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Health: Some medicines are still effective after their expiration date
Health: Some medicines are still effective after their expiration date
(France 2)
Some medications such as paracetamol and ibuprofen remain effective even after they have expired and for several years, according to a study by UFC Que Choisir.
On medicine boxes, the expiry date is written in very small print. Three years to use Doliprane tablets: not sure that we always read this date or take it into account. Are expired medicines effective? Apparently yes for paracetamol and ibuprofen, according to a study by UFC Que Choisir.
Eight out of ten drugs, even if expired, remain 90% effective. Case in point: an Efferalgan tablet that was lying in a cupboard, expired since 1992 but 100% effective. The question of the expiry date arises. Extended deadlines would prevent waste, especially in times of shortage. The National Agency for the Safety of Medicines has already started discussions with manufacturers, but this is not so easy to implement. The rule in force remains: expired drugs must be returned to the pharmacy.