Tag: Expired medicine

Manufacturer testing establishes a specific expiration date to ensure a medication's maximum potency and safety. A product like Neosporin that is 10 years past this date is considered unsafe, unreliable, and potentially harmful.

Hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) is a chemically unstable compound that naturally decomposes into water ($H_2O$) and oxygen gas ($O_2$) over time. How long does hydrogen peroxide stay effective depends heavily on whether the bottle is sealed or opened, with the shelf life dramatically decreasing once the seal is broken.

According to the FDA's Shelf-Life Extension Program, many medications stocked by the military remained stable and potent for years, even decades, beyond their listed expiration dates. The question of *how long before drugs lose their potency* is more complex than the date on the bottle suggests, involving multiple factors from storage conditions to formulation.

Since 1979, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required expiration dates on all medications [1.2.1, 1.3.2]. If you're wondering **how long are ibuprofen 800 mg tablets good for?**, the answer depends on several factors, including storage conditions and the risks you're willing to take.

Globally, the pharmaceutical industry is estimated to generate over 300 million tons of plastic waste annually [1.8.1]. A significant contributor to pharmaceutical pollution is improper disposal. So, can I flush old medicine down the toilet? The answer is almost always no, with very specific exceptions [1.2.1].