Why Checking Medicine Expiry Dates is a Must for Your Safety
Manika | Aug 26, 2025, 23:04 IST
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Highlight of the story: When was the last time you opened a pill container and looked at the expiry date? For most of us, this is not a common practice. We tend to hold on to medicines for months, and at times, years. We use them whenever we feel a bit under the weather. However, just like food, medicines too come with a “best before” date. Past this date, there is no guarantee on their safety and their effectiveness.
We all know the saying “Prevention is better than cure.” But what if the very medicines we trust to cure us become a source of harm? Every strip of tablets, every bottle of syrup, and every tube of ointment in your home carries a tiny piece of information that often goes unnoticed: the expiry date. While most people tend to ignore it, thinking medicines can’t “really go bad,” the truth is far more serious. Expired medicines don’t just lose their effectiveness; they can also become toxic, leading to severe health complications. Health is fragile, and the smallest negligence can have big consequences. So the next time you reach for a tablet or pour out a syrup, take a moment to glance at the expiry date. It could be the simplest step you take to safeguard your well-being and that of your loved ones.
Why it is important to check expiry date
Medicine
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Imagine taking an antibiotic for an infection, only to find it no longer works, giving bacteria more time to multiply and even develop resistance. Or giving a child cough syrup that has expired, only to end up worsening their discomfort. In a country like India, where medicines are often stored for emergencies and shared among family members, the risks multiply. Expired medications can delay treatment, mask symptoms, or in some cases, cause life-threatening reactions. Pharmaceutical companies spend years testing the safety and shelf life of drugs, and expiry dates are the outcome of rigorous scientific research. Yet, many households continue to store medicines beyond their expiry dates, believing that safe storage in refrigerators or cupboards extends their life. This is a dangerous myth. Whether it’s pain relievers, antibiotics, or syrups, once the expiry date has passed, the medicine is no longer reliable.
Equally important is how we dispose of expired medicines. Carelessly tossing them into the dustbin not only puts children, pets, and waste pickers at risk, but also contaminates the environment. Being mindful of expiry dates and practicing safe disposal is not just about protecting ourselves it’s a responsibility we owe to our families and communities.
1. Active Ingredients in Medicines are Effective Only Up to a Certain Expiry Date
Check Expiry
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There is a time frame in which each and every medicine works. The active ingredients in the drug start to breakdown and after the expiry date, the medicine is no longer effective. Taking expired medications may cause infections to become worse because the medicine won’t kill the bacteria and this also increases the chances of antibiotic resistance.
2. Expired Medicines Can Be Harmful
3. Risk of Delayed Treatment
Treatment Delay
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Treatment can also be improperly administered as a result of taking expired medicines. For example, taking expired pain relievers can make one feel like the pain is subsiding when in fact, the pain is worsening. This can be dangerous and at times, fatal when dealing with severe medical conditions like heart disease, asthma, or diabetes.
4. Special Care with Children and Elderly
5. Safe Storage Doesn’t Extend Expiry
Storage of medicines
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Many people tend to believe that medicines stored in a cool dry place or refrigerated can be consumed after the expiry date. This is a myth. Manufacturers set expiry dates after conducting proper analysis of the time duration a drug can be safe and effective. No matter how well the drug is stored, once the date has passed, the drug is best to be avoided.
6. Incorrect disposal of medicines put everyone at risk
These pointers are shared by Jeevan Kasara, the Director and CEO of Steris Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. He also said "Checking the expiry dates of medicines may look like a simple task, but it aids in keeping you safe. Before you swallow a drug, pour a syrup or even apply an ointment, spare few seconds to look at the date printed on the drug strip or bottle."
Medicines are meant to cure ailments, not further complicate them. Being mindful of expiry dates not only protects our health, but ensures treatments will be useful in times of need. Checking labels can save lives by preventing frail patients from complex healing.
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