The myth of expiry date of medicine

First, I like to share one of my experiences about visiting a doctor’s chamber. Once I asked a doctor that I had a medicine but the date was expired! He replied (in a calm voice) that there would not be any problem. Further, that could be fed if that was discolored or powdered!

Since then, I used to see the manufacturing and expiry dates of the medicine.

Recently I have read in one place that the American FDA (The Food and Drug Administration of America) said that if the medicine is in physically good condition, then the medicine can be consumed even after fifteen years of the expiry date!

Each strip of a medicine has a specific expiry date! Now, my question is, what chemical changes occur inside the medicine just after the expiry date is over for which they cannot be used no longer! Why those chemical changes do not occur before that specific expiry date? Definitely a very interesting question! Isn’t it?

Now understand the scenario with an example. Let's say the Expiry Date of a drug is December 31, 2023. That means the drug will function upto the mark till December 31, 2023! And just after the clock ticks the 00:00:01 hrs, the medicine will be just useless i.e. on the next day!

Isn’t it a great surprise? What certain chemical changes will occur in just one second past twelve o'clock on December 31st , 2023 so that by 00:00:01 hrs on January 1st, 2024 the drug will transform into a life snatching poison from a life-saving medicine!

Here the true story begins. Don’t worry, nothing will happen! The real reason is a smart marketing strategy...a billion-dollar business using a legal matter in a very smart way!

Let us understand the real meaning of “Expiry Date” mentioned on the package / strip of medicine. Full meaning of Expiry Date is - Expiry date of license for marketing of that particular product which means that the marketing license of that batch of that company is going to end on that day! It has nothing to do with the effectiveness of the drug! There is just no relation between the chemical property and financial issue. It’s actually not a concern of condition health of human body but the condition of financial health of the multinationals.

But like many things here too, Government’s ignorance allows companies to create demand for new drugs by leaving public or the market without even perfectly good drugs! If everyone were to take old medicines without worrying of the expiry date, imagine how much dollars would have been lost?

So, now you may ask, then is not the medicine wasted after the expiry date? Why not when that is also a chemical substance? The answer is definitely yes, but Expiry Date has nothing to do with it! A medicine with poor or substandard quality can lose its functionality and becomes harmful even before the expiry date!

So, trust your eyes! If the medication continues to crumble, or melts when opened, the strip is discolored or the ampoule appears to be floating, discard the prescription even if it is before the expiry date.

Here are few tips on how to store medicine properly. Proper storage of medications may help to extend their potency. The bathroom and medicine cabinet are not ideal places to store medications due to heat and humidity. Similarly, medications should not be left in a hot car. Medications remain most stable in dry, cool spaces away from light. Keep the prescription bottle caps tightly closed and always keep medications out of reach of children and pets.

But, in conclusion it is highly advised that not to use an expired medicine without proper advice from doctor. Once the expiration date has passed there is no guarantee that the medicine will be safe and effective.