OUT-DATED PATENT MEDICINES LIKE “TUMS” THEY ARE STILL GOOD –USE THEM!

As a retired pharmacist, graduated 1954, I feel guilty to tell my readers this piece of information which before now never occurred to me. The outdated or expired date on a bottle of any patent medicine is not there for the protection of the customer, but solely so the manufacturer can sell more product, and I would be less than honest if I did not also confess the pharmacy benefits as well. Yes, it is true that the potency of the active ingredient may be slightly less but for all practical purposes you will get the same effect. The impression, although not stated on the label is that the chemical will not work at all, at least the manufacturer wants you to get that idea. Now this is not true for pharmaceuticals prescribed for an illness  by a patient under the care of a physician . In this case it may be wise to get a new Rx , if the old one is a few years old. Most symptoms like a headache or arthritic pain do not occur on a daily basis so the chances are the bottle will not be emptied. But the manufacturer wants you to buy anyway , when the expiry date is reached ,so they can sell more product. Use your common sense, if the pills change colour or they are many, many years old, put your hands in your pocket and buy another bottle. You will not go broke. OTC (over the counter) drugs are not that expensive.

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