Ensure Your Patients Get In-Date Meds

We're getting questions about handling expired medications.

There are old reports that expired tetracycline causes kidney failure...but that's no longer an issue since it was reformulated many years ago.

In fact, meds don't usually become harmful or toxic after their expiration date...and most oral caps and tabs maintain much of their potency for at least 1 to 2 years after they expire.

But a small loss of potency might be a problem in some cases.

For example, expired levothyroxine might affect thyroid levels...or expired epinephrine auto-injectors may be less effective for treating life-threatening allergic reactions.

Have your techs check for short-dated meds when new stock arrives...especially for meds you don't use often. Consider whether the patient will use it before it expires...and contact the wholesaler for an exchange if needed.

Ensure meds are in-date when you fill an Rx...and that your techs rotate stock and check shelves at regular intervals. Some states require meds to be pulled within a certain time BEFORE they expire.

Remind your techs to check expiration dates of products that tend to be overlooked...OTCs, diabetes test strips, pen needles, compounding supplies, etc.

Be familiar with meds that have shortened expiration dates once opened...such as Trileptal suspension, Neoral solution, and Pradaxa.

Follow your pharmacy's policies and state's laws when handling return-to-stock meds. Once meds have been repackaged into prescription vials or bottles, many are only good for 12 months.

Advise your techs to quarantine expired or expiring meds...so they aren't accidentally dispensed.

Help your techs spot and round up outdated meds by giving them our technician tutorial, Drug Expiration and Beyond-Use Dates.

• Technician Tutorial: Drug Expiration and Beyond-Use Dates