Comments on: Do drug expiration dates matter? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/10/do-drug-expiration-dates-matter.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:56:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Fastolfehttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/10/do-drug-expiration-dates-matter.html#comment-68301 Fastolfe Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:39:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/10/do-drug-expiration-dates-matter.html#comment-68301 The article only really talks about the effectiveness of drugs past their expiration date. I was under the impression that some drugs (or maybe it was just one in particular) actually became toxic over time.<br/><br/>If the only real issue is one of effectiveness, I can't really see a reason why I wouldn't want to keep my old painkillers around. So what if they're only 50% as effective? They're still doing something, right? The article only really talks about the effectiveness of drugs past their expiration date. I was under the impression that some drugs (or maybe it was just one in particular) actually became toxic over time.

If the only real issue is one of effectiveness, I can’t really see a reason why I wouldn’t want to keep my old painkillers around. So what if they’re only 50% as effective? They’re still doing something, right?

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/10/do-drug-expiration-dates-matter.html#comment-68296 Anonymous Tue, 31 Oct 2006 19:07:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/10/do-drug-expiration-dates-matter.html#comment-68296 Interesting to gripe on literacy when you can't select the correct pronoun or conjugate a verb.<br/><br/>"Yes, <i>they do</i>." Interesting to gripe on literacy when you can’t select the correct pronoun or conjugate a verb.

“Yes, they do.”

]]> By: Alison Cumminshttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/10/do-drug-expiration-dates-matter.html#comment-68294 Alison Cummins Tue, 31 Oct 2006 18:05:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/10/do-drug-expiration-dates-matter.html#comment-68294 I wouldn’t take an expired antibiotic because I would assume it to have deteriorated introducing problems of resistance. But that’s not an issue, right? One takes the whole course of an antibiotic, always. So there’s never any used stuff left over anyway. Moot.<br/><br/>Other things, sure. Old aspirin? Absolutely. <br/><br/>I don’t know why people who are literate enough to read health information on the internet are assumed to be unable to tell the difference between an antibiotic and an OTC painkiller. As a layperson it pisses me off. I wouldn’t take an expired antibiotic because I would assume it to have deteriorated introducing problems of resistance. But that’s not an issue, right? One takes the whole course of an antibiotic, always. So there’s never any used stuff left over anyway. Moot.

Other things, sure. Old aspirin? Absolutely.

I don’t know why people who are literate enough to read health information on the internet are assumed to be unable to tell the difference between an antibiotic and an OTC painkiller. As a layperson it pisses me off.

]]>