“The medicine will degrade with time and will loose its potency to show its Pharmacological effects ”
Expiry date is most overlooked
matter in pharmaceuticals . Many people across the world looks into the matter
weather we can use these medicines or not .
It is suggested to rather take part in clinical trials instead of
taking Expiry dated medicines as it will generate some wealth also .
The medicines are tested extensively for expiry dating . Shelf life(Time after which the medicine starts degrading) studies are done on medicines at different ranges of Relative humidity and temperatures to ensure that before the expiry date the Drug content remains intact and the Drug content is maintained according to label claim throughout the Expiry dating .After expiry date the Drug may degrade and converts into harmful substance no one knows as study have not been performed on drugs after expiry date .
So ,to use them after expiry date is nothing but to harm the body. Even if the drug has good impact or serve its intended purpose some portion of drug could have been toxic after expiry and may harm body which would not be known instantaneously .
Especially , in case of Contraceptives, Anticancer drugs and and other potent drugs like Antibiotics the risk should never be taken as it will harm more than benefits .
FDA (Food and drug administration) issues guidelines on expiry dating testing in part 211.137 which requires extensive testing of drugs for expiry .