Factors affecting drug deterioration in life mainly include sunlight, humidity, temperature, microorganisms, etc. If drugs are not properly stored, even if they are not opened, the shelf life may be shortened. Here are some preliminary methods to judge whether the drug has deteriorated.
tablets if the tablet changes color, looseness, adhesion, and sugar coating cracking, it will not only reduce the efficacy, but also sometimes have toxic and side effects. For example, aspirin will decompose into salicylic acid and acetic acid after absorbing moisture, which will give off a sour taste, stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, and may induce gastric mucosal bleeding.
capsules if the capsule is sticky or cracked, it is generally out of date and should not be taken.
suspension . Suspension is a dosage form that dissolves insoluble solid drug particles through liquid. Common medicines for children include Merrill Lynch and Tylenol. If they have flocs, color and taste changes, they may be out of date.
large bottle of liquid medicine large bottles of liquid drugs such as syrup and safflower oil can’t be used up at one time. They may have to be stored for a period of time before reuse. If there is stratification, precipitation and peculiar smell, it may be deteriorated and can not be taken any more.
external medicine such as plaster after the plaster is opened, it is easy to volatilize, the taste becomes weak, and the efficacy will decrease. Therefore, you’d better buy the plaster in a separate package. If you buy a large package, you should pay attention to the sealing.
It should also be noted that if the drug can not be taken within a short time after being opened, the opening time can be indicated on the packaging box so that the next time you take it, you can know whether it has exceeded the service life. If the drug is found to have the above-mentioned suspicious changes, it is not recommended to use it even within the “shelf life” on the packaging box to avoid adverse reactions.
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