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We've all been there at least once, taking an expired medicine and instantly regretting it, with numerous 'What Ifs?' However, you won't believe what experts have to say on whether or not you should consume expired medicine.
An expert tells a leading media outlet that while taking an expired medicine may sometimes have harmful side effects, you shouldn't worry about it, due to changes in medical composition and which decreases its strength after the expiration date.
"It's true the effectiveness of a drug may decrease over time, but much of the original potency remains even a decade after the expiration date. Excluding nitroglycerin, insulin, and liquid antibiotics, most medications are as long-lasting as the ones tested by the military," the National Institute of Health (NIH) states.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that although some expired medicine may be less harmful, certain expired medications, especially liquid formulations, are at high risk of bacterial growth, which could lead to infections.
NIH explains, "Loss of potency can be a major health concern, especially when treating an infection with an antibiotic. In addition, antibiotic resistance may occur with subpotent medications. Drugs that exist in solution, especially injectable drugs, should be discarded if the product forms a precipitate or looks cloudy or discoloured."
As per the FDA, expired medicine can promote serious illness and antibiotic resistance; hence, if you have expired medicine in the drawer, the organization advises disposing of it carefully.
According to a 2020 report by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were about 36,564 emergency department visits among children aged 5 years due to unsupervised medication exposure.
Hence, ensure to discard unused or expired medicine by sealing it in a bag or some form of cover before throwing it into the bin. Otherwise, you can also gather all the unused medicine, wrap it with a cover and take it to a community centre that regularly collects, detoxifies and disposes of medical waste.
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