Q. The expiration date on all my medicine is one year after the prescription is filled. Does this mean the Percocet I have on hand for a bad back becomes toxic after that time or is it just ineffective?
A. If your pain medicine is only a few months out of date it is unlikely to be ineffective or toxic. The one-year discard date is for the convenience of the pharmacist and does not necessarily reflect the manufacturer’s actual expiration date.
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.org.
© 2007 King Features Syndicate, Inc.