on drug laws regarding issuance of prescriptions as relates to keeping legally-issued prescriptions after expiration date?

This sounds insane, but, with government, that may not be a surprise.

Re: expiration dates on drugs
 

Acetaminophen (Tylenol, aka APAP/Paracetamol) is mostly toxic to the liver.

Re: expiration dates on drugs
 

Re: expiration dates on drugs
 

Keep your spiritual practices strong, learn to breathe properly, include raw garlic in your diet and you can throw away the antibiotics.:shine:

Re: expiration dates on drugs
 

edit: nevermind.:)

Re: expiration dates on drugs
 

Thanks. I stand corrected.