In general sense, all the drugs have an expiry date (shelf life). After the expiry date the drug is recommended not to use as it may produce toxic effects in biological system and/or lose its potency in lesser or greater extent i.e. deviation from the optimum specification is seen. My question is what will be happened in case of a toxicant (toxin)? Is there any recommendation for toxiants' using? What will be there toxicological efficacy after expiry?
Depends entirely on the class of compound, the process by which it degrades and what are the intermediaries produced. Without knowing something about the type of toxin you are asking about, there is no way to say.
Some biological venom, for example, will eventually break down into completely harmless degradation products. Some industrial or agricultural chemical toxins tend to break down into sometimes even more potent or harmful secondary compounds.
Remember, pretty much anything is toxic, at some dose or some concentration. Or if not the native compound itself, its metabolites are.
Depends entirely on the class of compound, the process by which it degrades and what are the intermediaries produced. Without knowing something about the type of toxin you are asking about, there is no way to say.
Some biological venom, for example, will eventually break down into completely harmless degradation products. Some industrial or agricultural chemical toxins tend to break down into sometimes even more potent or harmful secondary compounds.
Remember, pretty much anything is toxic, at some dose or some concentration. Or if not the native compound itself, its metabolites are.
Thanks. That's what makes the differences. It's the general idea about the degradation of the chemical constituents, but in some cases more potent poisons can't be harmless after prolonged shelving. A gross analysis is needed.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Chemistry
- Pharmacology