The Dangers of Using Expired Medication

Proper Storage Methods and the Disposal of Expired Drugs

Many people do not think about medications having an expiration date, but the fact is, medications expire much in the same way that food expires. There are people who wouldn’t consider drinking milk just one day after the expiration date, but the same people are often unaware that their medicine cabinets contain expired products. All medications, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, have expiration dates and should be discarded when expired.

Expired medications are not always dangerous, but they can become weak and possibly ineffective after the “use by” date. Expired medicine in pill and liquid form often changes in color and consistency. Liquids can separate and pills deteriorate over time. These changes are obvious, but sometimes medication appears to be fresh when in fact it has been compromised by time and improper storage.

Storing Medication

The bathroom would seem like the appropriate place to store medication, hence the name “medicine cabinet,” but the bathroom is actually the worst place to store medicine. Bathrooms are generally humid locations where the temperature rises and falls on a regular basis. These conditions can wreak havoc on medications stored therein. The best place to store medicine of any kind is an area where the temperature remains constant, away from heat, sunlight, and humidity.

The second most common place people chose to store medication is the kitchen. A kitchen cabinet seems like the appropriate choice, but this is also one of the worst places to store medication. Kitchens become overheated because of cooking and baking, and dishwashers and hot running water can cause humidity to rise. A cabinet located in a comfortable bedroom would be an appropriate location for storing medication. If you have children or pets, be sure to keep the storage area for your medications locked at all times.

Before you Purchase Medication