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
- Expired medication can be ineffective and therefore pose a health risk.
- The proper storage of medication will help keep it in top-quality condition.
- When in doubt, dispose of old medication!
Comments
Crazy Cat Lady
(Guest)
(Guest)
01/25/2010
What max said.
darius
(Guest)
(Guest)
01/22/2010
Matt,
Your ignorance poses a great risk to the health and safety of whoever reads your comments.
Use your head, Matt and anyone else that would take a chance using necessary medicine far beyond the expiration date. Expiration dates are expiration dates whether they're on food or medication. I never said the RESULTS of taking expired medicine are the SAME as food. I used that analogy to make a point regarding dates. I said the potency of the medication can weaken. Would you want to take a chance if the medication was absolutely necessary to survive? It might be fine, but a maybe isn't good enough. SHAME ON YOU for not really reading this before commenting. 'When in doubt, throw it out' can apply to anything - NOT JUST FOOD. It's just a phrase. I really HATE cowardly know-it-alls. Why are you even here looking for this info if you already have all of the answers. In the end it's your choice. Do what you want. You're going to anyway, but I will NEVER tell people that it's okay to take expired meds that could be weak. That would be wrong.
One more thing... I've NEVER claimed to be a medical professional. The Internet is filled with information, and it's up to you to take it or leave it. I provided storage information, and I said - "Expired medications are not always dangerous, but they can become weak and possibly ineffective after the "use by" date." What part of this is wrong? I used the word CAN become ineffective. I never said it absolutely would be dangerous. Get over yourself. People like you infuriate me. You aren't doing anyone any favors by leaving those types of comments. YOU DIDN'T FULLY READ THIS ARTICLE. You obviously didn't read past the first paragraph. You saw the word 'danger' in the title, and decided ot pick this apart. Go take some expired pshycotropic meds, and find another article to rip apart. You didn't hurt my feelings. I've seen and heard it all.
Matt
(Guest)
(Guest)
10/08/2009
The statement "edications expire much in the same way that food expires." Shows that the author has very little understanding of how chemistry works. This article should be taken down and is a terrible resource.
When food expires you run a risk of getting a food born illness because bacteria and fungus can grow on the food. When medicine expires, the potency of the medication weakens (from what I've read in most cases it goes from 100% to 99%.) There is no reason to throw away your aspirin or other medications. "When in doubt throw it out" is a good rule for food because you are usually only throwing away something that costs a couple of bucks and there is a risk of serious sickness. In the case of medications you could be throwing away hundreds of dollars of useful drugs that wouldn't harm you. The saying should not be used for medications. Shame on the author for writing such a poor article and not doing the proper amount of homework.
a1adjim
(Guest)
(Guest)
07/29/2009
According to the two programs on TV (60 Minutes and 20-20) chemically most drugs are safe well beyond their expiration date if stored properly. My wife and I both have a "serious" condition I have alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency and she is recovering from breast cancer and we both are diabetics. We both have used "expired drugs and are still here.
To just off hand say "when in doubt throw it out" you must be independently wealthy or have an insurance plan that pays 100%.
As was said insulin from 1980 would not be a good choice to use... common sence rules here. If you are talking only of over the counter drugs then maybe but some prescription drugs that have a co-pay of $200-%300 a month are a different story.
Jim
max
(Guest)
(Guest)
07/03/2009
i can honestly say i hate everything about associated content..they no absolutely nothing about anything ever..i look for music..they have the worst top 10 ive ever seen..look up the doors for an example and see which song they missed LOL. and this i love the end...and may someday save your life, no you wont die from taking that, they want your money, it may lose effectiveness but thats all jesus.
Mr. or Ms. A.J. - I haven't provided medical advice here. Did you really read the ENTIRE article? "When in doubt throw it out" is a SAFETY precaution, and I included it in closing. Once again, if you had a serious illness, would YOU risk using something expired? Almost anything consumed expires and eventually goes bad. I doubt if medication manufacturers have developed conspiracies to encourage people to throw away good meds. Use commonsense. Most of my articles begin with that two-word precautionary statement, and this one should have too, but would you have read it? Probably not.
maiko
(Guest)
(Guest)
05/08/2009
where can we dispose expired cosmetic products?..
what is the proper procedure?
Amazing.
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