What do medication expiration dates REALLY mean?

Brownms46 · Aug 31, 2003

On one of my assignments, we had some meds we were throwing out because they were "outdated" But the drug reps told us they were still good. In fact they told us, exactly what this article stated.

NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2003

Very interesting article, Aimee; thanks for the link. :)

I think the real issue with these is not whether or not they're safe, because according to the article and research they did, they probably are safe (with some exceptions, like that tetracycline). What the issue is (to me) is whether or not we want to be providing our patients with medications that may not have peak efficacy because they are expired past their "prime" date. I, for one, am uncomfortable with that unless someone can show me research that the medication I'm giving retains it's efficacy rate or decreases a neglible amount after the date. Otherwise, I'm tossing the sucker, cost or no.

Thanks for posting that! I enjoyed reading it.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2003

There are a few drugs that certainly do deteriorate over time - Parenteral nutrition for one. The other drug that loses potency are things like anti-venom.

Many of our "expired" drugs are sent overseas for use in missions and hospitals in thrid world countries who are only too happy to have them - expired or not!!!

jadednurse · Aug 31, 2003

Originally posted by gwenith
Many of our "expired" drugs are sent overseas for use in missions and hospitals in thrid world countries who are only too happy to have them - expired or not!!!

Excellent idea gwenith!

bedpan · Aug 31, 2003

very interesting - Thank you for sharing this aimeee

and great idea gwenith!

jenac · Aug 31, 2003

Interesting article. I recently threw a fit when my mom tried to give my four-year old Tylenol that expired a year ago. Let's not tell her she was right.....

I have to agree with NICU_Nurse here. I'm not sure I'm comfortable giving an expired med to a patient. You have no guarentee that that particular drug is ok or not, and not many people in our care can afford a decreased efficacy.The state sure as heck doesn't care what an article says... I'll keep tossing out-dated drugs untill our policy states otherwise.

MomNRN, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2003

Thank you for the link to the article!

How interesting, but what I expected anyway. Depending on the medication, I rarely throw away meds past the expiration date. Especially if they happen to be a narcotic med I might need again!

If it was a medication vital to my life, that would be a different story. Otherwise, routine pain-relieving meds last for awhile in my cupboard.

I always suspected the drug companies upped the date to get you to buy more product.

JNJ · Sep 1, 2003

Just FYI, many of the larger international health and welfare agencies that operate in developing countries ('third world' is no longer PC) do not accept gifts of out of date medications.

However, smaller clinics and individuals may accept expired OTC medications and I have given recently out of date Tylenol etc to an underfunded orphanage in Tijuana, knowing that it would be safe and potent for some years to come.

live4today, RN · Sep 1, 2003

Very insightful! Thanks for the news on this as I certainly wasn't aware of its findings. I always toss out outdated meds in my home. May rethink this now...at least keep the drugs another six months before throwing them away. Maybe....old habits die hard I guess. :chuckle