Im with a group of students and we are currently trying to solve the high annual wastage of medicine. So does anyone has any idea where to we start?

Why is it being wasted?

They are all expired or cant be used anymore

http://www.usamma.army.mil/DOD_SLEP.cfm

 

The SLEP program did a study on expiration dates on medicine for the US Army. There should be some good data there.

How do you reuse cough medicine? I don't think I want to know.

How do you reuse cough medicine? I don't think I want to know.

 

This isn't about drinking it and reusing it after that. That'd be quite impossible, btw, no matter whether you want to know it or not.

 

It's about reusing expired medicines

 

This isn't about drinking it and reusing it after that. That'd be quite impossible, btw, no matter whether you want to know it or not.

 

It's about reusing expired medicines

I think he was being a comic.

I think he was being a comic.

 

Forgive me, felow users, for exam periods are impendent for social interactions of many students

It's about reusing expired medicines

 

 

That would be USING expired medicine, surely. (Also just joking.)

That would be USING expired medicine, surely. (Also just joking.)

 

That bugged me too, not joking. I changed the title.

 

Reusing means you've already used it at least once, and are going to use it again before throwing it away. It shouldn't apply to anything taken in doses. I'm not reusing my toothpaste every time I brush, I'm just using it.

 

As to the OP, my primary care physician told me the expiry dates are less important for solid pills where slightly less strength isn't going to affect efficacy as a cure. I was specifically asking about baby aspirin (81mg) and ibuprofen (200mg) in tablet form, and their respective abilities as anti-inflammatories and pain inhibitors. It's tempting to buy in bulk to save money, but often these family deals go past expiration.

I would think an expired cough medicine would be just fine for an expired cough.