Health Matters

I got an interesting letter from a friend
this morning. It never occurred to me
that this would be an issue, but then I
guess it must be since the query came
from one of the most astute nurses
I have ever worked with. If she is
confused many others must be too. She
was asking me about expiration dates
on drugs.
For over 30 years, pharmaceutical
companies are required to stamp
expiration dates on their products. It is
not the date upon which the medication
will turn to poison or lose it potency.
It is simply the date up to which the
drug company will guarantee at least
90% potency under proper storage
conditions.
There is nothing magical about this
date and often, it is just a guess.
Most of what is known about drug
expiration dates comes from a study
conducted many years ago by the US
Food and Drug Administration at the
request of the military.
With a large and expensive stockpile
of drugs, the military faced tossing
them out and replacing them every few
years.
What they found from the study is
90% of more than 100 drugs, both
prescription and over-the-counter,
were perfectly good to use even 15
years after the expiration date if stored
correctly.
Where you store your medication is an
important factor as improper storage
can shorten the expiry date of the
medication. For most medications,
storing in a cool, dry, dark place
Michael R. Lee
B.Sc., M.D., M.C.F.P. (E.M.), D.A.B.E.M., F.A.C.E.P.
(nightstand drawer, bedroom closet,
refrigerator) will maximize the
lifespan of your drug. This means that
the bathroom medicine cabinet may
not be the best place!
So, the bottom line is that, with the
important exceptions below, the vast
majority of medications will maintain
their potency and safety for at least 2
years and perhaps as long as 15 years
after the expiratory date.
Heed the expiration date on:
• Tetracycline
• Nitroglycerin
• Liquid Antibiotics
• Insulin
• Seizure Medications
• Heart Medications
• Other Critical Medications Where
You Can’t Afford A Drop In Potency
Other notes that might be of help:
• Don’t use eye drops or ointments
beyond 4 weeks after opening,
regardless of the expiry date. These
products can become contaminated
and lead to eye infections.
• Safely discard any pills that have
become discolored, turned powdery,
or smell strong; any liquids that appear
cloudy or filmy; or any tubes of cream
that are hardened or cracked.
• Don’t mix medications in one
container: chemicals from different
medications can interact to interfere
with potency or cause harmful side
effects.
Dr. Mike and Sandi Lee own and
operate Sure Results hCG Weight Loss
in Puerto Vallarta.
If you have any questions about their
services please visit their web site at
www.sureresults.net to read about the
programs and fill in an information