Q: I have a bottle of stool softeners but can’t remember when I bought them and there is no expiration date on the package. How can I tell if they are expired?
Expiration dates may be printed on the top, bottom or side of the bottle. Sometimes the ink used to print the expiration date may fade or wear off with time. If the lot number, which is a series of letters and numbers printed alongside the expiration date is still visible you can contact the drug manufacturer. With the lot number they will be able to tell you the expiration date associated with that batch of medication. Generally speaking, most over the counter medications have an expiration date of two to three years from the time of purchase.
Expiration dates are determined by the last known date that a product maintained its safety and potency while stored properly under conditions set by the manufacturer. There are studies that have shown some medications maintain their potency for years beyond their expiration date, but this does not hold true for all medications and therefore we recommend not to use expired products. They can pose safety concerns for your health such as bacterial growth that can occur in liquid medications and topical products. A small decrease in potency can mean the medication is now less effective at treating your condition. This could lead to treatment failure or disease progression.
Pharmacy labels do not include expiration dates, but they are recorded by pharmacy staff when your prescription is filled, and they do ensure the expiry date is appropriate for your expected duration of use. If you have a prescription that you use infrequently and it has been more than six months since the medication was dispensed, give the pharmacy a call and check the expiration date. Don’t be confused by the expiration date of your refills which does print on the pharmacy label; in New Brunswick refills are only valid one year from the written date.
To ensure medications remain safe and effective up to their expiration date it is important to store them properly, failure to do so may cause an early expiration. Products that require refrigeration can be affected if they are transported from the pharmacy to your home without a cold pack or left out on the counter too long. Certain medications can also be sensitive to light, temperature fluctuations and moisture in the air. Keeping your medications in a cool, dry cabinet that is out of reach of children and pets is best. Window ledges expose medications to too much light and big fluctuations in temperature. Bathrooms have too much moisture in the air and so do kitchen cabinets beside your stove. Those cabinets as well as the cabinets beside your refrigerator and dishwasher can get too warm and, as I mentioned in my last article, don’t keep medications in your vehicle.
Never dispose of expired medications by flushing them in the toilet, pouring them down the drain or by throwing them in the garbage. When we improperly dispose of medications like this it has detrimental effects on our environment and puts our community and ecosystems at risk of harmful contamination.
Earlier this year, the Health Products Stewardship Association (HPSA) and Recycle NB partnered to launch a new program that allows New Brunswickers to return expired and unwanted medications, along with used medical sharps to participating pharmacies free of charge. Returned products will then be collected and safely disposed of to ensure they do not contaminate our landfills and waterways.
Over two-thirds of community pharmacies in New Brunswick have signed up to participate in the program and you can find the locations nearest you by visiting the HPSA website at www.healthsteward.ca. In the top right-hand corner of the homepage there is a link where you can enter your postal code and a list of participating pharmacies near you will be generated.
To properly prepare your pills for disposal, dump all prescription, over-the-counter and natural health products into a clear plastic bag. Pill bottles will not be accepted; however liquid medications and creams may stay in their original packaging, just make sure to remove your personal information. This is a medication-only return program so doesn’t include things like cosmetic or beauty products, contact lens disinfectants or COVID-19 rapid tests.
Used medical sharps must be kept separate from medications and returned in sharps containers that have been provided by the return program. Be sure to grab one of these sharps containers from a participating pharmacy free of charge the next time you’re out.
Erin Thompson (BSc, BScPharm) is a graduate of Dalhousie University and a community pharmacist practicing at Shoppers Drug Mart in Quispamsis N.B. Her opinions expressed in this column are published for educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as a diagnosis, treatment or as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.