That Drug Expiration Date May Be More Myth Than Fact

[rangerrebew]

That Drug Expiration Date May Be More Myth Than Fact
 

July 18, 20175:00 AM ET
 
Sandy Huffaker for ProPublica

The box of prescription drugs had been forgotten in a back closet of a retail pharmacy for so long that some of the pills predated the 1969 moon landing. Most were 30 to 40 years past their expiration dates — possibly toxic, probably worthless.

But to Lee Cantrell, who helps run the California Poison Control System, the cache was an opportunity to answer an enduring question about the actual shelf life of drugs: Could these drugs from the bell-bottom era still be potent?

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/07/18/537257884/that-drug-expiration-date-may-be-more-myth-than-fact

[endicom]

Republicans should jump on this. The issue is not only good in itself but could be part of a plan to work around Obamacare, all government medical provision, through cutting the cost of medical care. Another way to cut the cost of care would be to allow for more competition in all areas of medical care.

[thackney]

...Overall, the bottles contained 14 different compounds, including antihistamines, pain relievers and stimulants. All the drugs tested were in their original sealed containers.

The findings surprised both researchers: A dozen of the 14 compounds were still as potent as they were when they were manufactured, some at almost 100 percent of their labeled concentrations....

[Polly Ticks]

In May, Cantrell and Gerona published a study that examined 40 EpiPens and EpiPen Jrs., a smaller version, that had been expired for between one and 50 months. The devices had been donated by consumers, which meant they could have been stored in conditions that would cause them to break down, like a car's glove box or a steamy bathroom. The EpiPens also contain liquid medicine, which tends to be less stable than solid medications.

Testing showed 24 of the 40 expired devices contained at least 90 percent of their stated amount of epinephrine, enough to be considered as potent as when they were made. All of them contained at least 80 percent of their labeled concentration of medication. The takeaway? Even EpiPens stored in less than ideal conditions may last longer than their labels say they do, and if there's no other option, an expired EpiPen may be better than nothing, Cantrell says.

Interesting piece of the article, considering all the hoopla around EpiPens these days.

Obviously, it's going to vary by medication.  The article also mentioned that asthma drugs did not retain their efficacy ... which I can personally attest to since I nearly ended up hospitalized because I was using expired inhalers and they weren't working. 

Overall, though, it seems there should be a better way than to dispose of medications that are still perfectly good. 

[Wingnut]

Interesting piece of the article, considering all the hoopla around EpiPens these days.

Yep.  The Mrs had her two epi's refilled Sept.  The two she received only had 13 months till the next exp. date.  I guess that is normal.

[Polly Ticks]

Yep.  The Mrs had her two epi's refilled Sept.  The two she received only had 13 months till the next exp. date.  I guess that is normal.

Yes, it's normal.  And it's frustrating as heck when the cost is so stinking high.

[The_Reader_David]

Expiration dates have always had more to do with the bottom line of pharmaceutical companies than health or safety.  Even for medicines that do degrade over time, and for which an expiration date really is needed for health and safety reasons, they are set much shorter than they need to be to avoid any possible liability, and for the same reason they are put on medicines that don't degrade over time:  to encourage people to needlessly discard the product and buy more.

[The_Reader_David]

Yes, it's normal.  And it's frustrating as heck when the cost is so stinking high.

Well, that's what happens when the government grants a monopoly (in this case called a patent) on a product or service with inelastic demand (like life-saving medications) and doesn't regulate prices in the public interest.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

Expiration dates have always had more to do with the bottom line of pharmaceutical companies than health or safety.  Even for medicines that do degrade over time, and for which an expiration date really is needed for health and safety reasons, they are set much shorter than they need to be to avoid any possible liability, and for the same reason they are put on medicines that don't degrade over time:  to encourage people to needlessly discard the product and buy more.

Probably.  But also probably because it's just not practical to thoroughly test whether a drug can safely be stored on the shelf for twenty years before stamping it and sending it off to market.

[bolobaby]

Just don't take expired tetracycline. That stuff can actually cause kidney failure. One of the exceptions.

[Suppressed]

Note that these were sealed.