RE: [e-drug] Can expired drug still can be used? (14)

["Stein Lyftingsmo" <stein@lyftingsmo.no>]

E-DRUG:  Can expired drug still can be used? (14)
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Of course many medicines are effective after the expiry date. But......

Many medicinal substances have everlasting medicinal properties. But active substance is not the only factor behind an expiry date. The excipients, the packaging material, and the information on the package are all factors that can be outdated. 

When deciding whether an outdated package can be used, all these factors should be evaluated, as well as the physical history of this particular package. 

In fact, it is a basic principle that the first element to be outdated on a medicine package should be the expiry date itself.

It is also important to realise that that expiry date is not telling how long the medicine is effective. The expiry date is a legal statement where the manufacturer takes (or should take) responsibility/liability for its validity.

Whoever decides for others to use a medicine after the expiry date, takes over this responsibility.  The package should show a new expiry date, and also the identity of the person/institution responsible for this decision.

General statements about medicines being good three years after expiry date, are wrong and harmful. The higher position this comes from, the worse.

best regards

Stein Lyftingsmo
Hospital Pharmacy of Elverum
Norway
www.lyftingsmo.no
stein@lyftingsmo.no