Expiry dates on meds

[L in Ontario]

How exact are those dates?

How long after an item (such as Guardian Angel by Birdcard Company) expires, would you continue to use it? Or something like Scatt?

[B CAMP]

I think if you have taken care and stored the meds as directed and they haven't changed color or smell 6 to 8 months I would use.
But I think it also depends on what the meds are for I don't think you can have set fast rule.
I take fast acting inhaler and I had several of them that were out of date ,The dr. said if it came out when I tried to use it was safe?

[cindy]

Liz, I know with human grade antibiotics it is not advisable to use them past the expiration date. I imagine the same may hold true for the birds' antibiotics. They may start breaking down and may give you the false sense that they are still potent if you use them past the date.

I wonder about the probiotics, vitalize and wormers.

[nixity]

The only reason the expiration date is there is because the meds may lose potency after a period of time.

As long as they are stored in a cool dry place, even after the expiration date they won't have lost that much potency - the date is just there to protect the manufacturer should the meds not work "as well."

No medicine will be as potent the day before expiration as it was the day you bought it off the shelf, but it doesn't necessarily mean it will have lost all efficacy. I don't think the degree of potency lost is enough for a noticeable difference in performance.

If you store them in the fridge you will extend the shelf life, not refrigerated, most POWDERED meds will still be strong enough 6+ months after expiration. Refrigerated I would say it extends the life at least a year.

For liquid meds that are already diluted, particularly things like wormers, I wouldn't push too far past expiration. I had a bottle of worm away that was expired, not refrigerated, and it smelled really funk-nasty.

Bottom line - don't do anything you aren't comfortable with If it looks, smells or seems funky, toss it!

[nixity]

I wonder about the probiotics, vitalize and wormers.

Probiotics are a different story because these are "live" organisms. I would stick to the expiration date on these and I always refrigerate..

Vitalize is just sugar powder.. :\
That'd be like packaged kool-aid going bad ;)

[jessyh]

Antibiotics (human grade) can turn to poison after the expiration date. So, it's not just that they are less effective, they can do serious harm. I watched a news special on it and have also read it online. I'll try to find a link. Many antibiotics for birds are pretty much the same as human antibiotics, with some exceptions, of course. They take on a completely different chemical composition than they had before the expiration. When it comes right down to it, is it worth "testing" on your birds?

Here's one I found that talks about chemical composition breakdown, but not on antibiotics. Guess I gotta do a little more research tonight.

http://www.helium.com/items/819031-the- ... ired-drugs

[nixity]

Here's one I found that talks about chemical composition breakdown, but not on antibiotics. Guess I gotta do a little more research tonight.

http://www.helium.com/items/819031-the- ... ired-drugs

And in this case it breaks down to vinegar... :\
Not exactly toxic.. probably more for individuals who might have allergies..

[jessyh]

Yes, but antibiotics don't break down into vinegar. That was just to show that medications' chemical makeup completely changes into something else over time. Sounds like you were trying to say I'm making this up. You don't have to get all sarcastic when I'm trying to help.

[nixity]

Yes, but antibiotics don't break down into vinegar. That was just to show that medications' chemical makeup completely changes into something else over time. Sounds like you were trying to say I'm making this up. You don't have to get all sarcastic when I'm trying to help.

I'm not being sarcastic, I'm being forthright, there is a difference.
I'm also not suggested you are 'making things up', I just feel as though a claim as severe as saying that some/all abx will break down into something toxic is not to be just thrown out there without solid evidence to offer.

This is the kind of thing that has the potential to scare people, perhaps unnecessarily.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/460159%20

This article is well researched and only points to a single rare case of renal failure from expired tetracycline which is even still disputed by scientists.

If there is referenced scientific literature that suggests otherwise I would certainly be interested in knowing/reading. As a retailer of pharmaceuticals and intraceuticals for birds it is important for me to give customers accurate information.

[debbie276]

From Harvard Medical School http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updat ... 103a.shtml
It turns out that the expiration date on a drug does stand for something, but probably not what you think it does. Since a law was passed in 1979, drug manufacturers are required to stamp an expiration date on their products. This is the date at which the manufacturer can still guarantee the full potency and safety of the drug.
Most of what is known about drug expiration dates comes from a study conducted by the Food and Drug Administration at the request of the military. What they found from the study is 90% of more than 100 drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, were perfectly good to use even 15 years after the expiration date.
It's true the effectiveness of a drug may decrease over time, but much of the original potency still remains even a decade after the expiration date. Excluding nitroglycerin, insulin, and liquid antibiotics, most medications are as long-lasting as the ones tested by the military. Placing a medication in a cool place, such as a refrigerator, will help a drug remain potent for many years.

And from John Hopkins http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com ... 677-1.html
More recently, the FDA approved two-year extensions on expiration dates for a number of drugs, including the antibiotics Cipro (ciprofloxacin), penicillin, and tetracycline; the Tagamet (antiulcer/antireflux drug cimetidine); and Valium (diazepam), a tranquilizer.

[L in Ontario]

Thank you all for the replies and time you took to research those links. I know this is extremely informational and helpful to me and I'm sure others as well. I knew expiry dates were conservative but it's surprising by how much (of course taking the type of medicine / supplement and storage location into consideration). Thanks again!

[Sally]

Great thread, and so informative! I have a few things that say refrigerate after opening, but those are the only things I did keep in the fridge. I will be clearing out one of my door shelves for my bird meds now.

[JohnBoy]

I have noticed that a few of my morning bird meds don't even have an expiration date, some do. The ones that do will be thrown out after that date. With all the birds I have I could not risk taking that chance. I also keep all my meds in the fridge.

[cindy]

Keep in mind that if a medication is separated, smells rancid or discolored through it out.

If you have any doubts call the manufacuter, the pharmacy. They usually have help lines/customer service that can assist the public with any questions. I would be very careful/cautious using expired medications especially with pets and childrens' medications.