Healthy Skepticism Library item: 9607

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Jacknowitz AI.
Expiration dating and storage of drugs
US Pharmacist 1987 Mar; 12:36, 38, 40, 106

Abstract:

An outline of the development of federal regulations requiring that all prescription and most nonprescription products must bear the expiration dates on the manufacturers’ label is presented. With the exception of 9 states, pharmacists are not obliged to provide an expiration date on unit-dose packages or prescription labels if the drug is repackaged; however, pharmacists who dispense outdated drugs face a risk of liability if an adverse reaction results. It was suggested that patients should be advised by their pharmacists that proper storage conditions are necessary to ensure that potential loss of potency does not occur even before the expiration date.