Posted: 5/6/2007 5:24:52 AM EDT
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I am posting this because its something that doesnt get talked about alot here. I was going through my preps rotating stock and realized that alot of the OTC medications I have in my preps are past their expiration date. I did some research online and the indications that some meds are good past their expiration date and some arent. As a Paramedic I check expiration dates on meds every day during unit check out. In patients houses I do the same especially when it comes to meds such as Epi and Nitro which degrade rapidly with age. Prescription drugs I agree with discarding after their discard date. But what about OTC's such as Ibuprofen, ASA and NSAID's (Aspirin and Tylenol), antibiotic creams and the such. It would be nice to get advice from a Doctor or Pharmacist. Also how do you rotate your stock? Do you bite the bullet on the expiration date and restock with new meds? When you buy in bulk is there just more to throw away as is the case with my 2 500 count advil bottles. And finally do you stock prescription drugs? What? How Much? and How do you rotate? |
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Expiration date represents approx. 10% degradation of product under typical storage conditions, so most meds are technicallly usable (better than nothing) for months to years after; i.e. there's nothing magical about that date. I rotate the meds in my preps to the medicine cabinet. Avoid storing near heat light and moisture ( my preps are in my basement, I recommemd not storing meds in widowsills or bathrooms) to make drugs last as long as possible. When something runs out in my med cabinet I take whats in my preps and replace it with new stock. Pharmacies usually rotate their shelf stock as well, so if you have time pull meds from the back of the shelf for date comparison; often I'll find OTCs with longer product dating by looking at all the botlles on the shelf. FWIW I don't stock any prescription meds and I'm a pharmacist. Good luck.. DocD |