Doxycycline tablets taken on a daily basis as an anti malaria tablet.
Hot and humid country, nowhere to store below 25c
Are the tablets still safe, or have they spoilt?
New, they are royal blue and white, but now they are purple and white
2006-12-17 23:12:28 · 12 answers · asked by Balaboo 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
A change in color from Blue to Purple (purple is an increase in the saturation spectrum) refers to a hydrogenation of the medication or dosage form. It is not a universal rule that it has become unstable.
That being said here is the answer:
If this medicine has changed color or tastes or looks different, has become outdated (old), or has been stored incorrectly (too warm or too damp area or place), do not use it . To do so may cause serious side effects . Throw away the medicine. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
My best answer is to return to your pharmacist (chemist) and ask him to take a look at the pills and recommend a refill on the remaining tablets. In areas that are too humid your best guess is to ask your pharmists for a few extra sorbits, these are the little silica packs that you find in food and pharmaceuticals. (Its the white little package that says DO NOT EAT on it). This can protect the medication from excess moisture but most drugs were not packaged for extreme heats and humidity.
2006-12-18 00:17:50 · answer #1 · answered by tomaso4 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Im a pharmacist. The colour is a pigment added. Doxycycline is a pale yellow colour. However moisture will cause rapid degradation of the drug. I suspect the new colour is the result of reaction of the docycycline with the pigment. Indicating that you should dispose of these tablets safely.
2006-12-17 23:51:18 · answer #2 · answered by peter c 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
pills do no longer inevitably grow to be ineffective on the expiry date shown on the packet. maximum drugs become worse steadily over the years and a few can grow to be poisonous. the main reasons for putting expiry dates on pills are: a million) to deter human beings from protecting unused pills. 2) to end pharmacists allotting previous inventory.
2016-10-15 04:11:51 · answer #3 · answered by seabrooks 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on whether it's a yeast-related pill. If it's not, it might be alright to take it because it may just be the temperature of the environment that's affecting the colour.
If it's changed colours even in fridge, then it might have been contaminated through mishandling (eg. a pill was taken from the bottle with a dirty hand!)
If the colour is spotty, no matter what, throw them away cos they're definitely contaminated.
2006-12-17 23:43:04 · answer #4 · answered by MyQute 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Check with a pharmacist.
2006-12-17 23:21:18 · answer #5 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Go to pharmacist and ask, probably unsafe as need cool storage.
2006-12-17 23:14:57 · answer #6 · answered by Barry G 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Check with your pharmacist
2006-12-17 23:20:07 · answer #7 · answered by reggie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't take them. It could just be a simple cause like...the temperature they are stored at, or it could be a bacteria.
2006-12-18 10:03:28 · answer #8 · answered by nikki m 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
EVEN THOUGH THE EXPIRY DATE IS 2008, I DONT PREFER THE INTAKE OF THOSE PILLS.
AS IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE.
2006-12-17 23:17:21 · answer #9 · answered by PINKY 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
don't take the chance ask chemist girl
2006-12-17 23:17:43 · answer #10 · answered by chav69 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