Taking out-of-date medicine is like playing ‘Russian roulette’, here’s what you risk

We’ve all done it before: you are unwell, or you have a sore head or upset stomach. What do you do? You head to the medicine cabinet and you fish around until you find something you reckon could help. Do you check to see if it is already opened or still in date? It turns out you really should.

Experts have warned against taking meds that are past their use-before date as research reveals that Brits have a bad habit of hanging on to old medicine. Here’s how common it is to take drugs that are past their best, and what experts have said about the dangers of doing so.

How common it is to take out-of-date meds

A survey carried out by One Poll looked into the behaviours of 2000 people when it comes to medicine storage. It revealed that one in three consumers keep meds after they have expired. Why? People think they could still be useful: they hang on to meds in order to take them at a later date.

However, the research also shows that over four in ten people don’t check the expiration date on the packaging of meds before taking them. This includes both over the counter medication and prescription drugs. While most drugs can be stored and used for two or three years, it is important to check the dates on your meds packets.

Experts warn against taking out-of-date meds

NHS pharmacists have stressed the importance of checking any medication’s expiry date before consuming it. Even if out-of-date medication won’t do you any harm, it can become less effective over time. For instance, tablets may not dissolve as efficiently, meaning once consumed they may not break down in the right places in your body or get absorbed as they should. Heat and moisture can also make meds go soft or even decompose, which is obviously going to change their impact.

Community pharmacist Sultan Dajani has compared taking expired medication to playing ‘Russian roulette’ with your health. He explained:

After the expiration date, old medicines will either do nothing at all, or in the worst-case scenario, make you ill.

This is because soft capsules, often made with gelatin, can attract bacteria or fungi, which can cause stomach upset.

If you have completed a course of antibiotics, remember to throw away any unused extras. A study in BMJ Open revealed that one in fifteen Brits keep leftovers after dealing with an infection, but you should never self-subscribe unused antibiotics as you need to finish any course that you start. The bottom line is that everyone should be checking the packaging of their medication for the expiry date and paying attention to it.

Read more:

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⋙ Driving under the influence: This prescription medication could cost you your driving privilege

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Sources used:

Mirror: Warning as dangers of taking out-of-date medicines revealed as people hoard pills

National World: Out-of-date pills: warning to people that expired medicine can harm instead of help