It\u2019s a common belief that expired medications are fine to use after they\u2019ve expired. But, is it true?<\/p>\n
It turns out that using medications past their expiration date means they could be less effective or could be harmful.<\/p>\n
There have been mixed opinions on how safe or effective medications are after their expiration dates. So, Local 4 took the question to experts.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is something patients ask,\u201d said Dannielle Sigal, a pharmacist and district leader at CVS. \u201cIf they have leftovers, they don\u2019t want to waste it or throw it out, so it\u2019s a fair question.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce a medication passes its expiration date, there is no guarantee that it\u2019s safe or effective,\u201d she said. \u201cIt does start to lose its potency over time. Just to be safe, it could be recommended to discard of any medications once it\u2019s reached its expiration date.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, some would argue that the medical industry is trying to sell more medications. That\u2019s not the case. Once medications expire, they can be dangerous.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce a medication goes past its expiration date, it does start to degrade, and it can change chemically,\u201d said Sigal. \u201cSo, that can have a different effect on your body and potentially harm you if taken.\u201d<\/p>\n
The advice then is to discard any expired medications.<\/p>\n
First, look at the label. Some have disposal information. Also, most pharmacies have disposal kiosks, and many also offer free disposal Rx packets.<\/p>\n
\u201cSimply pour the packet into their pill bottle, put some warm water in there, and it\u2019ll form a biodegradable gel that can be thrown out at home safely,\u201d said Sigal, demonstrating how a disposal packet works.<\/p>\n
Bottom line, you\u2019re not supposed to do what many do — push the expiration limits.<\/p>\n
Here are the risks of taking expired medication:<\/p>\n
Potential toxicity<\/p>\n
Reduced effectiveness<\/p>\n
Bacterial growth<\/p>\n
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