Why is it important to check the expiration date on medications?

Why is it important to check the expiration date on medications?

Medicines have expiry dates so you know when to use them by. After the expiry date medicines may not be safe or as effective. You should not take medicines after their expiry date.

Why is knowing the expiration date important?

Why are expiration dates important for consumers to pay attention to? Drug expiration dates reflect the time period during which the product is known to remain stable, which means it retains its strength, quality, and purity when it is stored according to its labeled storage conditions.

Why the expiry date is given for a product?

For drugs and natural health products, an “expiry date” indicates the shelf life and the stability of the product. Read the label to make sure the expiry date hasn’t passed. Like foods, drugs and supplements should not be used after their expiry dates.

What does an expiration date on medication mean?

The expiration date is the final day that the manufacturer guarantees the full potency and safety of a medication. Drug expiration dates exist on most medication labels, including prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) and dietary (herbal) supplements.

Are expired medications safe to take?

Medical authorities state that expired medicine is safe to take, even those that expired years ago. It’s true the effectiveness of a drug may decrease over time, but much of the original potency still remains even a decade after the expiration date.

Why expiration date should be indicated in the label?

A date label on a food should indicate the last date where the food maintains peak quality and flavor. Date labels are meant to reflect quality not food safety.

What is the expiry date of a product?

Definition: An expiry date, or expiration date, is the date a producer lists on products to inform consumers of the last day the product will be safe to consume. It also shows the shelf life expectancy of a product or the date on which a product can no longer used.

How long is food good after the expiration date?

Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the ‘best by’ date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.

How long is medicine still effective after expiration date?

The expiration date on medication is the date beyond which the manufacturers can no longer guarantee full effectiveness or safe usage. Generally, over-the-counter medicines should have a shelf life of around four or five years . This means they should last around that long after the date they are purchased.

What does it mean for a medicine to have an expiration date?

The expiration date is the final day that the manufacturer guarantees the full potency and safety of a medication. Drug expiration dates exist on most medication labels, including prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) and dietary (herbal) supplements.

What does the expiration date on your medication really mean?

The expiration date on a medicine is the date that the manufacturer guarantees full potency of the drug. This means drugs are still good, but they may not be able to offer full benefits as if before the expiration date. Expiration dates are required on prescription and over the counter medications.

How long is a drug good after expiration date?

Even 10 years after the “expiration date,” most drugs have a good deal of their original potency.