Dispose of medicines after expiration date!

Dispose of medicines after the expiration date

21/11/2013

The topic „shelf life“ food has been the topic of much discussion in the past. It is widely believed that food can be eaten well after the given date, for example. In most cases this is also true, as it is a best before date and not an expiry date. As a rule, foods can still be consumed after the specified date. This can almost always be found quickly by a simple smell or taste test.

However, with animal products such as meat, fish or eggs, one should nevertheless exercise particular caution and prefer once more to take the walk to the trash bin as too little. But what about the expiration date for medicines? With you it is difficult to tell with the naked eye or the nose whether the remedy can still be used.

The assessment of pharmaceuticals requires in-depth expertise to assess whether the drug is no longer effective after the expiration date, or whether hazardous degradation products may arise after exceeding the expiration date.

Prof. Jörg Breitkreutz, Director of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy at the University of Düsseldorf, agrees. Even if he is in a mirror online article, even now and again taken expired drugs. The difference with him, however, is that he is aware of any risks. He also contradicts the opinion of many critics that the pharmaceutical industry by no means set the expiration dates too low, so that more profit can be achieved.

The fact is: the expiration date on foods is not the same as the expiry date of medicines and medications should not be taken after the indicated use-by date to prevent any possible health damage. (Fr)

Picture: Andrea Damm