What happens if you take expired medications? Is it possible to take medications after their expiration date? Good reasons to get rid of old medications

A little history

For thousands of years, humanity has been subject to infectious diseases, which have claimed millions of lives and been the leading cause of death. In 1929, the English microbiologist A. Fleming discovered the first antibiotic, penicillin. This became one of the most outstanding discoveries of the 20th century. A new era has begun in biology and medicine - the era of antibiotics. Since the 1940s, drugs that kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms have been widely used in medical practice. The ability of antibiotics to successfully fight infectious diseases previously considered deadly was perceived as a panacea. However, soon after the start of using antibiotics, doctors were faced with the problem of antibiotic resistance - bacteria that were insensitive to their action began to appear. Unfortunately, the number of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms is growing steadily every year. This is largely due to the fact that, forgetting about caution, many people use antibiotics at their own discretion.

What necessary know if you are going to use antibiotics:

• Antibiotics are effective only for bacterial infectious diseases, that is, for diseases caused by bacteria

The majority of the Russian population has antibiotics in their home medicine cabinets and uses them independently for colds, fever, and intestinal upset, which is not only completely pointless and useless, but also harmful.

Antibiotics are useless for:

• ARVI, influenza these conditions are caused by viruses, on which antibiotics have no effect;
• elevated temperature antibiotics are not antipyretic or painkillers;
• inflammatory processes antibiotics do not have an anti-inflammatory effect;
• cough there are many causes of cough: viral infections, allergies, bronchial asthma, increased sensitivity of the bronchi to environmental irritants and many others, and only a small proportion of cough is associated with microorganisms;
• Intestinal disorder It is not at all necessary that this condition is a sign of an intestinal infection. Abnormal bowel movements can be caused by many reasons, ranging from simple intolerance to a product to foodborne toxic infection, when it is not the pathogen that enters the body, but the toxin it produces. In addition, it should be noted that most intestinal infections are caused by viruses, but even if the causative agent is bacteria, the use of antibiotics often increases the duration of the disease.

• Antibiotics should be used according to strict indications and only when the doctor diagnoses an infectious disease

All drugs in this class, unfortunately, are not universal and are by no means harmless. Each antibiotic has its own spectrum of action, i.e. acts only on certain microorganisms that are sensitive to it. Only a doctor can determine which antibiotic is needed for a particular disease.

Self-medication with antibiotics contributes to spread of infections(for example, syphilis). Self-administration of antibiotics can lead to “erasing” signs of the disease, and it will be very difficult (if not impossible) to detect. This is especially true if an acute abdomen is suspected, when the patient’s life depends on a correct and timely diagnosis. Ineffective antibiotic treatment can lead to chronic disease(gonorrhea, chlamydia, intestinal infections).

• Only a doctor can determine the required dose and duration of antibiotic use.

Despite the detailed instructions that accompany almost all medications, there are many factors that can only be taken into account by a doctor. Thus, a small dose or a short course can lead to development of microorganism resistance to antibiotics, in which case treatment will need to be started again. It must be remembered that an improvement in well-being or a decrease in temperature is not a reason to discontinue the antibiotic, since only full course of treatment may lead to recovery.

Exceeding the dose or taking too long a course may have toxic effect on the body. In addition, many people suffer from diseases of the heart, liver, kidneys, nervous system, diabetes, etc. and are forced to almost constantly take other medications. Only a doctor can take into account possible interactions between drugs and choose the safest antibiotic for a given person.

• Antibiotics should be used under the supervision of a doctor and you must inform him of any changes in your health during treatment.

When choosing an antibiotic, you should also take into account the possible side effects that each drug has, because no drugs without side effects. These are allergies, individual intolerance, toxic effects on the kidneys, liver, blood and much more. In most cases, side effects from medications are rare. However, serious drug companies always indicate possible adverse changes in a patient's condition, even if they were probably not related to the drug. Only a doctor can assess the true risk associated with a particular drug.; If side effects occur, decide whether to continue treatment, discontinue the drug, or prescribe additional treatment.

