Essential Guide to Checking and Disposing of Expired Medicines Safely

In times of war, having a home first aid kit is very important for family safety. But having medicines at home is not only about safety and convenience, but also about responsibility. Expired or improperly stored medicines can lose their effectiveness or even become dangerous to health.

How often should I check the expiration date of my home medicine cabinet?

It is recommended that you check the expiration date of the medicines in your home medicine cabinet at least once every six months. Optimally, once every three to six months to replace expired or unusable medications in time.

It is also worth checking:

• before using any medication;
• during seasonal changes (for example, before the beginning of winter or summer, especially if you have seasonal medications)
• after an illness to make sure that there are sufficient supplies of the medicine.

How can I tell if a medicine is out of date if there is no date on the package?

This is an unlikely situation, but anything can happen. If there is no expiration date on the package, you should not take any risks, but you can assess the condition of the medicine by several signs.

Check the packaging. If it is damaged, the label is worn off, or the color is changed, it is better not to use it. If there are instructions, it may indicate the shelf life after opening.

Assess the appearance:

• If the tablets have changed color, have spots, or have crumbled, they should not be used.
• If the syrup has a sediment, cloudiness, or a strange odor, throw it away.
• Ointments, creams have stratified, changed consistency - dangerous.
• Capsules are stuck together or look damaged - do not use.
• Eye drops, injections. If the liquid has changed color or has a sediment, do not use.

If the drug was stored improperly (e.g., in heat, humidity), it may become ineffective or even dangerous. If in doubt, it is better not to take risks and consult a pharmacist or doctor.

Why should I not throw away my medicines?

It is dangerous to throw medicines in the regular trash or drain into the sewer for several reasons:

• Harm to the environment. Medicines can get into the soil and water, polluting the environment.
• Threat to people and animals. Children or animals may find medicines in the garbage and accidentally poison themselves.
• Expiredmedicines can get to fraudsters and be re-sold.
• Antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic residues in water and soil contribute to the development of resistant bacteria, making it more difficult to treat infections.

How to properly dispose of expired medicines?

Find out about collection points. Some pharmacies, healthcare facilities, or environmental organizations have programs to take back expired medications. If there are no such programs in your locality, follow these rules.

Tablets, capsules, powders. Remove from blisters and mix with unpleasant waste (earth, coffee grounds, sand, dirt). Wrap it in a tight bag or container so that children and animals do not have access.

Syrups, drops, liquid medicines. Do not pour down the sink or toilet. Open the bottle, pour the liquid into absorbent material (cotton wool, sawdust, paper towels). Pack it in a bag and throw it in the regular trash.

Syringes, needles, ampoules. Do not throw them away, it is dangerous. Put them in a tight container (plastic bottle, box), seal them and take them to a medical facility.

Ігор Льов