Community Chat

[Sooner]

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@San Antonio Gal wrote:

Around 3 years ago, my doggie had small scab-like sore on her outer ear that would not go away.  Her vet prescribed an ointment that cleared it up right away.

The scab came back recently, but the ointment I had expired 2 years ago.  It smelled fine and looked fine.  I used it and again, it cleared up right away.

I would never use expired medicine that has to be taken orally.

What are your thoughts on using an expired ointment or cream type medicine - whether on a person or pet ?

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@San Antonio Gal My thought is spend resources on what it important.  And to me fresh products, especially food and medicines, are what you spend on/invest in.  

To me it makes more sense than the stuff we all spend money on that we don't need and doesn't matter and clutters up our lives.  

Don't just buy.  Invest.  In your health especially.

[drizzellla]

My son is a pharmacy tech and said like others have stated that generally the drug is still good after the expiration date but generally looses it's effectiveness. And different drugs may loose it's effectiveness at different rates.

Another big factor is how the drug is stored. Did the drug sit in a warehouse for several months before shipped? There are unknown factors before you receive the drug. That can affect the drug. Plus do you store any drugs in your bathroom. And the changes of climate that a bathroom goes through.

He is always checking ALL expiration dates for ANYTHING in the house. He drives me crazy. But I guess since he has expiration dates drilled into him when his company does inventory, I guess I can understand, 

[conlt]

I hate to say this because I am a RN, but Doctors and Nurses are known to be some of the worst patients. I keep some expired medications and use them sometimes. For instance, I have a muscle relaxant. It comes in hand sometimes when I have pain. 

I would never save antibiotics beyond expiration. 

So for me, it depends on the medication. 

[CrazyTimes]

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@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:

If it was all I had available, I'd use it.  But then I'd make sure to replace it on my next shopping trip. 

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@JeanLouiseFinch 

Same here. In a pinch, yes, but I wouldn't want to use expired meds too long.

[Nightowlz]

We still use full bottles of expired aspirin & ibuprofen I bought in 2020.

Not buying new to sit in the cabinet to expire. LOL!!!

[Icegoddess]

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@conlt wrote:

I hate to say this because I am a RN, but Doctors and Nurses are known to be some of the worst patients. I keep some expired medications and use them sometimes. For instance, I have a muscle relaxant. It comes in hand sometimes when I have pain. 

I would never save antibiotics beyond expiration. 

So for me, it depends on the medication. 

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@conlt I agree.  I use and consume expried everything.  I wouldn't use expired antibiotics because your'e supposed to take all of what you are given, so I never have any leftover antibiotics.  My doctor has even told me to take some expired pain medication.  It was at night and no way to get a new prescription.  I had a stockpile since they often give you too much whenever you have something done.  It did the job to get me through the night.  

[Tinkrbl44]

@San Antonio Gal 

Unfortunately, many people think if a topical product "expires" on October 1st it was perfectly fine on September 30th, but then goes bad on 10-1.

Things don't always expire ... they are often just less effective with time.  

For something "iffy" I would just ask my Pharmacist what she thinks about it.  

[tansy]

The vet told me to not toss an ointment that my dog needed occasionally for a rash.  

[SloopJohnB]

Years ago I had to get a prescription for Bactroban.  It worked so good that I only needed a dab or two out of the tube before the problem cleared up.  I had kept the tube.  When I eventually needed the cream again, I used it.  It had expired but it still worked fine.  In fact, I think the only reason I eventually tossed it was because I used it up, not because of the old expiration date.  And I lived to tell about it.  LOL 

[Shelbelle]

Per one of my doctors, a rock hard pill or tablet will last for a very long time beyond the date, it wont decompose, softgels that contain oils wont last quite as long but longer than the date, same for creams and capsules. I never toss anything if it has expired unless it changes in smell, consistency or color, including skin creams. 

Years ago I had a tube of Colgate toothpaste that was past the exp date, I called their CS and the rep told me that the dates are really for legal purposes only, and that the toothpaste could be used for up to 18 months after the exp date. Also when my adult kids were infants my pediatrician said I could keep formula 24 hours beyond the date as long as it was in the fridge. Supposedly it was supposed to be used once open within 24 hours but he said 48 was fine