• It is NOT ACCEPTABLE to use drugs that have expired

For expired drugs (especially tetracyclines) the likelihood of side effects increases significantly. It is very difficult to predict how the drug will behave in the body. An expired medicine will do more harm than good.

• Antibiotics should be used especially carefully in children, pregnant and lactating women

You should know that many widespread and “popular” antibiotics among the population (tetracycline, doxycycline, chloramphenicol, etc.) prohibited for use in children, pregnant and lactating women. They have a toxic effect on the fetus and child.

• The free sale of antibiotics in Russia is not a reason for a frivolous attitude towards them. These are drugs that must be used according to STRICT indications and ONLY as prescribed by a doctor! Do not try to treat yourself, trusting only the instructions for the drug and medical reference books!

Expired medications: in most cases, no big deal, but not 100% in all cases. Therefore, it is worth studying the text more carefully.

It turns out that even 5-15 years after the expiration date, up to 85-90% of expired medications are in perfect order, while the rest experience a decrease in the effect of the active substance.

Zozhnik understands, weighing information from different sources, which medications can and cannot be taken after the expiration date.

90% of expired drugs are in perfect order several years after the expiration date

Opinion from David Nirenberg, chief of pharmacology and toxicology at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center :

If several months or even a year have passed after the expiration date and the medicine was stored under proper conditions ( Has not been exposed to excessive heat or cold, has not been exposed to sunlight, has not been exposed to high levels of humidity, etc. ) – then for the vast majority of medications this does not create any problems.

Pharmaceutical companies only test drugs for a certain limited time and guarantee that it will be fine. However, this does not mean that it will deteriorate after the warranty period; manufacturers simply do not usually test it for a long time. For example, regular aspirin is guaranteed for 2-3 years - I repeat, subject to proper storage.

Pharmacologists advise reviewing your first aid kit about once a year, throwing out expired medications.

There is also scientific research: in 2000, the FDA conducted a study of expired drugs from military stockpiles. It was found that 90% of expired medications remain intact several years after the expiration date. The study highlighted that pharmaceutical companies are too conservative and cautious when determining the shelf life of a drug.

In 2006, the journal Clinical Pharmacology also published an article in which research data was published. 88% of the tested drugs fully retained their properties for at least a year after the end of use, and on average this figure was 5 years.

However, in both cases there is no 100% certainty, because we are talking about medications.

What expired medications should you throw away?

However, according to Nirenberg There are medications that need to be thrown away after the expiration date:

• Liquid medications that have begun to be used. If the package has been opened and the medicine has been used even once - this creates an opportunity for bacteria to multiply - the contents of the bottle are no longer sterile. This applies, for example, to eye drops - do not use expired drops!
• Prescription medications that have been improperly stored. Some medications need to be stored in the refrigerator; some, on the contrary, are not recommended to be stored in the refrigerator. But you need to be especially careful when storing prescription drugs. For example, Nitroglycerin tablets are especially sensitive and deteriorate when heated. The worst thing that can happen to them, according to Nirenburg, is that they will not act.
• Antibiotics. If you have a serious infection and it is important to take specific antibiotics, there is no way to be 100% sure whether expired antibiotics are working or not, so it is better to play it safe in this case. In general, the more serious your condition, the less risk it is worth. However, for some medications this period is much longer. For example, the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, one of the drugs used to treat anthrax, remained usable for another 12 years after its expiration date, according to a 2006 study.

However, the worst thing that can happen with expired medications is that they may become less effective.

• anticonvulsants, such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, lamotrigine;
• phenobarbital;
• nitroglycerine;
• warfarin;
• theophylline;
• digoxin;
• thyroid medications, such as levothyroxine sodium;
• paraldehyde;
• oral contraceptives;
• epinephrine;
• insulin;
• various eye drops.

