I was wondering what the shelf life of Lorazepam is. I have 2 bottles that are a few months old, and I am really wanting to take a dose and I don't know if they are too old or not. No web pages seem to have an answer... if anyone has any idea I would really appreciate it! Thanks!
Posts: 1 | From: Philadelphia | Registered: Jan 2006
| Logged: 152.163.100.10 |
posted
Many drugstores, like Walgreens, automatically use 1 year for the use by date. That is totally wrong 99% of the time.
Couple of years ago, I checked bottom of some of the meds that come in boxes or bottles that have date stamped on them. They are usually hidden and have no color to them so have to look close. Many of them are good for 2-3 years after date on prescription said they expired.
AARP just did an article of this & basically said drug stores & drug companies want you to throw them away & the sooner the better. The sooner you throw them away, the sooner you buy more and the more money they make.
Also, drug companies have to allow for people leaving them in cars in the hot sun or freezing temperatures for days on end, and they want to be sure that meds can survive anything & still be good, so they shorten the stamped expiration date to allow for unforseen circustanes.
AARP had some independent labs check meds after expiration from drug companies ran out and all were still perfectly good.
We use to check aspirin by smell & looks. If it crumbled too easily & smelled like vinegar, it was too old. That was in the days before expiration dates.
Most pills & capsules stay good for up to 2-3 years after drug expiration dates - as per the article. Main thing is to store your meds sensibly. Do not keep in bathroom so all the hot steam from the shower can get to them and cause change in temerature often & where most moisture in house is found. Don't store in sunlight. Try to keep all meds where temperature stays below 70 and better if it is between 45-60 degrees, and where they are not exposed to sunlight or a lot of direct light. That is why most bottles are either dark colored or solid color, so they keep light & sun out. And finally, keep them all away from moist areas like kitchens & bathrooms. You can extend shelf life by 1,2, or even 3 years by just remembering temperature, light & moisture.
SO what AARP said was ignore date on prescription label as just simpler for drug stores to all use 1 year. Try to find actual date from the drug company AND use common sense. If expiration date fom the drug company (not drug store) passed 2 months ago and medicine still looks and smells good, it should be good.
IF your medicine changes color, smell, shape or taste, then do not take it. BUT as long as these pills of mine that cost $4-$8 each look and smell like they normally do, I am not throwing away any of them. I stopped doing that 2 years ago & told many other people the same thing and none of us have had a single problem with any of them.
PS - on many liquids, particularly ones they say store in cool place, keeping in fridge makes them last a lot longer. Call the drug maker or drug store & ask them if it will stay fresher if kept in fridge if you have any doubt on it. Most are more honest if asked directly, but will always err on side of drug company liability issues. :-)
Posts: 3 | From: Tennessee | Registered: May 2006
| Logged: 68.34.197.48 |
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
