by Daniel Coffman

Created on: November 07, 2011   Last Updated: November 09, 2011

The medicine cabinet has always represented relief: from pain, from illness, fever, sleeplessness, discomfort of any kind. But there are hidden dangers behind that mirrored door of which the average person should be aware. These concerns are twofold: the risk of overdose or poisoning, and intentional misuse.

Medicines in your home, whether they be prescription or OTC (over the counter, i.e. non-prescription) always list an expiration date. Unlike foods, which often indicate spoilage via appearance or bad smell, expired drugs often give no indication anything is wrong, other than the printed date on the bottle. Most medications simply lose potency over time until they have little to no positive effect.  Most

agree that the obligatory expiration date on OTC medicines such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen mean little. If the drug in question is only a month or two past the listed date, it is most likely safe to use. But with prescription medication, the phrase “better safe than sorry” applies.

Another danger with medicines is exposure to the elements. Extremes of heat, cold and moisture can have a negative effect on many common medications. For example, if moisture from, say, a shower unit should seep into a bottle of aspirin, the chemical composition changes to that of acid, which can severely damage the stomach lining. Improperly sealed medications can develop molds or bacteria that can make the user even sicker than the condition being treated.

Another concern to be aware of involves labeling. Never use medications in unlabeled bottles, and make sure not to store one medicine in a different bottle. Such “mislabeling” can cause confusion down the road, resulting in taking the wrong pill or dosage, with disastrous results. Even acetaminophen in large doses can cause liver and kidney damage.

Drug interactions are a major concern to doctors and pharmacists when prescribing medications to their patients. Likewise, consumers should also be aware of the dangers of mixing drugs. Taking two or more depressants, such as alcohol and a prescription painkiller such as hydrocodone, or with anti-depressants or anti-psychotics, can have powerful negative effects on a person’s system.

Lastly when it comes to prescription and OTC drug safety, mind the dosage. Many people insist on “self-medicating”, especially when it comes to doling out medical help. There is a dosage recommendation on every bottle, and it should be followed to avoid

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