Slashdot Mirror
The Myth of Drug Expiration Dates (propublica.org)
schwit1 shares a report from ProPublica: Hospitals and pharmacies are required to toss expired drugs, no matter how expensive or vital. Meanwhile the FDA has long known that many remain safe and potent for years longer. 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?
Gerona and Cantrell, a pharmacist and toxicologist, knew that the term "expiration date" was a misnomer. The dates on drug labels are simply the point up to which the Food and Drug Administration and pharmaceutical companies guarantee their effectiveness, typically at two or three years. But the dates don't necessarily mean they're ineffective immediately after they "expire" -- just that there's no incentive for drugmakers to study whether they could still be usable.
Tests on the decades-old drugs 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. Experts say the United States might be squandering a quarter of the money spent on health care. That's an estimated $765 billion a year.
Gerona and Cantrell, a pharmacist and toxicologist, knew that the term "expiration date" was a misnomer. The dates on drug labels are simply the point up to which the Food and Drug Administration and pharmaceutical companies guarantee their effectiveness, typically at two or three years. But the dates don't necessarily mean they're ineffective immediately after they "expire" -- just that there's no incentive for drugmakers to study whether they could still be usable.
Tests on the decades-old drugs 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. Experts say the United States might be squandering a quarter of the money spent on health care. That's an estimated $765 billion a year.
We have our expensive lifestyle, part of which is extreme safety. We have rules on how steep a ramp can be, no matter how expensive that makes construction. Every cafe must have a public toilet, no matter how expensive that makes the cafe, No one is going to make hand pulled taffy without wearing gloves.
The first time a pharmacists gives expired drugs to a parent for their child, and the child does not improve, of in the worst case dies, even if the death has nothing to do with the drug, we are going to see a multimillion lawsuit. Hell, we live in country where a child watch something on TV, then does it, and we see a multimillion dollar lawsuit.
So you know, maybe we can sell the drug at half price to medicare patients, but who is going to volunteer their parent as the one to take the expired drug over the non-expired drug?
"She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
The militry stockpiles a lot of drugs and has been looking at how long drugs are good in an effort to save costs while ensuring the drugs were still good.
I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
I would also guess that the expiration date is for more than the potency of the drug - its also for the accuracy of the box instructions, listed side effects etc, which the manufacturer also has to make reasonable effort to keep up to date.
Taking drugs from a 10 year old prescription in your medicine cabinet may mean the drugs themselves are still potent, but they may no longer list the severe side effect that was discovered 8 years ago, especially when taken with other medicine...
Yeah, no one looks at that stuff anyway, but the drugs companies have to cover themselves somehow for the inevitable legal fall out.
All (most?) doctors [like me] are well aware that the expiry date for most drugs is notional rather than real. If I or my family get sick I use expired drugs that I have, or have scrounged from the pharmacy.
Not just doctors, the government as well. Our military stockpiles drugs and medication for emergencies, and keeps stuff for a minimum of ten years, often longer. They run extensive tests on it and it's still at 95-100% effectiveness after that time.