Okay, I know my common sense tells me not to use expired medications, in fact, just two days ago, I went through everything in the kid's medicine box and cleared it out. But, my girls have both waited until 5:00 when the doctor's office has closed to start running true signs of more than just sniffles. Their brother was just out of school for two days with the sinus "gunk" and a low grade fever. The girls started with 99-100 degrees last night and this morning along with more coughing, sneezing, runny nose than he had. Now they are both running fevers of 103-104 and above. I have been reading on the internet that Tamiflu has a longer shelf life than first thought. I have some that was filled 10/09 and expired 10/10. Anyone know for sure if it is still good? One side of my over-protective Mommy side says if it's okay to use, then go ahead and start them on it, just in case. The other side says, 2 not 2!
The more I think about it, that's probably exactly what I will do. If they decide it is needed at the Dr's office tomorrow, we will just get some new stuff!
To help with the fever, a nurse once told me that a cool washcloth under the armpits would help reduce temperature. As for the Tamiflu...I agree. Call a pharmacist to be sure. We always rotate Tylenol and Advil for fever, but of course the study that came out last year implicating NSAIDs with teenage asthma looms in my mind. Of course, when your kid is burning up with fever, that takes priority.
There's usually a 90-120 day window past expiration date. Manufacturers can't control how long it's been stored properly or improperly at the wholesaler warehouse, or the pharmacy warehouses before it gets delivered to the pharmacy itself. Some stuff with a NTI (narrow therapeutic index...thyroid pills, warfarin, etc) are more than I'd risk. Antivirals, antibiotics, NSAIDS, and most others are probably ok. I'm not a doctor or a pharmacist, nor do I play one on TV. I did work in the pharmaceutical industry in sales and operations for 15 years. I might add that the doctor will probably practice defensive medicine and not want to take a chance...and the pharmacy doesn't make any money on products you already have. They make money selling you replacement stuff. YMMV.
Thanks, guys...in the end I decided not to give it to them. Have just been trying to concentrate on their fevers. That's why I am up at 3am...been setting the clock every hour and a half to check their temps and rotate tylenol/motrin. Will see what the doctor's office says in the morning...well, in a little while!
One thing to keep in mind is when you get something from a pharmacy the expiration date on the bottle in no way is related to the manufacturers expiration date. Their year period may be good, but the product could be a month away from expiring before they fill the bottle. I have learned from having a reaction to old medication (still good according to the prescription) is to take medications when they are filled and throw away what you don't use after only a couple months.
You might check Clark Howard's web site. It has been years ago, but I recall him exposing the expiration dates on over the counter meds as a complete falsehood.
I have always heard if anything, over time the meds might lose some of their potency but will not make you sick. How does a bottle know "****, it's Feb 10th. I was bottled a year ago. Time to become toxic!!"
I have actually heard the opposite, that just like food only has a certain shelf life, so does medicine. From my own doc and the show The Doctors, I've heard that medicines can become toxic after they expire. This is also why it's important to dispose of meds properly. I have also had a friend have a severe adverse reaction to meds that had expired that she had taken before with no problems. Because of all of this, I would rather not chance it, especially with children. I think the OP made the correct choice here.
This is similar to what I have been told also. Not that this is the reason, but I think the chemical make-up changes as some of the binders and such change.
Just an update...decided NOT to give the old stuff to my girls and since BOTH of them tested positive for flu today, they got bright, shiny NEW prescriptions!! :lol:
As someone who tested pharmaceuticals for stability/shelf life for many years please DO NOT use pharmaceuticals past their expiration. Drug companies spend lots of money to substantiate shelf life and to control environments as they ship/store drugs. The expiration is just that. Also, please keep your medicine in its recommended storage temp/place; NEVER IN A BATHROOM or the cabinet next to your oven. Humidity/temp/light are the 3 worst offenders. It is not just the loss of potency of the active ingredient but also the development of other chemicals which may happen over time. When a pharmacy dispenses your medication they will most likely put a one year expiry on it even if their stock expiry is longer-but you have no way of knowing this date. Of course if it is shorter you should see that also. Please treat your medication as carefully as you would your food-after all they both go in your body.
I must admit, I don't usually have alot meds in my cabinet aside from vitamins, ibuprofen, kid's cold medicine, etc.
Is that the expiration on the pharmacist's label, or on the box itself? Has it been stored at the proper temperature? Pharmacists put a one year expiration on everything! Tamiflu doesn't have to be started right away, but best within 24 hours of symptoms. Some meds loose potency over time, some become dangerous. I know this issue was already resolved, just adding some thoughts from a nurse's perspective.
This was the suspension and it was mixed in one of those little brown pharmacy bottles, so unfortunately, I have no way to tell the product expiration date. Yesterday, the girls got the capsules but that isn't going so well. One of them is doing pretty well just swallowing it, but, the other isn't. Tried mixing it with food last night and she just threw it up. So, that pill was wasted...at least it was the free samples the Doc gave her, but I still hate that it got wasted! My other daughter's prescription was $120.00...she better keep hers down!
