Do you pay attention to expiration dates on medicines in your medicine cabinet?

I for one make it a point not to take expired medicines. It's only natural that we have old stocks of unused medicines left at home. But i feel it is absolutely necessary to check the dates before taking one. I have never taken any expired medicines. So I wont know how badly it can affect the health. In truth, I wont ever like to find it!! I even check the expiry dates of medicines while buying them!

i always keep a track on the expiry dates of the medicines, nad throw the expired ones immediately

Most medicines are good way past their expiration date. Even my doctor told me to keep using a blood pressure prescription up to a year after it's expiration date, but that probably doesn't apply to everything. Your upset stomach might have come from taking two pills instead of one.

I try to pay attention to expiration dates but like many posters before me, I am sometimes guilty of taking an expired medication! I had a good friend (who is a pharmacist) tell me that most meds are good beyond their expiration dates for at least 6 months or so, but that there are a few that turn acidic (aspirin being one). She also said that most pills lose potency after expiration rather than gaining potency.

Because of my grandfather, I always look at the expiration dates. Just habit I guess.Today for example. My husband bought a box of cereal yesterday. Today I took a bite. It tasted like sugared cardboard. I looked at the date on the box it expires in 2 weeks. I think it already did. Ick

Oh so sorry to hear that they had that effect on you. Hope you are feeling better. I must admit I don't really take much notice of medicine expiry dates but I will definately check them now! Check perishable goods dates but thought hadn't ocurred re medicine. Thank you for making me aware of this one

I always pay attention to expiration dates of medicines (and also of packed food). Sometimes I notice that the medicine (or the food) has expirated a little time ago (let's say one month). As I think laboratories fix the expiration date in a conservative way (that is, they print it not so far away in time as it really is), I don´t mind taking the medicine. But if it has expirated some months ago, I empty it in the water closet.

all the times i see. I am very particular abt it to see the expiry date on medicines. I in the mean time check it from time to time.if found beyond taht date, i throw them away.

hi ctrymuziklvr. I pay attention to expiration dates on medicines. I throw out medicines, which are out-date. But sometimes I use medicine with expired date of use, because I need them and I have only out-date one. I know that expiration date is only a conventional date when produtcs, medicines too, are ok. all products have to have expiration date, sometimes it is shorter than the period, when they are ok. They could be used a little bit longer, when we keep them in the good conditions. But I try to keep not to many madicines and use them before their expiration dates. have a nice day, jazgottt.

it could well have been sweety! We go through our store cupboards regularly and check expiration dates of medications as well as food and preserves - the reason is simply that we used to always need something and it would be out of date and I will not take the risk of using it when it is out of date! Sorry you were so sick! xx

Your problem could be due to the expiration date on the medicine, ctry, or it could be for some other reason. I don't make it a habit to check for expiration dates before I take medicines because they are usually taken in a reasonable amount of time after I purchase them. It's never a good idea to take someone else's medicine, although we all do it at some time. You would think by it being an OTC product that it would be harmless, but that is not always the case. Glad you aren't any the worse for wear following your experience.

I always do it. I'm very carefull in this topic. I often control about the expiration date.Maybe you got sick of them maybe not no one can tell it for sure.

well me and my partner both are very conscious about this thing.noramlly when i clean the cupboards and all i make it a point to see whether the things that are there is good or not ,i mean whether they have reached the expiry date or not.for medicines i often do this and with food items as well.i think your sickness could be because of this.i have nt taken any expired medicine till now since i am always very cautious in this as doctor says that expired medicine can create many side effects.

I read the expiration date on a bottle of medication. This is not because I might get sick, this is because when I swallowed expired medication, they had no effect. It is just like I swallwed a candy or something else, not a medicine.

yes, i do pay attention to expiry dates, and sometimes, manufacturing dates,too. i suggest that you follow the expiry dates because they have been scientifically studied to provide consumers a sound idea that they are putting good quality medicines into their bodies. as consumers, we generally have no idea as to what the chemical reactions will happen on each ingredient of the product when they are already inside our bodies when they are already in the expired state. so, we might as well be careful to prevent any untoward incidents.

Some medications maybe safe after the expiration date but they may not be as effective. For example if aspirin smells vinegary...toss it, it will not work. Nitroglycerin is another one -- ineffective after the expiration date. Another thing is how they are stored...the worse possible place to store your medication is in the bathroom and where do most people store their meds - in the bathroom. They maybe safe and effective but why take the chance.

I don't pay attention to it. Actually I seldom will take a medicine. I will stand for a few days and see whether my sickness will be gone. If not, then I will consider to have medicine. And I think even if it is expired, the medicine can still work. So I don't care about it.

I always check the expiration on my medicine. I am constantly throwing away medication at my parents house! My dad had some sitting on the counter that expired in 2001 and 2003 that I got rid of last time. He insists they are still good. I tossed them in the trash. It is not as if he doesn't know better and he can definitely afford new medicine. He is just stubborn! So am I though, and I am not letting my dad take old medicine!

To be stuck in the restroom for the night, doesn't exactly make for a comfy setting! I'm so sorry. However, you never expanded on the reason "why" you were taking the stool softeners. Many people take them for various reasons. I understand it may be an uncomfortable situation. However, maybe you experienced a cramping in your stomache or colon area due to an illness that you had already been developing, and these happened to be your first symptoms, with the result being vomitting. Hence, you spent the night with a toilet. In addition, you probably made the situation even worse, not by using an "expired" OTC medication, but by taking something you did not need in the first place that causes your body to respond in a very "unflattering" manner. According to many pharmacists and doctors, "expired" medications (for the most part) are not poisonous or detrimental to one's health. The expiration date usually refers to the strength. After the medication(s) has expired, the strength of the active ingredients usually lessens, much like the flavor of foods. Everything has its peak, the OTC's usually just passed theirs. When in doubt, either call your physician or a pharmacist. As you can tell from experience, sometimes self-medication is not the answer.

Yes, I pay a lot of attention to the expiration dates on medicines. I do it even when I go to buy them from a pharmacy. I have fortunately never taken expired medicines and fallen sick. well, I guess you could have fallen sick due to this. I would request you to be more careful the next time you take a pill or any other medicine. :)