This picture has gone viral and some people are shocked and
are calling the government all sorts of names. Unknown to some people is that
this has been ongoing for the last 12 months or so. In short there is nothing
wrong being done. It’s only that the media is taking advantage of the fact that
most of us do not understand how expiry dates are calculated. It is a good
story to sell papers but we need to set the record straight so that we can
objectively view the situation.
Drug manufacturers are required by law to place expiration
dates on prescription products prior to marketing. The expiration date is the
final day that the manufacturer guarantees the full potency and safety of a
medication. Let me make it clear that it is not the date that the product
becomes toxic or ineffective. It may be surprising to know that for most drugs
, it’s an arbitrary date, usually 2 or 3 years out, that the manufacturer
selects to test drug stability. In all actuality, the stability of the drug may
be much longer, but no one tests it.
We know that once the original container is opened , either
by patient or the health care provider who will dispense the drug , that
original expiration date on the container can no longer be relied upon. However
studies have shown that the actual shell life of these drugs may be much longer
than the expiration date on the packet.
So do drugs lose their effectiveness sooner after the
expiration date?
The American Medical Association (AMA) concluded in 2001
that the actual shelf life of some products is longer than the labeled
expiration date. The AMA stated the best evidence resides in the Shelf Life
Extension Program (SLEP) undertaken by the FDA for the USA Department of
Defense. This study found that drugs were still effective 12 months to 184
months ( over 15 years) after the expiration date.
What does that mean to us ?
This does not mean that if you have expired drugs in your
house you can use them without seeking medical advice. The study shows that if
expired drugs are tested by medical experts and found to be effective then they
can be used for a certain period.
If wholesalers have more drugs than they need and some have
expired it does not make any sense to throw them away and let people go without
treatment. Treatment need to continue so if expired drugs can be safely used
then they should whilst the supplies are being sorted. This obviously must not
be norm but can be used in situations of shortages.
The drugs we are talking about are those that are still
with the wholesalers where they are being kept under strict conditions. We know
that effectiveness of drugs is affected by heat, humidity, light, and other
storage factors. In view of this only drugs that are tested by medical experts
should be used.
So what should we do with the message in this picture?
We must commend the health professionals for coming up in
the open about the drugs they are giving people. They could have lied and just
give people medication in different packets which is unethical and immoral. Now
for being honest and upfront about it we are “attacking” them. There is nothing
wrong they are doing. We should take the medication as instructed and go for
regular checks. If we experience any unusual side effects we should urgently go
back to our doctors.
I hope this clarifies this issue . I welcome your comments
on this .
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