What does your medicine cabinet look like? Nice, neat rows, carefully organized by product type and use – or a chaotic mess of almost used tubes and jars, random plasters and half-full pill packets from God knows when? Be honest.
If the latter is the case, chances are that the fact that each of these products has an expiration date has also passed you by.
But they are not given in vain; some medications may even last only a few months. And while some will simply become less effective over time, others may be unsafe to use or even become contaminated by bacteria.
Pharmacist Deborah Grayson says: ‘Depending on the product, using them after the expiry date can be dangerous. While some are more concerning than others, you should always be on the safe side and check that your pills and creams are still topical before using them.”
Here’s your guide to what’s still safe to use even if it gets a little dusty – and what you should absolutely throw away.
Tablets such as paracetamol and ibuprofen often have a long shelf life
LOWER RISK
Keep them cool and dry, but don’t leave them on for too long
Tablets such as paracetamol and ibuprofen often have a long shelf life and can be used safely until then, as long as they are in blister packs.
‘If the blister packs are intact, oxygen cannot enter’
says Mrs. Grayson. ‘Although they may still be safe for a few months after the expiration date, the effect is likely to diminish.’
Likewise, antidepressants, steroids such as prednisolone and antihistamines such as Piriton will also not cause any harm if they are outdated but will lose their effectiveness. They should always be replaced if they are an essential part of your health routine or if you have severe allergies.
But if they are kept dry, in a cool place and out of the sun, they can keep well for at least a while.
Powders and wet wipes that last for years
Powdered sachets of electrolytes, such as Dioralyte for treating diarrhea, are among the few items in your cupboard that can survive for years because the risk of breakdown is low.
Antiseptic wipes are also safe to use after the expiration date as they are not susceptible to bacterial contamination. They can dry out, but if you splash them with water they’re “better than nothing,” says Ms. Grayson.
Vitamins aren’t harmful to you… but they may not do anything
Like other common pills, outdated supplements like vitamin C are more likely to be ineffective than harmful once their expiration date has passed, Ms. Grayson explains.
“It’s very likely that they will oxidize and darken over time if this happens,” she says. Tablets designed to be dissolved in water are broken down more quickly.
MEDIUM RISK
Antibiotics that can cause ‘food poisoning’
Research shows that antibiotics in tablet form retain 90 percent of their potency and effectiveness for five years after the expiration date.
But if they are in bottles instead of sealed blister packs, oxygen can penetrate them and change their composition, making them less effective.
The liquid type should always be thrown away when they expire as they pose a greater risk for bacterial contamination. This means that you could potentially get a food poisoning infection or worse.
However, never pour liquid antibiotics down the sink or flush them down the toilet. As a result, the antibiotics end up in the environment and resistant superbugs can develop.
Instead, patients should return their leftover antibiotics to their local pharmacy where they can be safely discarded.
Band-aids lose their sterility, but they are better than nothing
The adhesive strip on a plaster – and its sterility – decreases over time, which means it may no longer stick well over wounds and the risk of infection increases.
‘If you only have outdated dressings, I would still use them, but replace them with expired products as soon as possible,’ suggests Ms Grayson.
HIGHER RISK
Throw away your bottle of aspirin if it smells like vinegar
Be careful with aspirin, especially if the tablets come in a bottle. If the bottle is opened, oxygen can cause the tablets to break down.
“If the bottle has a strong, vinegary smell, it’s not good to use,” says Ms. Grayson. ‘Consuming it can potentially cause damage to the stomach lining.’
Creams and ointments that can cause serious infections
Although steroid creams and ointments used to treat skin conditions typically have a long shelf life, they should be used within three to six months of opening.
“When used on broken skin or open wounds, bacterial contamination can enter the body,” Grayson warns. ‘Because steroids also disable the immune response, this can increase the chance of infection.’
Discard eye drops within 28 days of opening
Eye drops to treat infections and relieve hay fever symptoms carry a risk of bacterial contamination after opening and should be discarded after 28 days.
‘Always label your eye drops with the date you first used them so you know when to throw them away,’ suggests Ms Grayson.
Cough syrup is another product that is often opened and left unfinished, but it can become contaminated with bacteria that can cause a nasty infection and should therefore be thrown away after six months.
- Deborah Grayson has more than 20 years of experience as a pharmacist. To contact us, visit digestionwithconfidence.co.uk.