Pill Storage

I accidentally left my duac tube in my car while I was at work. It recommends that it is stored at 77 degrees. However, I am sure that inside my car it reached over 100 degrees today. Does anyone know if this will affect Duac? Can I still use my prescription or do I need to get it refilled? ## I see this was posted several weeks ago, did you ask your doctor, or pharmacist? Usually, the excess heat can cause the ointment to start breaking down, but it can really depend on how long it was exposed to such temperatures.

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Can one take expired Clindamycin if kept in cold storage? ## If you are referring to the tablets, they are only good for one year from the date of prescribing, after that they should be disposed of. This is an antibiotic, which may cause side effects such as: nausea, drowsiness, skin rash and diarrhea. A liquid or cream formulation has a much shorter shelf-life. How old is the medication in question? ## THE LIQUID CLINDAMYCIN I HAVE IS FROM 3/22/2010. WHAT IS THE EFFECTS OF USING THIS OLD PRODUCT? ## I have clindamycin hcl 150 mg capstev since 2/10/2010 can they still be used? ## 4/1/2011 ## I have clindamycin from 2016. I have another tooth issue. Is it ok to take being two years old? ## Are they still good from 2017? ## Expired antibiotics should not be used.

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Is storing prescriptions on top of refrigerator a good idea or bad (because of the heat-if any) on top of the refrigerator? ## Bad, hide them. You should never leave your meds out ## Generally no, that is not a good idea due to the fact that heat can be released from your refrigerator due to it's cooling mechanisms, as well as the fact that moisture can also escape, both of which the FDA lists as contributing to the degradation of medications. The best place to store medications is a cool, dark, dry location. Are there any other questions?

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I left my Tri-Linyah birth control packet in my car yesterday for 9 hours. It was 75- 80 degrees all day long. They were in my purse under my seat. I took the pill last night after them being left in my car. Will they still work properly? Should I get a fresh pack because I am only on the Sunday of my second week? If so should I take two today since last nights pill may have not of worked? ## Hi Addy - according to the drug label published by the NIH, (under 16.2 Storage Conditions) it says "Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F), [See USP Controlled Room Temperature]." Unfortunately it sounds like your car was above the recommended temperature range. With that said, you might want to see if you can get a refill or new prescription from your doctor. You can even ...

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The prescription is from 2008. Is it save to take? ## Hello, Bob! How are you? This tablet is manufactured by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and they list it as containing 7.5mgs of Hydrocodone and 325mgs of Acetaminophen. The FDA classifies this medication as a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation. This medication does not get dangerous, once expired, but it does start to lose effectiveness. Under optimal storage conditions in the original factory sealed container, it would only last about 4 years and you cannot safely take multiples due to the Acetaminophen in them. Thus, it would be best to dispose of them and see your doctor for a new prescription. Is there anything...

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I am on limited funds and have a chance to stock up on Jev 1.5 cal nutrition drink cans, they are my only source of nourishment, how long can I store them at room temperature and still drink safely? ## Until the expiration date on them. Liquids tend to degrade and go bad much faster than other formulations. It would be best to not purchase more than you can use, before the expiration. The FDA classifies this as a medical food and its typical side effects may include nausea, and constipation. Is there anything else I can help with?

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White Round Pill with 2410 with a V under it, What is it? ## That is correct, this tablet was manufactured by Vintage Pharmaceuticals, and they list it as having contained 350mgs of Carisoprodol, the active ingredient in Soma, it is a muscle relaxant. NDC: 00254-2410 This tablet has been discontinued. The FDA lists the typical side effects of Carisoprodol as possibly including nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, and headache. Ref: Medline Plus Carisoprodol ## GENERIC NAME: CARISOPRODOL - ORAL (kar-iss-oh-PRO-dole) BRAND NAME(S): Soma Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage USES: This medication relaxes muscles and relieves pain and discomfort associated with strains, sprains, spasms or other muscle injuries. Mus...

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I found a pink capsule shaped pill. Its pretty big and its its marked 287 on one side and nothing on the other please fill me in what this is ## @Tyson, The only relevant matches I'm finding are oval pink colored pills, imprinted with "2875" or "2876". There's no other numbers on the backside of each pill, but there is a faint imprint of a heart symbol. These particular pills are identified as an antihypertensive medication known as Avalide; containing hydrochlorothiazide + irbesartan. So I have to ask if there's any chance that the marking may have been misinterpreted due to possible fading/degradation of the pill itself from storage conditions or otherwise? Please post back if you have additional details regarding this and I'll see if I can dig any deep...

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I found in my daughter's draw two different white pills. One of the pills have 1474 on one side & on the other has 9 / 3. The second pill has 66/960 on one side & on the other PVK/500. They are both white. What are they? ## It is two white pills. Nice in size and has #'s on both sides. ## The tablet marked GG 950 PVK 500 is a 500mg Penicillin VK tablet, which is an antibiotic that is used to treat various types of infections. Is the marking on the other one possibly 93 7147? If so that one contains 600mgs of Azithromycin, another antibiotic. Although neither tablet is particularly dangerous, unless someone is allergic, you may want to talk to your daughter about leaving them in a drawer unlabeled. That is not proper storage conditions and can cause degradation of the med...

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Found in a box in storage in a bottle marked as "Asprin "? I can't find any info on this pill... ## Hello, Ditt! How are you? This tablet is manufactured by Avema Pharma and they list as containing 81mgs of Aspirin with an enteric coating. The FDA lists the typical side effects of this medication as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, increased risk of bleeding and stomach irritation. Is there anything else I can help with?

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May be quite old. In an 20 yr old old Lorcet bottle I had after dental surgery, but think I was just using that for storage. Afraid to throw out without knowing what is. Only 2 pills. ## Correction A-C on one side rPr stylized on other side ## Hello, Jeanne! How are you? I'm sorry, but I haven't been able to find anything that matches this description. However, if they are that old, that likely explains it, they probably aren't available, anymore. The best thing to do would be to just dispose of them. Is there anything else I can help with? ## Thanks so much. I called my pharmacist and asked how to dispose of it. Glad we have cats. ;). Appreciate your help and answering my post.

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I would like to know how long after the experation date, does the amoxicillin remain potent and effective ? And when dose amoxicillin become totally ineffective > ## It's really difficult to get a precise answer on this, because it can really be dependent upon storage conditions. For instance, if they were left in the original factory sealed bottle, they're usually actually good for about 3 years. However, once that bottle is opened, so they are exposed to heat, light and moisture, the degradation starts and how fast they degrade and lose potency depends on how much of the elements they are exposed to. If you keep them in a cool, dry, dark place then they'll last longer than if you keep them in your bathroom medicine chest, which is a warm, damp environment. Learn more A...

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orange round pill, kind of small ## I found small orange pill round 2332 on it. was for sedation. 10mg says ACE on bottle thats all ## I found the same pills in my friend's storage shed, and it was a prescription made out to his pet cat for sedation before travel...

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Are the 18 month old 1 mg pills of lorazepam fully effective? Or likely to be? Thank you. ## Hello, Steph! How are you? Under normal storage conditions, they can only be guaranteed to be effective for one year from the date they were dispensed to you. After that, they being to lose effectiveness, though there have been no studies done to determine the percentages of efficacy lost after that. Once they are expired, it is best to dispose of them and see your doctor for a new prescription. This medication carries the risk of being habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, headache and irritability. Is there anything else I can help with? ## Thanks. what are the shapes and colors of the different strengths?

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Should the color coating on a medication easily come off the pill, which is new and still in the prescription bottle? ## Hello, Megan! How are you? It really depends on what the manufacturer has used to create the coating, how thick it is, the storage conditions, and etc. The FDA provides lists of certain acceptable ingredients that a manufacturer can use, which they consider safe. They can choose from among those, but the thickness of the coating may be different, as well as the composition. Then the storage conditions come into play, if you've kept them in a warm, moist area, that could cause it to rub off easier, than if it were under optimal storage conditions that are defined by the FDA as being dry, dark, cool areas. For example, storing medications in your kitchen or bathroom...

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oval yellow pill 10/325 ## what is the shelf life for endocet ## endocet had a stable shelf life of 1 year. After the year it starts to loose its potency and may make you sick. ## To expand on Eddie's reply…. His response is correct for tablets or capsules that have been dispensed to you in a bottle from your pharmacy. In that case, they have an expiration date of one year from the date of dispensing, though most will not make you sick, they just lose potency. However, if they are in the original factory sealed container that has not been opened, then the storage shelf life is actually 3 years, since they have not yet been exposed to the elements that cause degradation, such as heat, light and moisture. There are some capsules, and all liquid medication formulation...

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I started with KREME omeprazole. Worked like a charm. Now me prescription was filled with SANDOZ omeprazole. I seems to be totally inactive and the chemical looks yellow instead of white. My reflux returned. Could it have degraded in hot storage?? ## Often times I find that the storage conditions have a pretty significant impact on the overall lifespan of a pill. So it sounds like that could very well be a possibility. I also wanted to mention that when you switch brand names or manufacturers the drug itself doesn't change, but rather the binders or fillers that they put with it. Certain "inactive" ingredients which may or may not be present in each brand, are actually detrimental to how the drug is metabolized and used by your body. So it is possible that you may respond fa...

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do m box oxycodone 30s have blue specks ## They are not listed as being supposed to have them, but it has been known to happen, with various pills, due to variations in the manufacturing process. Sometimes a dye or colored filler may not be completely mixed in. However, it shouldn't have any effect on them and the way they work, since they are inactive ingredients. Did you receive them this way from a pharmacy or from someone else? These types of variations have also been known to occur due to improper storage, such as unwanted exposure to heat and light, or if the pills are old and have been sitting around for awhile.

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Found some Phendimetrazine capsules my doc prescribed last year. Wondering if they are still ok to take or would they be expired? They are black on kne half and clear kn the other with G5254 on it. ## The pill you're describing is actually imprinted "E5254" and has been identified as Phendimetrazine tartrate extended-release 105 mg. However based on my research, this particular medication is listed as having an estimated shelf life of 2-5 years under proper storage conditions. Also, according to a Harvard Medical School family health article, except in rare cases (i.e. tetracycline), there is little chance of danger due to taking medications even up to 15 years beyond their expiration date. Source: health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update1103a.shtml I hope this info helps to an...

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As with most pills, tabs, etc., my pharmacist states that the one year exp. dates are for inventory software programs based on inj's. and other sensitive liquid meds. That said, he let me know, that over 90% of the most popular drugs prescribed, still have over 95% of their potency at 5 years after the Rx date, including hydroxyzine. ## Hello, Marcel! How are you? Thank you for providing such valuable information. The one year expiration from the pharmacy, when they give you a medication, is set, because it's the maximum time that the manufacturer can guarantee the medication will maintain full potency under average storage conditions, as required by the FDA. But yes, a large percentage of them do maintain potency much longer, however, only someone's doctor can say if it is ...

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