In August 2018, Harvard Health publishing (Harvard Medical School) have been updated old news about the efficiency of drugs activities after their expiry dates.
Link: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/drug-expiration-dates-do-they-mean-anything
The question of our discussion is: Does the expiry date of the medicinal drugs is a myth?!
The expiration date of drug (shelf life)
definitely define as time required to decay only 10% of active drug and meaning 90 % remain active ,but the risk here the most of drug especially heat sensitivite ،moisture sensitivite converted to toxic substance not metabolized properly by the liver and may act as toxic chemical not has the potency and safety of the active drug ex.renal tubular acidosis purportedly caused by expired tetracycline
the most important class of drug including anti biotic especially injectable form,insulin ,nitroglycerin, hormones, vaccines,vitamins, biological drugs and soonthe critical importance about shelf-life and also storage conditions that also act as afunction of expire date.
The expiration date of drug (shelf life)
definitely define as time required to decay only 10% of active drug and meaning 90 % remain active ,but the risk here the most of drug especially heat sensitivite ،moisture sensitivite converted to toxic substance not metabolized properly by the liver and may act as toxic chemical not has the potency and safety of the active drug ex.renal tubular acidosis purportedly caused by expired tetracycline
the most important class of drug including anti biotic especially injectable form,insulin ,nitroglycerin, hormones, vaccines,vitamins, biological drugs and soonthe critical importance about shelf-life and also storage conditions that also act as afunction of expire date.
European Medicines Agency is more estringent, at least apparently. See figures on page 19 in:
VICH GL51: Quality: statistical evaluation of stability data
EMA/CVMP/VICH/858875/2011
We carry out many stability studies. Indeed, there are always formation of degradation products which are not part of the original molecule. They might be toxic or not, but it is always better do not risk your health with expired drugs.
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