Contents:
- Medical Video: 6 Things You Should Never Do After Eating
- Three reasons you should throw out stale medicine
- 1. Losing potential
- 2. Changes in chemical composition
- 3. No longer appropriate
- What should you do with a drug that has expired?
- Using the right storage
Medical Video: 6 Things You Should Never Do After Eating
Stale alias drugs that have expired can make the drug ineffective or even risky, due to changes in chemical composition or decreased efficacy. This stale drug is of course a risk for bacterial growth. The antibiotics contained in the drug can fail to treat infection, so that it can cause more serious illnesses and even create immunity to antibiotics. Remember that after the expiration date has passed, there is no guarantee that the drug will be safe and effective. The following are some reasons to avoid stale drugs.
Three reasons you should throw out stale medicine
1. Losing potential
Some drugs can lose potential over time, and become less effective in treating the condition in question. This is especially true for insulin and nitroglycerin. If the doctor thinks that you have taken a good medicine, but your condition turns out to be worse, then he will add a dose to you, which will be very dangerous for the body. The Department of Health and Human Services in the United States recommends that you not take stale medicine, because it may no longer work well.
2. Changes in chemical composition
Drugs are chemical compounds that are able to change color, smell, and texture over time. It can also break down chemicals, which cause unwanted effects in your body. Even though this is a rare occurrence, it's not an excuse to make you want to consume it, especially if the drug has expired many years ago.
3. No longer appropriate
Storing old drugs that have been stale is a bad thing for various reasons. The rest of the antibiotics you take when sick will really worsen your condition, if you are infected with different bacteria. You can also cause bacteria to become stronger and immune to drugs if you do not take antibiotics in full. Old drugs may be contraindicated in medications currently prescribed, and your doctor or pharmacist will not know that you are taking stale drugs. That way, your health condition will change from time to time, which will make some drugs no longer suitable for you. Finally, if you decide to take stale medicine, you will be affected by the other drugs you are taking.
What should you do with a drug that has expired?
First, you must read the drug label and follow special disposal instructions that may be required, or you can dispose of the drug in certain programs specifically for disposing of stale drugs. Through a program like this, there are several tons of unneeded and expired drugs that will be disposed of with the proper disposal process.
When a drug disposal program is not available, it is recommended that you dispose of the medicine away in the household trash after it has been mixed with dirt and sealed tightly in the container. In addition, there are drugs that are specifically recommended to be disposed of in the toilet or sink, because they can be very dangerous, even fatal for children, pets, or other people who take them accidentally.
Using the right storage
Proper storage is one way to help ensure your medicines are safe and effective until their expiration date. Be sure to read the label to see if there are specific storage instructions for your medication. Some certain drugs must be stored in the refrigerator, while others cannot be exposed to high temperatures. Improper storage, such as in a damp place, can cause a decrease in the effectiveness of the drug, even if it has not reached an expiration date. You can place most medicines in a cool, dry place, such as a cupboard drawer, storage box, shelf or kitchen cabinet.
