A GP is urging people to carry out a spring clean of their medicine cabinets and dispose of any items that have gone out of date. Expired drugs may no longer have the desired effect or could even become harmful, according to Dr Donald Grant.
He explained: “Some medications can become toxic if consumed past their expiry date, potentially leading to other health problems. The lack of effectiveness can also lead to serious health issues if certain conditions and illnesses don’t receive the necessary treatment.”
Dr Grant, who is a senior clinical advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, shared guidelines for common medicines:
Lozenges
Also known as a cough drop, lozenges are small usually medicated tablets that dissolve slowly in the mouth to ease coughs and irritation.
Unopened and appropriately stored lozenges should have a shelf life of three years, but this depends on the specific product and manufacturer. Dr Grant added: “Expiry dates should always be checked. The product expiration date is typically found on the original packaging.”
Ibuprofen
One of the most common painkillers, ibuprofen should last for between 12 months to five years. “This date is usually found on the packaging’s main label or on the edge of the blister strip,” Dr Grant said.
“While ibuprofen is generally safe to use post-expiry date, the medication will be less effective.”
Paracetamol
Paracetamol typically has a shelf life of around three years. Again, it is generally safe to use past its expiration date but this is “not recommended as the medication will have lost its potency, ultimately becoming less effective”, Dr Grant explained.
Cough syrup
Cough syrups can carry an increased risk of bacterial growth once opened. Dr Grant said: “Once opened, cough syrups can last between one to three months; however, consuming this medicine past this period can be harmful as preservatives can degrade, leading to bacterial growth and potential illness.
“Always check the product’s expiry date and make a note of the date it was opened. The expiry date can be found on the label or stamped onto the bottle.”
Hay fever tablets
Antihistamines typically last for around two to three years, but again this can depend on the product and manufacturer.
Dr Grant added: “It’s important to note that liquid allergy medicine, such as nasal sprays, usually has a shorter shelf life than hay fever tablets and is not recommended to use after three months of opening.”
How do I dispose of expired medication?
If products have expired, Dr Grant advised that medication “should not be flushed away or thrown in the bin and should instead be carefully disposed of”.
He added: “Returning them to your local pharmacy is best practice, with many across the UK offering programmes for safe disposal.”
