Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Up to Date

A surplus of Vitamin-I? This would NEVER happen to Sludge.

Q: I have a bottle of expired ibuprofen tablets. Will they still work if I have nothing else?

A: If your ibuprofen was capped and properly stored, it might still be effective. Drug products certified by the USP (a leading standards authority) retain at least 90% potency up to their expiration month, and manufacturers typically choose conservative expiration dates anyway it ensures that products are purchased regularly. Research suggests that most meds, in both opened & unopened containers, are safe & effective at least a year or two past the expiration date (provided they're kept in a low humidity environment so don't store pills in your steamy bathroom). Still, practice common sense: Risk an expired pill for sore muscles, if need be but if it's a potentially lifesaving daily aspirin or prescription med, don't put your trust in an expired batch.

No comments: