Do you really know? What should I do with expired medicines?
Nov 3, 2025
Ever wonder what to do with expired medicines? A recent survey revealed that 36% of people have used expired pills, despite warnings from health authorities. It's not just about safety; many medications simply lose potency over time. Certain forms, like injectables and syrups, can actually become risky. Learn best practices for storage to maintain effectiveness and discover the safest ways to dispose of outdated meds—hint: it involves returning them to a pharmacy, not the trash!
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Many People Admit Using Expired Medicine
- A 2022 Censuswide survey for Chemist4U found 36% of UK residents had taken expired medicine.
- This behaviour clashes with NHS guidance advising against using medicines past expiry dates.
Expiry Often Reduces Effectiveness
- Most medicines lose potency after their expiry date, risking reduced effectiveness rather than immediate harm.
- Certain types like injectables, opened eye drops and syrups face added infection or contamination risks.
Antibiotics Need Extra Caution
- Antibiotics can pose extra risk when degraded; some tetracyclines may form toxic breakdown products.
- Exercise particular caution with antibiotics and avoid using expired supplies.