Check Prednisalone sell by dates! 🐿

[SheffieldJane]

Just a heads up. I have a few accumulated boxes of Prednisalone that I have been keeping for odd taper amounts like 2.5 mgs. I have just noticed that they all expire April 2018. I was only diagnosed this time 2016. So all you squirrels check the dates.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

You'll be needing your Maths head on then to work out what ones to take to make up your dose!!!

[SheffieldJane in reply to DorsetLady]

Aargh!

[Hidden]

I went through my 1mgs and numbered the boxes when this came up before. 5mgs take care of themselves. On box 8 now then starts at 1 again. Thanks for reminder.

[SheffieldJane]

Top tip! I’ve got a bag to return to the pharmacist. I hope you had a day as beautiful as your morning.

[morrison]

I'll have a look tomorrow. But thanks for the reminder x

[Joydeck]

As I understand it, any pharmaceutical with a Use-By-Date of a year or more is likely to be good for a several more years, at least. So said a recent study by USA Food and Drug Administration at the request of the military ("Drug Expiration Dates — Do They Mean Anything?").

When first diagnosed with PMR (by an osteopath would you believe), I took prednisolone a decade old, from the bottom of a drawer, and it worked just fine. I took 3/4 of a 25 mg tablet daily.

[Hidden]

Yes Jane. I take those off you!!

[maria40]

My understanding is that they're more a 'best before' than a 'use by' recommendation., and are probably good for a few years. I raised this a little while ago as I'm a super squirrel and have an accumulation of 1mg with an expiry date of Feb this year. I was reassured by PMRpro that they were safe for a good few years so I'm proceeding on that basis with no noticeable ill effects.

[SheffieldJane]

I wondered that but I am so milligram sensitive at present with a threatening flare that I didn’t want the risk. I have this argument about certain foods and their sell by, with my husband, of course the drugs just have expiry date.

[Jackoh]

What a good idea Poopadoop!

[HeronNS]

I too have heard that medications have an expiry date because they are required to, but usually they are good for a significant length of time afterwards. That said, I wouldn't keep them forever, but maybe start using up the older saved ones and replace with fresher prescriptions if the dosages add up right.