We were unable to find any cases of serious harm caused by taking expired medications. There was one case in the 1960s where some people developed kidney problems after taking expired antibiotics, but the treatment was quite simple and quick. Apart from this incident, expired medications have not led to any serious consequences.

Each of us strives to optimize our lives. So, things are placed orderly on hangers in the wardrobe, linen is neatly laid out in dresser drawers, and food is stored in the refrigerator.

However, when it comes to the medications that make up a home medicine cabinet, many people show amazing negligence. As a result, medications are stored without taking into account the technical conditions and terms recommended by the manufacturer, which, at best, can lead to the drug losing its pharmacological properties, and at worst, provoke poisoning.

Knowing the approximate shelf life of drugs in various forms of release, it is possible to ensure proper storage of medications without loss of their effectiveness and safety for quite a long time.

What does the expiration date of drugs mean?

The shelf life of a medicinal product is the warranty period during which the active ingredient of the drug retains all the necessary pharmacological properties. During this period, the medicine complies with the standard standards in accordance with which it was produced.

The approximate shelf life of medicines is established experimentally by conducting clinical trials, based on the results of which the optimal storage time of the medicine is adjusted. After processing statistical data, the average shelf life of drugs is determined (at least 2, but not more than 5 years), which is indicated on the packaging (bottle, blister, bottle, ampoule).

At the same time, a series of experiments conducted by the American Medical Organization in 2001 confirms the fact that 88% of medications do not lose their beneficial properties after their expiration date. Thus, out of 3 thousand study drugs, 2652 units retained all safety and effectiveness characteristics for 66 months after the end of the time allotted for storage of drugs:

• these 88% remain effective for 5–25 years while maintaining the integrity of the packaging;
• the remaining 12% is partially destroyed, but about 50–70% of the active substance is retained in them, so although they are not so effective, they are still not useful;
• Not a single drug contains such a high concentration of decomposition products of the main and auxiliary ingredients that this would pose a threat to the health and life of the patient.

But you need to take into account that such statistics only work in relation to unopened products packaged in sealed containers (tubes, bottles) or a sealed blister.

Expiration dates for printed medications. Table

Printed medications cannot be used after the expiration date; special requirements are imposed on their shelf life after depressurization:

Can medications be used after the expiration date?

Many expired medications can be used for 1-2 years after the recommended date, as long as the packaging is kept intact. However, you should not take the funds if:

• the color or consistency of the tablet has changed;
• In the liquid sealed in the bottle, a precipitate is visualized, flakes have formed.

It should be taken into account that some medications (for example, tetracycline) lose their properties after the expiration date, so their use can lead not only to the loss of the effectiveness of the active substance, but also cause poisoning.

Under no circumstances should you use expired injections.

After the time allotted for storing medicines has expired, you should absolutely not use:

• ophthalmic medications (by the end of the shelf life, the effect of the preservative ceases, which is fraught with uncontrolled growth of bacteria);
• medicinal syrups (sweet environment is a fertile environment for the growth of various bacteria);
• solutions for injections (they can be toxic);
• multivitamins (vitamin molecules are very sensitive to light and heat, and under unfavorable conditions they decompose very quickly);

The following rules apply to tablet medications:

1. tablets in a blister remain effective for some time after the expiration date;
2. The tablets in the bottle must be used within 1 year after opening. The active substance of the drug undergoes an oxidation reaction, which leads to the destruction of preservatives. In this case, the tablet turns into poison, since bacteria actively multiply on its surface (they become active after the destruction of preservatives inhibiting their growth due to exposure to air), which will lead to food poisoning.

The end of the time allotted for storing medicines, engraved on the packaging, is just a guideline, a kind of beacon indicating how long the medicines can be stored. This is the period during which the drug is most effective. This does not mean that a week or even six months after the expiration date, the medicine will become useless or turn into a poison toxic to the body.

