What To Do With Expired Meds

db5 · Post by **db5** » Wed Jul 16, 2014 10:55 pm

Bold italics means a direct quote from the source in the link below.
It turns out that the expiration date on a drug does stand for something, but probably not what you think it does. Since a law was passed in 1979, drug manufacturers are required to stamp an expiration date on their products. This is the date at which the manufacturer can still guarantee the full potency and safety of the drug.

The operative word here is “guarantee” which means no legal recourse if something goes awry it wasn’t due to the medication. So pharmaceuticals are conservative and also reap the marketing benefits by a public that believes the drugs should be tossed after that date. Not so. Don’t throw away expired meds.

A study conducted by the Army medical corps more than 20 years ago on expired meds found that almost all that were less than 10 years beyond the expiration date was still beyond 99% effective – plus or minus .005 level of significance. That’s exceptional. (Ten years was their benchmark for testing.) What that statistical level means is that comparing “in date” with “out of date” meds by evaluating their potency and ability to perform as expected on patients it was that “out of date” meds did as well as “in date meds” (with an exception that is so small that it is mice nuts.) Their report to the Pentagon was not to destroy these but to use them. The Pentagon declined to accept the recommendation after pressure from the pharmaceutical companies who said they would not guarantee the effectiveness. Most likely those reviewing the recommendation had no concept of statistical analysis and the significance of the results. Thus, the Pentagon powers that be ordered the continued disposal of expired meds. Money, money, money.

So the expiration date doesn't really indicate a point at which the medication is no longer effective or has become unsafe to use. Medical authorities state expired drugs are safe to take, even those that expired years ago.

Don’t take my word for it. Do your own research. However, since I’m on Medicare and ALWAYS exceed the amount that puts me into the dung(donut)hole early, I’ve learned that I can stockpile meds and save at least a thousand dollars a year. I discussed this with one of my physicians who prescribes a medication that costs me $1200 each month. Then I go into the dung hole and pay more and then am out and the payment is 5% of the total charge. That means that by ordering all the other meds after that point at 5% and using the old meds I save a lot of money. He thought that was a wise plan but also stated that he couldn’t recommend that to other patients because of the problems with medical mal-practice suits or complaints or being called-up by Hospital Corporation. What he says privately remains between us. Ask your doctor.

BTW – that’s teen text for By The Way – while I know Darvocet was banned about two years ago I still have a stockpile and last night really needed one which was out of date in 2011, so I took it. It worked great. (First tab in over a year). My thinking is that taken as needed (PRN) works with expired meds. You are in charge of your mind and body. Take care of it and don’t depend on the advertisers to do it for you.

For those of you who want more information on how this works PM me.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update1103a.shtml

This explains Statistically Significance Level for those who are interested.

https://www.iwh.on.ca/wrmb/statistical-significance

skou · Post by **skou** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 12:22 am

OK, I was diagnosed (by the VA no less) as having adult ADHD, and given a prescription for methylphenidate. I stopped getting the refills, about 7 years ago, since I had accumulated quite a stockpile, and it wasn't worth spending a whole day to get 90 pills.

I have an acquaintance, who I see every month or 2, who is also diagnosed with ADHD, and was unemployed, and had no more Ritalin. So, I gave her a couple hundred, and with the stabilizing effects of my 7 year old meds, she was able to find a job, and is now getting her own supplies.

Needless to say, I'm down to 7 or 8 hundred pills, and may need to re-start my program with the VA. (OK, this bottle is 2.5 inches in diameter, 3.5 inches high at the shoulder, and before I let loose with my supply, it was so full the pills wouldn't rattle when I shook it. Well over 1000.)

They still work for me, and they worked for her. Except for the trailer fire, the swamp-cooled trailer, and my shutting off the AC while I'm not here, they have been in a temp-controlled environment. (I rescued the bottle before part 2 of the fire, and the bottle had sustained NO ill effects. Had I waited until part 2, the bottle {and the pills} would be air pollution now.)

steve

skou · Post by **skou** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 12:35 am

One more thing, off the subject, but not really.

