Wafarin expiry date.

[Tickertalker]

Hi all, I've just noticed that a box of Warfarin that I collected from my local chemist was past its expiry date when they gave it to me. Is it OK to take these pills four months after the sell-by date?

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From EMC Patient Leaflet

"Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month."

[Healthyheart1]

Hi Tickertalker, no please don't take the tablets the pharmacy will change them straight away for you. Regards Sheena

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Sorry, but IMO that is potentially dangerous advice.

"Do not take Coumadin after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the bottle. It may have no effect at all, or worse, an entirely unexpected effect if you take it after the expiry date."

If in doubt call 111 or an out of hours Pharmacy and ask them for advice.

[Pollynurse]

Hi im a staff nurse no drugs should be taken after the date of expiry especially anticoagulants like warfarin plus your pharmacy need to replace your medicine and I would lodge a complaint as this is dangerous practice

[Tickertalker in reply to Pollynurse]

Lodge a complaint with who?

[JennyRx in reply to Tickertalker]

The complaint should be lodged with the management of the pharmacy. We have a system for reporting such incidents. Then we do a root cause analysis. If you want you can complain to the General Pharmaceutical Council of GB. Inform the pharmacy that you will be doing so if you intend to go down that road as it’s courtesy to let them know.

[Mikedabike]

Thanks Tickertalker for your post. I hope the pharmacist changes them promptly for you. I am only replying as it has given me a timely reminder to check the expiry date on my warfarin. I must admit I never even thought to check the box.

[JennyRx]

I’m a pharmacist and it’s absolutely not ok Please return to the pharmacy ASAP. They should have procedures to prevent this happening and this needs to be reported as it’s a ‘never incident’.

[seasider18 in reply to JennyRx]

Is Warfarin more critical than other drugs in that it must be within its use by date ?

[Norbury242 in reply to seasider18]

All medicines should be taken before their expiry date. Once they go past the expiry date they become less effective, typically because the active pharmaceutical ingredient starts to degrade over time. Most will not become 'dangerous' past their expiry date - but what it does mean is that they will not be as effective and therefore whatever your underlying health condition is (high blood pressure, for example) won't be managed as well.

In short, don't take medicines past their expiry date

[seasider18 in reply to Norbury242]

I can see that soluble drugs would deteriorate but I find it less likely that that tablets would .

[Norbury242 in reply to seasider18]

What I meant by the term "degrade" (I didn't say deteriorate) is that the active pharmaceutical ingredient (which is the generic name of the drug) becomes less potent over time - that's just a scientific fact. It doesn't matter whether that is an oral tablet, a soluble tablet, an injectable medicine, an oral solution (like Calpol) or a cream like Eumovate. All chemicals 'degrade' over a period of time. It's just science

[JennyRx]

No. It’s the same for every drug. An out of date drug is out of date. End of. Certain soluble drugs can deteriorate more quickly. It’s unacceptable to dispense out of date drugs. We have a system to make sure every area of the dispensary is checked every 8 weeks. Drugs with short dates on are stickered and every month we remove any meds with less than two months date left. For me dispensing out of date meds is as serious as dispensing the wrong meds.

[Tickertalker]

Thanks everyone. I took them back this morning and had no problem with an exchange. From what I have researched pills don't curdle like milk the day after they expire but, over time, they do lose their potency. Drug companies don't test them past the expiry date so there's no way of knowing by how much. With a number of drugs, including Warfarin, the margins for error are small and extra caution needs to be taken.

[Norbury242 in reply to Tickertalker]

Hi - that's not true to say "drug companies don't test them past the expiry date".

The expiry date is not an arbitrary date - the drug companies (whether it is an 'innovator/originator company, or a generics company) regularly test samples from batches in order to check/test the long term stability (as this can be affected by several different factors). They then analyse the results - once the efficacy of the medicine falls below a certain level (typically 90% effective) that then determines the expiry date.

Most pharmaceutical companies will try for as long a shelf life as possible, as this increases their competitive position in the market. (I work for a pharmaceutical company selling generic medicines - we are constantly monitoring/reviewing our expiry dates).

Hope that helps

[Darkshades]

I’d call the pharmacy or take them back ... no concerns or worries then

[Mikedabike]

Further to my earlier reply, I need to send a vote of thanks. Your post prompted to me to check my tablets, and I’ve noticed that some of them run out in April. I know it’s daft, but I just never ever thought to check the dates. Thank you.

[CDPO16 in reply to Mikedabike]

I'm sure quite a few of us are the same, including me and my husband. Must try and remember to get into the habit of checking.