HAVE MY PILLS REALLY EXPIRED?

Don’t throw those pills away too soon, in most cases. The drug expiration on a drug means the manufacturer guarantees its potency until that date. This date is required to be stamped on the bottle, due to a law created in 1979. However the FDA has found that 90% of more than 100 drugs are OK to use even 15 years after the expiration date. There are a few exceptions, such as nitroglycerin, insulin and liquid antibiotics. The potency of most drugs may decrease over 15 years, of course, but there is no indication that they are unsafe to take. Placing a medication in the refrigerator will help in maintaining the potency of the drug over the years.