#Opening #medicines

Many people check the expiry date on a medicine bottle or box and assume it is safe to use until that date. However health experts say this is not always true.  Some medicines start losing their effectiveness or become unsafe after they are opened even if the printed expiry date is still months away. It is common for people to use a cough syrup or eye drops once put them back in the cupboard and use them again weeks or months later after checking only the expiry date. Doctors say this can be risky because some medicines do not stay safe for long once opened. When a medicine bottle tube or dropper is opened air moisture and germs can get inside. Over time repeated opening can reduce the medicine’s protection against bacteria increasing the risk of contamination. If a syrup changes color or smell a cream separates or tablets become soft or crumbly they should not be used. Many people believe that every medicine should be thrown away one month after opening but experts say this is not true. According to Dr. Sanjay K. Jain, Head of Pediatrics and Neonatology in New Delhi each medicine has different storage and usage rules. He explains that common syrups such as cough syrup paracetamol syrup and vitamin syrup can usually be used until their expiry date if they are stored properly and show no changes in color smell or appearance. Tablets and capsules also remain safe until their expiry date in many cases especially if they stay in their original blister packs and are stored according to the instructions. However some medicines have a much shorter life after opening.  Antibiotic syrups that come as powder and need water before use should usually be thrown away after 7 to 14 days even if some medicine is left. If the syrup changes color or particles appear inside the bottle it should be discarded immediately. Eye drops also need extra care. Most should be used within 28 days after opening because the tip of the bottle can collect germs each time it is used. Insulin and some injectable medicines also have special storage rules and may only remain safe for a limited time after opening. Doctors advise reading the label or package instructions carefully before using any medicine. This is especially important for eye drops insulin liquid antibiotics and medicines that need refrigeration. It is also a good idea to check medicines stored at home from time to time. If you are unsure whether a medicine is still safe ask a doctor or pharmacist instead of taking the risk. Health experts say that for some medicines the most important date is not the expiry date but the day the bottle or package was first opened. Writing the opening date on the bottle can help you know when it is time to throw it away. If you ever have doubts about a medicine’s safety it is better to discard it than risk your health.