Pay Attention to the Expiry Date When Taking Medications
Many patients often neglect to check the expiry date of medications before taking them, resulting in the ingestion of expired and ineffective drugs. This can lead to no improvement in their condition or, in severe cases, even poisoning.
The expiry date of medications is determined by research scientists in pharmaceutical companies and institutes through a series of scientific experiments, taking into account factors such as the potency, safety, and stability of the drugs. It is based on scientific and practical considerations. Generally speaking, medications are safe and effective within their expiry date.
The expiry date of medications not only serves as a guide for clinical administration but also has legal implications. According to pharmaceutical regulations, no drug manufacturer, hospital, or pharmacy is allowed to sell expired and ineffective drugs. Unless decided by relevant drug inspection departments, expired drugs cannot be extended for use. If a patient self-administers expired drugs and experiences toxic reactions, the drug manufacturer is not legally responsible.
There are generally three ways to indicate the expiry date of medications:
1. Expiry Date
For example, if the medication package states "expiry date: December 2011," it means the medication can be used until the end of December 2012.
2. Expiration Date
If the medication instructions state "expiration date: December 2011," it means the medication can only be used until the end of November 2011. If the same batch of the same medication is indicated with both the expiry date and the expiration date, there will be a one-month difference between them.
3. Batch Number
The batch number represents the date of production of the medication batch. For example, if the medication label shows "111201," it means the batch of medication was produced on December 1, 2011. If it also states "expiry date: two years," it means the medication can be used until December 1, 2013.
The expiry date of medications is determined based on the time it takes for the drugs to expire under normal storage conditions. When actually using the medications, it is also important to consider the storage conditions in the household and whether the medications have deteriorated to determine whether they can still be used.
