Table of contents:
- Three reasons you should throw out stale drugs
- 1. Losing potential
- 2. Changed chemical composition
- 3. Is no longer appropriate
- What should you do with expired medicine?
- Use proper storage
Stale or expired drugs can make the drug ineffective or even risky, due to changes in chemical composition or a decrease in the level of efficacy. This stale drug is of course a risk for bacterial growth. The antibiotics in drugs can fail to treat the infection, which can lead to more serious illness and may even create resistance to the antibiotics. Remember that once the expiration date has passed, there is no guarantee that the drug will be safe and effective. Here are some reasons to avoid stale drugs.
Three reasons you should throw out stale drugs
1. Losing potential
Some medications can lose potency over time, and become less effective at treating the condition in question. This is especially true for insulin and nitroglycerin. If your doctor thinks that you are taking a good medicine and your condition is getting worse, he will add a dose to you, which will be very dangerous for the body. The Department of Health and Human Services in the United States recommends that you do not take stale medicine, because it may no longer work properly.
2. Changed chemical composition
Medicines are chemical compounds that can change color, smell, and texture over time. It can also break down chemicals, which cause unwanted effects in your body. Although this is a rare occurrence, it is not a reason to make you want to take it, especially if the medication has expired many years ago.
3. Is no longer appropriate
Keeping old, out-of-date medicines is a bad thing for many reasons. The remaining antibiotics you take when you are sick will actually worsen your condition, if you are infected with a different bacteria. You can also cause the bacteria to become stronger and resistant to the drug if you do not take the full range of antibiotics. Older medications may be contraindicated to drugs that are currently prescribed, and your doctor or pharmacist will not know that you are taking an old medication. That way, your health condition will change over time, which will make some medications no longer suitable for you. Finally, if you decide to take over the counter drugs, you will be double affected by the other drugs that you are also taking.
What should you do with expired medicine?
First, you should read the drug label and follow any specific disposal instructions that may be required, or you can dispense with a specific program for the disposal of stale drugs. Through a program like this, there are tons of unneeded and out of date medicines that will be disposed of in a proper disposal process.
When a drug disposal program is not available, it is recommended that you dispose of the medicines deep in the household trash after they have been mixed with feces and sealed tightly in a container. In addition, there are medicines that are specifically recommended to be thrown in the toilet or sink, because they can be very dangerous, even fatal to children, pets, or other people who take them accidentally.
Use proper storage
Proper storage is one way to help ensure your medicines remain safe and effective until their expiration date. Be sure to read the label to see if there are specific storage instructions for your medicine. Certain medications need to be stored in the refrigerator, while others cannot be exposed to high temperatures. Improper storage, such as in damp places, can cause a decrease in the effectiveness of the drug, even if it has not reached the expiration date. You can place most medicines in a cool, dry place, such as a chest of drawers, storage boxes, cupboards, or kitchen cabinets.
