Expired medicine(ndt)

[adin]

Yesterday I found in my bathroom closet an expired ndt(armour 30mcg), I forgot that I have it. The drug expired on aug.2014 but it looks good . What do you think, I can use it or should I throw it.

[Jazzw]

I'd take it. It's not like it goes off. The worst that could happen is that it's slightly less potent than it used to be.

Pharmaceutical companies love expiry dates - they make us throw away perfectly usable medicines in favour of fresh new stock. Years ago no one worried about such things - and August 2014 isn't that long ago.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Jazzw]

That doesn't seem the worst possibility. Some medicines degrade into substances that might cause unexpected, unwanted and possibly bad effects.

In many cases, we simply do not know what the effect will be. There is little access to information about deterioration pharmaceutical products in general. I am with you in anticipating little likelihood of anything serious, but I'd only even consider taking it if I had absolutely no other choice.

Bathrooms can be poor environments for medicines as some have frequent and significant changes in temperature and humidity. And a glass-fronted cabinet facing a sunny window would make it a dreadful place to store medicines. (We simply do not know and the poster sounds sensible - but it is a big assumption that it is a benign environment for medicines.)

Rod

[Jazzw in reply to helvella]

Undoubtedly the correct answer. Apologies for not thinking it all through.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Jazzw]

At the same time, you are very likely absolutely right!

[Clutter]

Adin, I wouldn't be worried about taking tablets past their use by date but I wouldn't use liquids which can definitely go off.

[Jackie]

Hi It is probably OK. When the license is applied for it is always for a fix term and that does not mean it is off after that date.

Jackie

[adin]

Thank you all for your good advices.