The Myth of Drug Expiration Dates - and what the FDA has known for years

Who ever threw away drugs?

I don't think anyone paid attention to that stuff just like the expiration date on bottled water.

Around here there are regular events where one can turn in 'expired' meds instead of throwing them into the toilet or the trash, for example. Never been to one, but I understand they get a lot of meds.

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They may be slightly less potent

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In some cases that can be a big issue. Would you rely on an expired epi pen to save your life?

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don't toss expensive meds!

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Damn...I toss at least 50 Norco 10/325's a month...JK. I had some kind of skin ointment samples that I used on and off for at least 20 years. Another trick they screw you or try the insurance companies is the little white cups that you use for party's to put nuts, candy whatever in...they use them to put your medication in at the hospital. I forgot their medical term for it, $200.00 (off a little}...see link. Watched a show where all this woman did was help people with ridiculous medical bills. That's the root of the healthcare problems.

Remember those little white cups fast food restaurants give you for free to put ketchup in? In fact there are restaurants giving them away for free in the lobby areas of many hospitals. In the hospital room, however, these are billed as “oral administration fees” and for one patient they totaled $5,000.

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In some cases that can be a big issue. Would you rely on an expired epi pen to save your life?

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Yes, study has shown that epi pens remain perfectly usable more than four years past the expiration date.

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Expiration dates on drugs exist only because they are required by the FDA, they are mostly arbitrary and not based on testing of the drug,

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"FORT DETRICK, MD – Far from expiring in the one to five years stated on their labels, many prescription medications may retain their full potency for 10, 20, even 40 years."

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The Department of Defense ran their own study and from the results made the decision to extend usage of some drugs to 10 years past the manufacturers expiration dates. Suring their study they found medications even 40 years beyond their recommended expiration date still had 90% of their original potency.

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A few years ago an endodontist gave me antibiotics for a tooth issue. She told me that, even if I don't use all of them

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Why would you not use all of your antibiotics? That's how drug resistant bacteria develop. Then, if you need antibiotics later, to use what's leftover. What if you don't have enough?

That's pretty terrible advice from a medical professional. I understand and agree that expiration dates can be bullshite. But on antibiotics? Use them all, and get another full cycle of treatment of you get sick later on.

If you had bothered reading the article, you would know that they DO mention epi pens in there.

I did say it was for a potential tooth infection. Not for strep, not for any other bacterial infection for which you are told to finish the meds. You're not the only genius who knows that you should finish your meds for those, as prescribed!

Same with Epi-pens.

Those are controversial now due to the pricing. They have an expiration date as well.

The epi is always good. Don't throw away.