The exceptions are some antibiotics, nitroglycerin and insulin.

Do not cut off the part of the blister that no longer contains tablets, so that you always have the opportunity to check the expiration date of the medicine

So is it possible to use expired medicine?

P Almost any medicine, the use of which does not exceed 2 years, remains effective for at least another 1 year (if the product is not printed), so the actual shelf life of medicines is 4–5, and some drugs (for example, aspirin) and 10–20 years. However, the effectiveness and safety of the product are maintained only if the temperature and storage conditions recommended by the manufacturer are observed.

So, if you store nitroglycerin at elevated temperatures (over 25˚C), it will deteriorate within a month; the situation is even worse with insulin - in such heat it will become unusable after a day.

Minimum terms are clearly indicated on medicinal products so that the manufacturer can:

1. protect yourself from many troubles related to the legal side of the issue - people, at their own peril and risk, will take medications without an exact end-use date, and then sue the manufacturing company if the product is insufficiently effective;
2. defend your innocence in the patient’s side effects if the medicine has a very long shelf life - there is no test data that accurately determines what chemical reactions can occur inside the medicine molecule;
3. to obtain maximum profit from the sale of medicines - the unrealistically short shelf life of the medicine and the ban on its use after its expiration create ideal conditions for the manufacturer to enrich themselves.

There is a “golden rule”, according to which you can safely add 10% of the time to the period indicated on the package in order to determine the real time of effectiveness of the product.

If the shelf life is 5 years, then it can be taken for another six months (this applies to medications taken orally).

Products for external use are not so critical for use, since if any unpleasant symptoms appear, they can simply be washed off. Therefore, you should not radically deal with your home pharmacy and throw away hermetically sealed expired medicines immediately; an expired gel/cream for rubbing or a blister of tablets can be used for some time.

Under no circumstances should long-expired medications be administered as injections, as this can cause irreparable harm to health.

How to properly store medications

Medicine – a complex multicomponent system consisting of an active substance and excipients, including preservatives, dyes, sweeteners, and binding components. The safety of the pharmacological properties regulated by the manufacturer directly depends on compliance with certain conditions for each of the ingredients, and the drug itself as a whole. As a result, the effectiveness of the drug depends on several factors:

Temperature

Information on recommended temperature values ​​is contained in the instructions included with each drug. Even a slight temperature fluctuation can be detrimental to the components of the medication. For example, alcohol extracts and tinctures quickly become unusable at high temperatures, as the preservative that prevents the decomposition of substances is destroyed.

Sometimes a change in the condition of the product can be noticed visually in the form of crystallization, cloudiness, or the appearance of flakes, in which case you can stop using it. But when chemical metamorphoses occur at the molecular level, that is, unnoticed by humans, this can lead to disastrous consequences.

Most solid and gaseous products packaged in aerosols are recommended to be stored at a temperature of 15-25 ˚C.

The inscription “in a cool place” means that the product must be placed in the refrigerator, since only there the temperature is maintained at up to 15 ° C.The recommendation “store at a temperature not exceeding 5 °C” should be interpreted as a requirement to put the medicine in the refrigerator.

These groups of drugs must be placed on different shelves:

• medicines in the form of candles are placed near the freezer;
• on the middle shelves of the refrigerator you can place tubes of ointments, gels and patches;
• For medications whose label indicates that they need to be stored in a cool place, you need to allocate space on shelves not adjacent to the freezer or on the refrigerator door, where a consistently cool temperature is maintained (10-15 ˚C).

To protect medications sent for storage in the refrigerator from moisture, it is recommended to additionally pack them in plastic bags or a hermetically sealed plastic storage container.

