Can I Use Expired Medications? A Pharmacist Explains
Do near-expiration or expired medications still work? This is a question that Kathleen Tao, Beijing United Family Hospital's (BJU's) Pharmacy Manager, has been asked multiple times as a pharmacist. Maybe you as a patient have never been given a straight answer about what the expiration date on medication means and how seriously it should be taken. Here, as a professional pharmacist, Kathleen Tao expresses her opinions on this issue in hopes of demystifying it all for you.
First of all, the expiration date specifies only the date the manufacturer guarantees the full potency and safety of the drug – it does not mean how long the drug is actually good or safe to use. Hence, the expiration date does not really indicate a point at which the medication is no longer effective or has become unsafe to use. Many medical authorities have said it is safe to take drugs even past their expiration date. Studies have shown that "Even 10 years after the 'expiration date', most drugs still carry a percentage of their potency. Expired drugs may lose some of their potency over time, from as little as 5% or less than 50% or more." (T. Kramer)
Having said all that, as your caring pharmacist, under normal circumstances, we do not recommend you to take any medication that has past its expiration. This is because not all medication has gone through expiration date testing to prove its safety.
Certain preparations should not be used at all after the specified period of time due to their instability and high risk of contamination. Below are some examples:
Eye drops (except single-use ampoules) can only be kept for 28 days after opening;
Certain Nitroglycerin tablets can only be kept for 90 days after opening;
Biological products (e.g. vaccines) should be used before the expiration date.
Some preparations are meant for multiple dose administration. For example, Tylenol & Motrin Suspension & Drop can be given multiple times while it lasts, and it expires at the manufacturer's expiration date.
The Beijing United Family Hospital Pharmacy always strives to provide you with high-quality medication. However, sometimes due to supply issues, we're forced to provide you with medication that is near-expiry. Please be assured that the quality and effectiveness of the medication are still 100%.
In addition, for the convenience of our valuable customers, you can bring in any unwanted or outdated prescription or non-prescription medications to the pharmacy. We will ensure these are handled and disposed of safely.
Reference: Article from Medscape, "Do medications really expire?" Thomas A. M. Kramer, MD
Kathleen Tao is the Pharmacy Manager at Beijing United Family Hospital. She is a registered pharmacist in China, the UK, and Australia. Should you have any questions related to the medications prescribed to you at the Beijing United Family Pharmacy, you are welcome to call the 24hr pharmacy hotline at 5927 7052. To make an appointment with a BJU specialist, please call the 24hr Service Center at 4008-919191.
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