do tablets really expire or do they just lose potency? How?
In: Chemistry
What is the effect of improper storage on Meds? With mail order delivery, meds may be exposed to heat or extreme cold/condensation.
There was a study done on this. Turns out, most ordinary pills will be fine even decades after the expiration, if they are stored appropriately.
I have a hunch that the purpose of relatively short expiration dates on tablets is to increase sales as loads are thrown out every day.
It depends heavily on the drug. Some are drug molecules are stable, and will be good for years when properly stored. Some, like epi-pens, will degrade significantly in a few months. And I’m sure there’s some outliers that get stronger or turn toxic. And all bets are off if they aren’t stored properly. Go with the manufacturer’s recommendation.
The date you see on the bottle is the date the manufacturer can still guarantee potency. So it’s not necessarily the true expiration date.
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