Medication labels contain an expiration date as an assurance of their potency and safety, although many medications can still be used past their stated dates of expiry.
Studies have revealed that most medicines remain safe to take well beyond their original expiration dates; the exact length will depend upon both type and storage conditions.
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The Dangers of Expired Medications
Since 1979, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required manufacturers to stamp an expiration date on medications sold to ensure that potency does not diminish beyond a set period – which may otherwise lead to serious health consequences.
But what does this mean in practice? Pharmacies–whether they be major medical centers or neighborhood strip malls–are known to discard medicines nearing or past their expiration dates. At Newton-Wellesley Pharmacy for example, expired medication is placed in the back and marked “Do Not Dispense”, then left sitting on shelves until an outside party comes and collects it to be destroyed.
Reasons why it is unwise to take expired medication include degradation or changes that compromise its strength and effectiveness, particularly liquid forms of medicine stored under humid or warm conditions – they could become breeding grounds for bacteria and fungus growth!
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Check your medicine cabinet regularly for expired prescription or over-the-counter medicines, preferably prescription from previous years and over-the-counter options that have already expired. If in doubt, reach out to your pharmacist or doctor and inquire as to the medications that you own and their estimated length of use; they can also advise how best to dispose of them safely, whether that be through throwing them away in the trash or at a public drug take-back program.
How Long do Medications Last?
Medication’s efficacy diminishes over time, which makes them less effective and unsafe to take. Therefore, it’s vital to check its expiration date prior to taking any medication – including prednisone – including prednisone. The FDA warns against taking expired medications but some can extend beyond their expiration dates with proper storage conditions such as keeping them cool, dark places away from moisture to extend shelf life.
Prednisone degrades over time, becoming less effective or even becoming contaminated by bacteria and other microorganisms. Furthermore, expired prednisone may no longer treat its intended condition effectively and increase risks of side effects and result in less-than-satisfactory treatment results.
The expiration date of a drug is decided by its manufacturer, without financial motivation to prolong its shelf life. They only test its stability for limited periods before setting an official end date on it.
Pharmacies in many states are required by law to place an expiration date on prescription drug packaging, typically one year from when they were disbursed. Most pharmacies will not fill a prescription that has passed the expiration date; however, they may request one from their physician on behalf of their patients.
What Happens if I Use Expired Prednisone?
Prednisone is an anti-inflammatory medication that can alleviate symptoms associated with many medical conditions. Additionally, it is used to treat skin conditions like dermatitis (where patches of discolored or itchy skin develop).
Medicine that suppresses immune response and reduces inflammation within the body can help treat many ailments, from autoimmune diseases and cancerous cells to chronic inflammatory conditions like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. It may even be used as an effective preventative measure.
Over time, medications can lose their effectiveness, making expired medication dangerous to use. Bacteria can grow on expired medication which could lead to infections; furthermore, its inactive ingredients could have changed over time and led to unexpected side effects or reactions that require further action from you.
If you have an expired prednisone prescription, do not take it; as this could be dangerous. Instead, bring it into a pharmacy to be incinerated – they may even offer you new prescription! They will also dispose of any other expired and no longer needed medications in this manner, to protect the environment and others.
How Can I Dispose of Expired Prednisone?
Medication that has expired can pose a potential safety risk, both to yourself and anyone who accidentally takes them. Furthermore, they can act as breeding grounds for bacteria and fungus growth; so it’s crucial that they’re disposed of in an ethical way.
Over time, expired medications can lose their efficacy and may no longer effectively treat symptoms. For this reason, it’s always wise to obtain a fresh prescription and start over to avoid complications.
When disposing of expired medications, always follow the directions on their label or those provided by a drug take-back program. This ensures the medicines do not fall into the hands of children or animals and don’t leach into the environment.
If a drug take-back program is unavailable in your area, the FDA suggests mixing your medications with an unappetizing material such as dirt or used coffee grounds before disposing of them. Make sure all labels have personal information removed first before throwing away these substances.
If you need to dispose of large quantities of medication, search online for year-round drug disposal sites, programs or locations. While DEA hosts National Drug Take-Back Days twice each year, other drop-off locations provide drop-off services throughout the year.
