? about expiration dates

phyl Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:09 AM

? about expiration dates

...on cold medications/advil/dayquil...etc.
I just went into my medicine cabinet and I have about 5 boxes..with varying amounts of meds in them...that have exp dates of 2001, 2002

anybody know?

dubliner Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:11 AM

Re: ? about expiration dates

I usually keep stuff up to a year - not sure if its OK or not thou

Lisa Rose Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:11 AM

Re: ? about expiration dates

Well, you arent really supossed to use outdated meds because I think the potency of them goes down. I do not think you will get sick from them, they just arent as effective.

To be on the safe side..I would throw them away.

NovemberSue Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:16 AM

Re: ? about expiration dates

I always toss them out.

ChristineC68 Posted: Oct 17, 2003 10:22 AM

Re: ? about expiration dates

I toss them. DH used to keep everything ever prescribed to him. When we moved in together in 2001 I was throwing away meds dated 1997

Imagin916 Posted: Oct 17, 2003 11:31 AM

Re: ? about expiration dates

Throw them away! They may just lose thier potency but some medications can make you sick if you take them after they are expired. Dont take a chance. If you just bought them and discovered they are expired, you can bring them back to the store.

julybride444 Posted: Oct 17, 2003 12:59 PM

Re: ? about expiration dates

over the counter meds shouldn't make you sick if they expire, but I'd toss prescription meds. OTC meds-I usually take one (if I have a headache or something), and if it works great (I've never had one not work b/c it was expired). There is some speculation that the pharma. companies put exp. dates that are well below what they should be to encourage people to toss them and buy new ones.

Karen H Posted: Oct 18, 2003 12:16 AM

Re: ? about expiration dates

Many consumer package goods have an 800# you can call. They will probably tell you to throw them out, but they may compensate by sending you some coupons!

DH called about an expiration date on Purell hand sanitizer, and they company sent him about $20 worth of coupons for all the different products they make.

By the way - they say a bathroom medicine cabinet is the worst place to store medication because it is affected by the steamy heat and humidity.

If there is no 800# you can always check with a pharmacist too.

yabbobay Posted: Oct 18, 2003 03:06 AM

Re: ? about expiration dates

I keep them and DH hates it...

I have a huge bottle of vitamin C he wants me to toss...but I can't see it being bad

I also keep the cough medicine from bronchitis outbreaks...they are life savers in the middle of the night