# Expiry dates on Medication

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expiry-dates-on-medication/68428>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 11, 2001, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expiry-dates-on-medication/68428 "2001-06-11T15:16:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expiry-dates-on-medication/68428/1 "2001-06-11T15:16:43Z")

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Eye-drops in particular…

My anti-histamine eyedrops state that they shouln’t be used more than 5 days after opening. Why is this? Do they become harmful after this period of time, or merely lose thier activity?

Anyone know???

Gp

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**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expiry-dates-on-medication/68428/2 "2001-06-11T16:04:42Z")

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AINAD, but FWIR, the answers is they probably aren’t bad, but it doesn’t make sense to take the chance.

I remember a story on NPR about a year ago saying that most OTC drugs had expiration dates that were way too early, mostly to avoid any lawsuits and to sell more product. However, the penalty for being wrong could be very harmful. Better safe than sorry.

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expiry-dates-on-medication/68428/3 "2001-06-11T16:06:55Z")

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With a expiry date that short, it’s probably a precaution against bacterial growth in the drops.  
That is a GUESS, you’ll have to ask your M.D. or check the P.D.R. to find out for sure, but rest assured that if it expires that quickly there is a good reason for it.

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**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expiry-dates-on-medication/68428/4 "2001-06-11T18:47:09Z")

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I think Squink is correct.

A general discussion about the use of drugs after their expiration date was published by The Medical Letter in June 19, 1998. You can find the text at the public reading room at [themedicalletter.com](http://themedicalletter.com) ([http://www.medletter.com/html\_files/publicreading.htm#ExpDrugs](http://www.medletter.com/html_files/publicreading.htm#ExpDrugs)).

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**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expiry-dates-on-medication/68428/5 "2001-06-11T18:54:25Z")

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I do not know about eyedrops in particular but I asked my Dr the same question a few years back. He said that generally the medication just becomes inneffective but not harmful.

Keyword here being **"Generally"**