My local discount store has never been a class act but this is a stretch even by their standards. I still bought several packages.

NoSalt · 10 months

How is that even legal?

Zavarakatranemi · 10 months

I actually asked my family's doctor and our pharmacist (and a friend of mine, also a pharmacist) about this a while back, after noticing how much less some new drugs lasted, compared to their older releases.

It turns out, not all medicine really "go bad" after they expire. A lot of them, mostly syrups, should indeed be consumed strictly within the time given. Some however just "lose their edge", and simply aren't as effective after their expiration date. Their effect might not be as immediate, or you might need 2 pills instead of one to gain the same result. In some cases even, the pharmaceutical companies write shorter expiration dates so people buy the product more often. Either way, it's not something I'd like (anyone) to try without consulting a doctor or their pharmacist. Better be safe than sorry.

I hope your discount store has at least that much down :)

inventsNewMyth · 10 months

Am I the only one who noticed "2 for a dollar or 99¢ each"?

mattisaloser · 10 months

My roommate is in Pharmacy school and he once told me that expired medicine usually metabolizes and can sometimes be something completely different than what it ought to be. He then went on a rant about how Tylenol has had a bunch of bad batches and they can't keep a control...I dunno, I'm an engineer, I don't like all this medical mumbo jumbo.

tooth2gum_ratio · 10 months

Where is this store located? For research purposes of course.

Coldhardt · 10 months

Not all expired medicine is bad. People assume they're toxic and will/can kill you.

Usually, though, they're just weakened. I'm not saying they're not bad, they are. 500mg of a certain antibiotic may help combat an infection while 500mg of same said antibiotic once expired may or may not.

Googunk · 10 months

To be fair - to test the expiration date manufacturers leave a pill on the shelf for a year, then test if it still works. If it does, it gets a one year expiration date despite that it may last much longer, it's just not proven too.

The bin was full of zyrtec and children cough medicine.

Edit: I'm aware it is more complicated than this but its the short version. Moral of the story is meds can still be perfectly safe and effective after expiration. Or not, who knows. Mark it down to 50cents and let the customer find out.

AppleBlossom63 · 10 months

Just never ever take tylenol that has been expired for two years unless you really love puking.

DracoSolon · 10 months

"But Marge, maybe I'm not getting enough ES-TRO-GEN."

pussErox · 10 months

so are they 2 for a dollar, or 99 cent each? Depends on how long ago the item in question expired? can you haggle?

[deleted] · 10 months

I wonder if there was anybody who didn't see value in getting 2 for $1.00?

Decyde · 10 months

I trust meds up to 6 months past the exp date.

richard_photograph · 10 months

so 2 for $1 or 99 cents each...i guess ill just get one

Googunk · 10 months

UPDATE: oops. Sorry Deals Only...I didn't mean for that to happen.

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/03/09/2429974/bellingham-discount-store-pulls.html

onseth · 10 months

Hurrr. Medicine doesn't usually go bad, unless it's some sort of liquid or chewables(throat chewables having in mind, they taste disgusting when they get over their expiration date), things also to avoid are sprays, syrups, they can cause problems when they're really old.

Everything else, pills etc. go ahead, I've had to use expired medicine quite often in my early life(pills and creams mostly), they did work fine.

oldestguyhere · 10 months

Apu, is that you? The Simpsons is awesome.

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