2007-11-08 02:44:29 · 7 answers · asked by tjp 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
Expiration dates were created for a reason - nothing lasts forever.
Any prescription drug that has expired should be disposed of - flushing down toilet is the easiest. Also remember to remove your Rx label from the bottle - soaking is the easiest.
Also, you should never self-medicate. Just because you received antibiotics last time you were sick, does't necessarilly mean you need them again. Symptoms may be same, but diagnosis may be different. You don't want to become immune to antibiotics.
2007-11-08 02:51:52 · answer #1 · answered by VAWoman 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
First of all, you shouldn't have left over antibiotics... ever hear of MRSA??? A super bug?? Well it has been created because of people overusing or misusing antibiotics. See, when you are given a prescription of antibiotics, you are supposed to take the WHOLE bottle... they want to make sure that you totally kill the bacteria... if you don't, the bacteria is given the chance to become immune to the antibiotics... thus making it stronger and stronger and now we have superbugs like MRSA that cannot be treated with anything and people can die from it. Just on the news this morning, there was an alert of a new superbug that is getting kids... and causing meningitis (infection of the brain)... so I would suggest that you take all antibiotics next time they are prescribed to you, and also, I would not use the ones that you have that are over a year old. Go get a new prescription... the antibiotics that you have might not even be effective for whatever you have going on.
2007-11-08 10:54:16 · answer #2 · answered by Nursy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why do you have leftover antibiotics? You are supposed to take all the pills when prescribed, failing to do so may lead to reinfection and the creation of antibiotic resistent bugs.
If you have a new infection, you need a new presciption to get the proper number of pills. And you need to see a doctor to confirm that you have an infection that can be treated with antibiotics and that the correct antibiotic is used.
2007-11-08 10:54:28 · answer #3 · answered by Judy B 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO. Do not mess w/antibiotics. They are usually pretty cheap - you need to get re-prescribed. Plus you have no way of knowing if they are the right ones to use or if you even have an infection!
2007-11-08 11:05:03 · answer #4 · answered by valerino539 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, you should flush them down the toilet. Some drugs actually can become quite toxic after the expiration date.
2007-11-08 10:52:54 · answer #5 · answered by Phurface 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You cannot use leftover medicines without a doc's ok. Look at the expiration date on the bottle. If they are outdate put them with your other drugs you have to take to your communities next drug recycling program.
2007-11-08 10:47:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
only take them if there is a date on them otherwise you need to throw them away
2007-11-08 10:48:36 · answer #7 · answered by babycakes11 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