Medicines must not be frozen! After defrosting, irreversible chemical reactions occur in the active substance, the course of which even an experienced pharmacist cannot predict.

sunlight

All medicines are afraid of sunlight. Ultraviolet light is a catalyst for chemical and physical processes in medicines of various forms of release. It is impossible to recognize the “spoilage” of a medicine in time, so the medicines should be stored exclusively in a dark place (in a cabinet with a closing door) and away from heating appliances:

• syrups, tinctures, etc. are stored in the original cardboard packaging - this will provide “double protection” from light;
• It is recommended that tablets packaged in blisters should not be removed from the cardboard container, but stored in the same form as purchased at the pharmacy. As you use the medicine, you do not need to cut off the empty cells, since then the expiration date will be unknown.

Humidity

Most medications in the form of tablets, capsules, and powders are hygroscopic, that is, they easily absorb moisture, which changes their pharmacological properties. Therefore, you need to know where you can safely store your medications. It is not recommended to keep medications in the bathroom, even when placing medications in a special storage box, due to high humidity.

Air access

If the seal of the original packaging is broken, the active component of the drug may evaporate, oxidize, or interact with other chemicals. As a result, the effectiveness of the drug is reduced, and the effect of taking the medicine may be exactly the opposite of the expected result. Medicines should be stored in sealed containers and, after opening, used in accordance with the above standards.

Elderly people should not be allowed to squeeze out medicine purchased in a blister from its original cells, and then pour them into a common pile in an empty bottle. This storage method can lead to oxidation of the drug or a change in its properties due to contamination (tablets are taken with hands that contain bacteria).

Injection solutions that cannot be stored after destruction of the ampoule are used by many in this way: the medicine is kept in a syringe and used gradually, and the portion prescribed by the doctor is administered every day, and a cap is put on the syringe with the remaining drug. Although you can save a little on purchasing injections, you cannot store the product in a syringe for a long time.

Where to store

The ideal place to place your first aid kit should be dry, dark and cool. This is not a kitchen where the temperature regularly changes due to the use of the stove, not a bathroom where it is damp and humid, not a room where children can easily access medicines. So where should you place your medication?

A compact box for storing medications can be placed on the top shelf (with closing doors) in the hallway or, as a last resort, in a cabinet located in the kitchen, but located far from household appliances.

In any case, the shelf life of medications depends on compliance with the storage conditions specified in the instructions. Unfortunately, under unfavorable conditions, the medicine may deteriorate before the end of the warranty period.

It is recommended to store medications intended for internal or external use separately. These can be various boxes, bags or shelves. Means for disinfection and treatment of wounds and burns, such as iodine, brilliant green, peroxide, should be kept separately from other medications - a box with a tight-fitting lid is ideal for storage.

Dispose of expired medications so that they do not harm other people, animals and nature

What to do if the medicine has gone bad

Expired medicine must be properly disposed of so as not to pollute the environment and not create a danger of possible poisoning for anyone: a child, an animal, an adult. Here's how to throw away medications:

• you cannot simply pour or throw the drug down the drain - this increases the concentration of drugs in rivers and poisons the planet’s water resources;
• It is not recommended to throw packaged drugs into the trash; you should at least cut off/tear off the label;
• The ideal option for destroying unusable medications is as follows: remove tablets, capsules, etc. from packaging, wrap them in opaque paper and throw them away as such.

Algorithm for creating a safe first aid kit

1. all drugs must be grouped according to 2 criteria (for internal or external use);
2. each group of drugs should be stored in a separate plastic box;
3. requirements for storage conditions in terms of temperature, light, humidity must be met;
4. It is necessary to regularly audit the first aid kit in order to identify expired medications;
5. if the medication is expired, then it can be used for a limited period of time (10% of the recommended time);
6. all medications must have labels;
7. open tubes, bottles, bottles must have labels indicating the date of depressurization;
8. if the month is indicated on the packaging, then the product is considered suitable for this month inclusive;
9. Before taking the medicine, you should definitely study the instructions for the drug.

