[e-drug] Can expired drug still can be used? (8)

["Atieno Ojoo" <atisojoo@yahoo.co.uk>]

E-DRUG: Can expired drug still can be used? (8)
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Dear E-druggers,

The reason why we are discussing this topic is because of inadequate PHARMACUETICAL LOGISTICS management that lead to drugs expiring somewhere, and also leads to some people lacking the drugs that they need. If a manufacturer gives you 5 years on the label, what would make you want to keep the drug till after expiry to use it?

Secondly, essential drugs that meet the need of the majority of the population are for the most part affordable.
With good logistics, should be easy to procure.

These specific situations that require the use of expired drugs(??) seem to be matters of life and death, so, if one knows what happens to a particular chemical entity and its excipients, like reduction in potency and by how much, then one can postulate that the dose can be adjusted according to the percent reduction in potency.

Then there is the social side of medicine where its all about what people believe in their minds. This beliefs are influenced by everyday life-the street beggar who eats off the trash cans does not care whether the food there has gone bad (unless it smells really awful), yet I do not think this is the type of situation people find themselves in with regard to medicines.

Rather than spend too much time and money discussing and investigating whether expired drugs are useful, lets just make sure that they do not expire in the first place, because they do not have to! 

Ask me how!

Atieno Ojoo, pharmacist
Boston University School of Public Health
atisojoo@yahoo.co.uk