In the 1980s, the U.S. Air Force asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to test its large stockpile of wartime and emergency medications, as replacing them at their printed expiration dates was extremely costly. The tests showed that many properly sealed and stored medications remained safe and effective for years beyond their expiration dates. This finding saved billions of dollars and led to the launch of the SLEP (Shelf-Life Extension Program) in 1986, a joint initiative between the FDA and the Department of Defense to extend drug shelf lives. The program systematically tests selected medications from stockpiles to prolong their usability rather than discarding them, resulting in savings of over $1 billion during the program’s duration.
Despite the importance of this discovery, it does not apply to the medications we keep at home. The findings were initially limited to U.S. military medications, and almost no other organization has adopted them, despite the potential financial benefits. This is because optimal storage conditions are always required, which is not the case for ordinary or haphazard storage, such as household medications kept in kitchen or bathroom cupboards. In such situations, it is best to follow the expiration dates printed on the medications, unless an official health authority extends them in emergency circumstances.
Even hospitals, both private and public, have generally not applied the FDA’s findings unless their storage conditions are particularly strict. This is especially true for antibiotics, antidotes, nerve agents, and other essential medications used in chemical warfare preparedness, all of which must be stored under tightly controlled temperature and humidity conditions.
In general, using any medication past its expiration date is illegal, even though research shows that many medications remain effective long after their original expiration date. Shelf-life extensions may apply only to specific batches and do not automatically apply to subsequent ones. This is another reason why the U.S. shelf-life extension system does not apply to medications stored at home or to the routine stocks of hospitals, private pharmacies, and pharmaceutical companies or distributors.
As a result, there are no labels indicating that “this medication is good for additional years.” Therefore, ordinary medication users should ignore recent social media claims suggesting that expiration dates can be disregarded and that medications can still be safely used. This is not a “conspiracy by pharmaceutical companies.”
These companies guarantee the complete safety and effectiveness of medications up to the date printed on the label, not to deceive us, but to protect us. However, it is important to understand the following:
1. A medication’s expiration date simply indicates that the manufacturer guarantees its full safety and effectiveness until that date. It does not mean the medication becomes unsafe or completely ineffective afterward.
2. Experts agree that most medications remain safe and effective long after their expiration date, sometimes even several years later, provided strict storage conditions are met.
Medications may lose some effectiveness over time, but rarely entirely. Some medications retain up to 90 percent effectiveness even after 10 years. This generally applies to solid medications like aspirin and paracetamol, but not to diabetes medications such as insulin. It is dangerous to use liquid medications, including eye drops, nasal drops, or sprays, after their expiration date, especially once opened. In general, it is best to be cautious and adhere to expiration dates, prioritizing health over the desire to save money.
By Ahmad alsarraf
e-mail: [email protected]
e-mail: [email protected]
