Does medicine really expire?
The health authorities require pharmaceuticals to label their drugs with an expiry date, so consumers can be sure that the medication is still efficient and has not been converted into toxic substances.
Consequently, drugmakers test the durability of the medication by storing it as required and checking its effect regularly. The experiments rarely go on for more than two years. If so, drugmakers indicate a duration of two years on the packaging, although the contents might be durable for much longer. DRUGS CAN REMAIN EFFICIENT FOR DECADES Studies have shown that painkillers, antihistamines, and sedatives can remain efficient for 30-40 years. The durability of liquid mixtures, ointments, and cream is shorter than “dry” drugs like aspirin. In the US, hospitals scrap nearly a billion dollars worth of drugs each year.