Using out of date medicine, especially if you have a long term medical condition

[CulturalDilemma]

First of all I am well aware of what the pharmacy advice is, i.e. don't do it. Please don't lecture me. But this is about real life and what people really do.

I'm having a Crohn's flare-up and usually get the same medicines each time as I know what works for me, but as I haven't had a problem for ages, I've only just found out that Asacol suppositories have been discontinued. This is awful. If I had out of date tablets I would definitely use them, as long as they were out of date by about a year rather than ten years. But as these are suppositories, it's a bit riskier as they directly touch your skin inside and I'm allergic to quite a lot of stuff.

Apart from things being discontinued, there is also a shortage of various medicines at the moment and it seems so wasteful to throw them away if they're actually useable.

What people here really do in these real situations, regardless of medical advice?

I would use them. You have my sympathy from a fellow Crohn's sufferer.

Thanks. It's so difficult to get to see anyone and my GP isn't great.

I’d ask the pharmacist and say you haven’t managed to get an appointment til next week with your gp and would the meds be ok to use, just this week, ie do they just lose their strength with age or will they be poisonous or something. Perhaps under these circs you will get an honest reply from the pharmacist?

That's a good idea, thank you. The chances are they'll have to give a professional opinion and tell me not to use them, but it's certainly worth asking.

I'd use them, and I wouldn't bother asking the pharmacist - there is no way they would give any other answer than "you must never use out of date medicine".

I have UC and was prescribed Asacol foam a couple of weeks ago to stop a flare-up in its tracks. After a week I felt so much better and I have decided to keep the rest of the meds and not use them now, as I know how quick and effective they are if a flare-up happens again. It's probably a bit dodgy but I think we get to the point where we know our bodies and what works, and sometimes the system just doesn't accommodate that.

So - sorry, never actually made my point - I would probably use them in your position.💐

I'm a pharmacist. Just use them. The expiry date means the medicine loses effectiveness after that date. It doesn't mean it's dangerous to use them. All medicines don't just stop being effective from midnight on the expiry date. It's a gradual process.

I'd use them no doubt

I would absolutely use them, they just might not be quite as effective.

There are alternatives available. Same medication but different brand.

I'd use them. I have UC and have Salofalk suppositories stashed away in case of flares that must be at least five years old Do you have an IBD helpline/specialist nurse you could ring to check? Mine is much better at sorting these things out than my GPs.

Depends on the original shelf life - something with a 4 year expiry is not going to be suddenly dangerous in 4 years and 2 months. Liquid medication with a 6 month shelf life might not be safe 6 months out of date.

I’d use it. For sure. Medicines use by date usually only means that it will be less effective.

As long as it’s been in the wrapper and not out in the elements.

Agree with the pharmacist above - the worst is that they just won't work either as effectively or (less likely) at all. The medicines will begin to lose their efficiency after the expiry date but won't become toxic

Thank you everyone. I must admit I thought I might have a load of people telling me off for taking risks.

We do have an IBD nurses phone line at my hospital, but it's so hard to get a call back. It's always on answerphone (by design) so you have to leave a message and they take up to a week to get back to you, if at all. The services are there but you have to really push and push and be all insistent and be one of those patients in order to get anywhere. It causes so much extra stress.

Each one is individually wrapped, so definitely not open to the air.