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The start of a new year is often a time to take stock of one's life and commit to healthier habits.
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Now University of Florida pharmacy experts say it's also the perfect time to take stock of what lurks in your medicine cabinet. Many American families hold onto out-of-date drugs, sometimes stockpiling them for that next illness. But experts say it's wise to toss all expired medications, especially antibiotics, which have a very short shelf life. In fact, most liquid suspensions used for children, even when refrigerated, lose potency in as little as two weeks. With flu season in full swing, experts add that sharing antibiotics or other prescribed medicines would be a bad move. Bacteria or viruses may cause similar symptoms, but the wrong drugs will prove useless against them.
Paul Doering / UF pharmacy expert
"A lot of people feel like they've paid good money for these medicines and they want to keep them around just in case. That makes sense on the surface, but in the future it very well may be that the condition is different, that that condition doesn't warrant that strong of a medication."
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U-F pharmacists also say families should rethink using the bathroom medicine cabinet for storage. That's because temperature and humidity shifts can contribute to the chemical breakdown of some medications. And small children and visitors to the home can easily access potentially dangerous drugs. A resealable plastic container kept in an out-of-the-way place is better for long-term storage. Experts also recommend families tally their household medicine chest's contents each new year, and review the list with their physician.
Paul Doering / UF pharmacy expert
"Make a list of the medications a person may be currently taking, and next time the doctor's consulted, see whether or not those are still necessary. Not only will that save money, because you don't want to take medications you don't need, it will also decrease the chances of side effects and will be one less thing to worry about in the future."
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At the University of Florida Health Science Center, I'm Mike Garrison.
