It is a time of year when many people have experienced flu and hay fever symptoms, only to find that their medication supply has expired.

Prof. Renier Coetzee from the University of the Western Cape's School of Public Health warns against taking expired medication since it poses significant health, economic and environmental risks.

He said medications may lose potency and effectiveness when they pass their expiration dates, leading to potential health hazards. “In the industry, stability testing determines these dates, ensuring medicines remain safe and effective under various storage conditions. However, over time, medications degrade, which can result in reduced efficacy or even harmful byproducts.”

He emphasised that expired medications can pose significant risks to both individual health and the environment.

“It is crucial to dispose of them properly to avoid these potential hazards. One major concern is the use of expired antibiotics.

“Subtherapeutic doses, which are too low to effectively treat infections, can contribute to antimicrobial resistance. This resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses or fungi no longer respond to treatments, making infections harder to manage and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.”

He said chronic disease medications, such as insulin or heart medications, also pose risks when expired, as reduced potency can lead to serious health consequences.

Prof Coetzee elaborated on the topic in The Conversation, discussing the improper disposal of expired medications and providing options for the safest, most responsible disposal methods.

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