What Are The Consequences Of Taking Out Of Date Medication?

Mostpeople have some regular medicines at home, but many people may not payattention to the production date of the medicines. Sometimes they find that themedicines are expired, but they see no abnormality, so they ignore them andcontinue to take them. Should we still keep taking out of date medication?

Afterthe drug expires, is it okay to look normal?

Itis often said that the drug expiration date has passed the expiration date ofthe drug. It is defined as the period during which the drug can maintain itsquality under the specified storage conditions. That is to say, once themedicine has expired, its effectiveness and safety cannot be guaranteed, so youshould stop taking out of date medication.

Accordingto the Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, drugs thatexceed their expiration date are inferior drugs. After the expiration date, thecontent of active ingredients of most drugs will decrease and they cannot exerttheir due efficacy. A few expired drugs will change due to chemicalcomposition, and even decompose some harmful substances, but damage the humanbody. If vitamin C is easy to be oxidized after expiration, it is harmful tohuman body; Sulfanilamide, penicillin, some antibacterial drugs afterexpiration is easy to cause allergies, and even shock. For Chinese patentmedicine, especially honey pill, granule, storage time is too long, may alsobecome mildew, after taking will cause certain harm to the human body. Drugsare generally difficult to determine whether deterioration with the naked eye,because the appearance of most drugs does not change when they exceed theexpiration date, and there are very few liquid preparations, such as oralliquid, if stored for a long time, there may be precipitation and otherphenomena. Therefore, we need to remind you that before taking drugs, we shouldfirst look at the expiration date on the package of drugs, and dispose ofexpired drugs in time, and avoid taking out of date medication.

What are the dangers of taking out of date medication?

First,the quality of expired and discarded drugs is uncontrollable. If the storageconditions of medicines are not standardized, moisture absorption, dehydration,mildew or some harmful impurities may be decomposed by themselves, andsometimes even lead to changes in the chemical composition or structure ofmedicines. Taking expired and discarded medicines will delay the treatment ofthe disease, produce toxic side effects, and cause greater damage to the humanbody. 

Second,expired and discarded drugs may cause allergic reactions, anaphylaxis reactionsand bacterial resistance. Such as penicillin, once expired, these drugs cancause allergic reactions, severe and even shock.

Third,studies have found that expired and discarded drugs have certain teratogenic,mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Some expired and discarded drugs such asimidazole anthelmintics have potential teratogenic and mutagenic effects onhuman body.

Underwhat circumstances can the drug not be used?

Differentmedicines have different requirements for storage. If the medicine has thefollowing symptoms, it cannot be used again even within the validity period.Bottled tablets, capsules or oral liquids. After opening, the bottle cap mustbe tightened tightly, if there are spots, discoloration, swelling, adhesion orcracks on the surface of the tablet and capsule.

Granulesare usually packaged in doses for oral administration. The granules in smallpackages that have been opened should be taken as soon as possible; granulesthat have not been opened in small packages such as agglomeration, mildew andodor should not be used again.

Theointment should be used with care not to contaminate the contents. In case ofinduration, melting, discoloration and odor, it should not be used again.

Afterthe outer packaging of the suppository is opened, it should be stored in a coldplace to avoid being melted by heat or dry and broken; after opening the innerpackaging, it should be used immediately to avoid contamination of thesuppository.

Whatto do if you taking out of date medication by accident?

Firstof all, there is no need to be too nervous, because most expired drugs are onlyreduced in efficacy or even ineffective, and generally do not cause seriousadverse reactions. However, as in the second case above, if the composition ofthe medicine changes, it may cause poisoning symptoms if taken by mistake. Atthis time, it is necessary to drink more water to promote the discharge of themedicine. At the same time, pay attention to your own symptoms. If you havesymptoms such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc.,you must go to the hospital in time, and do liver and kidney function tests,gastric lavage or vomiting under the guidance of a doctor.

Howto deal with expired medicines?

1.Expired medicines at home. It should be incorporated into a special collectionand destruction system like the recycling of used batteries; medicines intablet, pill, and capsule form should be wrapped in paper first, and thenthrown into a closed paper tube for disposal.

2.Medicines for liquid preparations such as eye drops, topical liquids, oralliquids, etc. They should be poured into the sewer and washed away separatelywithout mixing with each other; for ointment preparations, the ointment shouldbe squeezed out of the container, collected in an envelope, and discarded aftersealing.

3.Aerosol drugs. It should be completely emptied in a place with good ventilationoutdoors and under the condition of avoiding contact with open flames.