How long can opened medicines be used?

Friends often ask whether opened medicines can be used as long as they are within the validity period. The answer is: it depends on the situation.

The shelf life of a drug refers to the period during which the drug can maintain its quality under the specified storage conditions . For storage conditions, you need to read the instructions and pay attention to whether it needs to be refrigerated. Generally, it should be kept away from direct sunlight and not in places with high humidity.

The expiration date of a drug shall be based on the expiration date indicated on the drug packaging. Generally, the expiration date is marked as a certain year and month, or as a number. For example, if a drug is marked "expiring until December 2023", the drug can be used until December 31, 2023.

However, once the original packaging of the drug is opened, the expiration date of the drug will change. This is the expiration date of the drug. The expiration date of the drug is not necessarily equal to the expiration date. The expiration date of the drug after opening can be referred to in the figure below.

Medical institutions have also made some regulations for some drugs, such as the shelf life of oral preparations, which is the time required to take the prescribed dosage, usually 1-2 weeks. If you have any questions, please ask your pharmacist or doctor in time.

The shelf life of medicines is not absolute, and the storage conditions of different medicines are different. Once the medicine is taken out of the original packaging, such as unpacking the box or opening the bottle cap, it is no longer suitable for long-term storage and should be used in a timely manner.