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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards | negrogesic

Misc Just purchased expired meds from the pharmacy.

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cripkeeper

cripkeeper

Bluelighter
Joined
Oct 24, 2008
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395
Location
Midwest, United States
So this morning I go to collect my usual prescription Tussionex, which I have a long positive experiences with.

Upon getting home I notice that the bottle says exp. 12/2020.
I'm assuming that means it expires pretty much now.

I know it's not unsafe, but I don't know if the strength could possibly have weakened a bit. Should I call the pharmacy or just keep what I have? Any suggestions welcome. Thanks!
 
cripkeeper said:
So this morning I go to collect my usual prescription Tussionex, which I have a long positive experiences with.

Upon getting home I notice that the bottle says exp. 12/2020.
I'm assuming that means it expires pretty much now.

I know it's not unsafe, but I don't know if the strength could possibly have weakened a bit. Should I call the pharmacy or just keep what I have? Any suggestions welcome. Thanks!
Click to expand...
It will be fine. Most medications retain there efficiency long after there exp date..
 
cripkeeper said:
So this morning I go to collect my usual prescription Tussionex, which I have a long positive experiences with.

Upon getting home I notice that the bottle says exp. 12/2020.
I'm assuming that means it expires pretty much now.

I know it's not unsafe, but I don't know if the strength could possibly have weakened a bit. Should I call the pharmacy or just keep what I have? Any suggestions welcome. Thanks!
Click to expand...

You have a "usual" prescription for tussionex? Thats odd. What for?
 
YeahI have a minor bronchial issues. They come and go, most of the time go. But when it comes that my this is my docs treatment plan for me.

I was saying that I had been prescribed it more than once before and I was quite familiar with the medicine.

I really don't think I needed to explain myself in the first place. There's no need to.
 
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I used to know a guy that trash digged into as many pharmacie's trash cans as possible in the hopes of finding free drugs

He would often take expired hydro something norcos

And Percocets and would still work somehow

Who knows
 
cripkeeper said:
I don't see the need for this being any of your concern, with all due respect. Yes I have a minor bronchial issues. They come and go, most of the time go. But when it comes that my this is my docs treatment plan for me.

I was saying that I had been prescribed it more than once before and I was quite familiar with the medicine.

I really don't think I needed to explain myself in the first place. There's no need to.
Click to expand...
Im just curious is all, it’s not often it’s prescribed.

As for your question, it will be more than fine to use. Even after the expired date it would be ok.
 
Right on... Its some kind of allergy I can't pinpoint and all it causes is headache and very irritating scratcy cough. Couple of times a year, it's an unusual situation I guess.
 
cripkeeper said:
Right on... Its some kind of allergy I can't pinpoint and all it causes is headache and very irritating scratcy cough. Couple of times a year, it's an unusual situation I guess.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it really isn’t often prescribed but if it helps you then that’s good.
 
cripkeeper said:
So this morning I go to collect my usual prescription Tussionex, which I have a long positive experiences with.

Upon getting home I notice that the bottle says exp. 12/2020.
I'm assuming that means it expires pretty much now.

I know it's not unsafe, but I don't know if the strength could possibly have weakened a bit. Should I call the pharmacy or just keep what I have? Any suggestions welcome. Thanks!
Click to expand...
It’s good, drugs usually maintain their strengths for a long time I’ve taken 3 year old medication and it still makes me feel good.
 
Yeah i was also just curious didnt mean to make it feel like you needed to explain yourself.

Many medications can last a decade without significant declines in potency, with some very major exceptions (like antibiotics for instance).
 
Thanks for the answers. I wonder how many tons and tons of prescription and non prescription medication goes unsold and expires each year in the United States alone.
I know there are protocols in line for proper despoil. Perhaps some untapped meds may possibly be returned to the manufacturer or maybe even certain chemicals could even be recycled somehow? Idk.
I'm sure unfortunately that most prolly just get dumped somewhere, poisoning our Earth 😢.
 
If you believe in coincidence I was, not two minutes ago, looking for info. on this exact topic because I just today realised that I have patches that expire March 2021. So found the link below albeit that it’s the only one i.e. all others (especially those from the manufacturers) specifically state to dispose of most medications upon expiry date.

I am now conflicted i.e. do I extract now and store in Methanol and will that ensure no loss of potency for a far longer period (stored just above zero) or keep the patches as is but in their special little packaging and in the obligatory cool dry and dark place?

 
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Most popular drugs are super stable in pill or powder form, as long as they're kept in a dry place and away from sunlight there's nothing to worry about.
It's usually the other ingredients (like fillers & binders) that go "bad" first.
With stuff like LSD or drugs which are somewhat prone to oxidation it's probably best to store them in the fridge (well wrapped to protect them from humidity). If one really wanted to protect them at all cost there's always the option of wrapping it on foil, putting it in inside a bag with a desiccant, vacuum sealing the whole thing and storing the package in the fridge.

Liquid solutions can be significantly less stable once opened though, because most chemical reactions take place in solutions. Many of such preparations are water based and water is involved in a lot of "degradation" reactions , plus microorganisms can eventually grow there too. Also alcoholic (methanol & ethanol) and glycerol-based solutions can absorb significant amounts of water after a while. Which is why preservants are frequently added to liquid pharmaceuticals but of course their efficacy decreases over time.
 
i had a doc prescribe it for a cough. He “used” to prescribe it and say, use this 3 days straight and I guareente the cough will be gone. He was correct. He no longer prescribed like this anymore.
pharmacies that mail?
 
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