As some of you know, I work retail at a "dented can" store. Probably, the largest single one in the country. (Google, American Discount Foods, and find out.)

We get "expired" stuff in ALL THE TIME! I buy expired food, from work, too. Last year, I got 3 cases of canned pinto beans, with seasonings, onions and jalapenos. They were "out of code" when I got them. I've got 1.5 cases left, (25 cans) and they are still just fine! If they don't get eaten, they will still be just fine, after our NEXT president leaves office, even if he (or she) serves 2 terms. (Unless it is Condoleeza Rice, or Mia Love, I'm praying for a he!)

Milk? NO WAY!! 1 week max!

Cheese, well I picked up some Tillamook cheese, right after the trailer (10 Feb 2013) fire, and opened the last one up 4 months ago. It was no longer "medium cheddar" but was still VERY tasty. It had "expired" in December 2012. No, I didn't freeze it. Tasted just like the "special edition" extra sharp cheddar that Tillamook sells in the black wrapper.

steve

reible · Post by **reible** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 1:58 am

I will not comment on what I don't know about, I will say that as a Viet Nam vet we were given c-rations (boxed food cans) both while training in the states and for missions in the field in Nam. I was there in 70-71 and the date on the rations were from 1942-1943 (WWII). That would have made them nearly 30 years old.

Ed

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 7:51 am

I just threw away several expired bottles of OTC pain meds and a few expired prescribed ones.
Now, after reading the OP I may just have threw away $$.

Dusty, Did you keep your can opener? I used to have several and over the years, they all disappeared.
The peanut butter and crackers were Awesome!:D

WmZiggy · Post by **WmZiggy** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 8:52 am

reible wrote:I will not comment on what I don't know about, I will say that as a Viet Nam vet we were given c-rations (boxed food cans) both while training in the states and for missions in the field in Nam. I was there in 70-71 and the date on the rations were from 1942-1943 (WWII). That would have made them nearly 30 years old.

Ed

Since I live in North Dakota and we can get some pretty nasty winter storms - blizzards to be more specific - I always have survival gear in my car. Among my gear I carry C-rations that were issued to me while playing war games 15 years ago. I know they will store for a long, long time. They are perfect as survival gear.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 9:03 am

Gene Howe wrote:I just threw away several expired bottles of OTC pain meds and a few expired prescribed ones.
Now, after reading the OP I may just have threw away $$.

Dusty, Did you keep your can opener? I used to have several and over the years, they all disappeared.
The peanut butter and crackers were Awesome!:D

I've got can openers. I have a drawer that houses can openers. All except for one which I keep on my key chain. It came with the k-rations that Ed Reible mentioned. Amazing how well that works and how often I need it.

Somewhere in "my stuff", I have two packs of "Green Lucky Strike Cigarettes". They came with the church key mentioned above.

As for medications - I take all of mine. They do not accumulate. I don't pick up refills until more are needed. The only meds that I recall disposing of was the morphine tablets that I had after my knee surgeries. I hated what that stuff did to me.

The police departments here sponsor a "pickup zone" where you can deposit old medications - no questions asked.

rlkeeney · Post by **rlkeeney** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 9:45 am

Some places you can go to jail for giving your drugs to someone else. Despensing drugs without a license. It can be a felony offense.

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 11:43 am

Gene Howe wrote:Dusty, Did you keep your can opener? I used to have several and over the years, they all disappeared.
The peanut butter and crackers were Awesome!:D

If you want the old style crat can openers (P-38/P-51) They can still be had.

Amazon is so awesome.
http://www.amazon.com/P-38-Can-Opener-P-51/dp/B0078WMSZ8

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 11:45 am

dusty wrote:The police departments here sponsor a "pickup zone" where you can deposit old medications - no questions asked.

Most Pharmacies have collection programs as well.