Expired medications,
specialists claim,
will not kill you,
but there are a few things
you need to know...
Medications do not spoil like food products: after the expiration date, some components may simply lose their properties,
making the medication less effective.
However, even after the expiration date, medications may still be quite usable.
But not all...
In 2006, an article was published in the journal "Clinical Pharmacology",
in which the research data were published: 88% of the tested drugs fully retained their properties for at least one year after the expiration date, and on average this figure was 5 years.
For some medications, this period is much longer.
But here lies the problem: you cannot be sure that your particular medicine is still safe to take.
After all, this depends on many factors,
including storage conditions,
в том числе.
Do not tempt fate with life-saving medications!
If your painkiller or cold powder is slightly expired - it's not the end of the world; the pain or cold will just not go away as quickly. However, if you are taking life-essential medications, you are, of course, interested in their 100% effectiveness!
Experts advise immediately discarding medications that quickly lose their properties or can seriously affect your life. Here are some of them:
• anticonvulsants, such as,
phenytoin, carbamazepine,
lamotrigine;
• phenobarbital;
• nitroglycerin;
• warfarin;
• theophylline;
• digoxin;
• thyroid medications,
for example,
levothyroxine sodium;
• paraldehyde;
• oral contraceptives;
• epinephrine;
• insulin;
• various eye drops.
This indeed makes sense,
since,
if you are using birth control or constantly need insulin,
then you,
naturally,
необходимо полноценное действие препарата.
Do not stockpile medicines just in case...
Sometimes it really makes sense to keep some medications in reserve. For example, if you have allergies. But many other medicines, especially those once purchased by prescription, should not be stored.
Storing painkillers containing narcotic substances provokes dependence. You will constantly use them, for example, for a headache, and will not notice how you become addicted.
Review your medicine cabinet, replace expired medications,
if you use them constantly, while the rest are better to just throw away!