A home medicine cabinet usually contains medications for the treatment of chronic diseases and emergency aid. It always contains antipyretic and painkillers, as well as sorbents or agents aimed at treating intestinal disorders or eliminating the symptoms of food poisoning. Proper organization of medication storage at home will help to quickly, effectively and without harm to health, relieve the symptoms of minor illnesses before visiting a doctor. Follow the terms and conditions of storage and do not self-medicate with serious symptoms. Better yet, stay healthy!

Much depends on what kind of product it is, what packaging it comes in and how you stored it. Lipstick, blush and eye shadow can be stored for quite a long time, but it is better not to use foundations and skin care products after the expiration date. How long can different types of cosmetics be stored?

Expiration date after opening

Many cosmetic products have a special icon on the packaging - an image of an open can, and in it there is a number and the letter M. The number indicates how many months the product can be used after opening. Of course, this is not an ironclad rule, but it is still useful to focus on this period.

Sometimes this icon may not be on the product itself, but on its box. In order not to forget exactly when to get rid of a particular product, write it down. For example, you can mark with a marker on the packaging when you opened the product, or keep a separate notebook in which to write down the dates of purchase of cosmetics.

This is especially important for skincare products. They usually contain antioxidants and other active ingredients that lose their properties over time.

How to determine if a product has gone bad

If the product has changed its color, texture or smell, began to cause an unpleasant sensation on the skin, or has appeared on it, then it’s time to throw it away. Moreover, products with a soft and liquid texture deteriorate faster than powder products. And if cosmetics are marked “without preservatives”, bacteria will begin to develop in it faster, so it is better not to store it for a long time.

Mascara is worth mentioning separately. Usually it is advised to change it after three months, but few people actually do this. A 2013 study found that 70% of participants used expired mascara that contained harmful bacteria and fungi. Investigation on the use of expired make-up and microbiological contamination of mascaras.. Although you may not notice any effects after four or five months, you still shouldn't keep mascara for years.

Throw away dried mascara immediately; do not try to dilute it with water. Water is an ideal environment for the development of bacteria.

How long can you use cosmetics?

Decorative cosmetics

• Mascara (regular and waterproof) and eyeliner - 3–4 months.
• Liquid or cream foundations and concealers - from 6 months to a year.
• Powder products (blush, bronzers, shadows) - 2–3 years.
• Lipsticks, pencils and lip glosses - 2–3 years.

Care products

• Tonics - from 6 months to a year.
• Moisturizing creams and serums - from 6 months to a year.
• Cleansers - year.
• Products with AHA and BHA acids - one year.
• Lip balms - year.

Please note that eye or lip products you use when you are sick (flu or conjunctivitis) become contaminated. Such cosmetics must either be disinfected after each use, or thrown away after recovery.

How to extend the life of cosmetics

Keeping your makeup and brushes clean will help them last longer. Try not to touch the products themselves with your fingers to prevent bacteria from getting into them from your skin. To protect decorative cosmetics, you can use a special disinfectant spray.

Here are a few more rules that will help extend the life of your favorite products:

If cosmetics have an unpleasant odor or their texture has changed, they should be thrown away or

For safety reasons, pharmaceutical companies slightly underestimate the shelf life of drugs. Therefore, if necessary (if it is not possible to purchase a new drug), you can independently extend the shelf life of the tablets indicated on the packaging. But in any case, you can take expired tablets only if they were stored in a closed package and have not changed color and structure (have not become loose, do not crumble, etc.). However, if the color and structure of the tablet changes, you cannot take it, even if the expiration date has not yet expired. If you use special pill boxes for taking medications (where they are laid out for the day or for the week), remember: the maximum shelf life of the medicines in them is 10 days. So it is not advisable to prepare them more than a week in advance.

“The expiration date that manufacturers set usually has nothing to do with the drug, and it can be used much longer.” Drug manufacturers set this period in order to prove that during this period the drug will work most effectively. The expiration date does not mean or even imply that the drug will become less effective after it, or that it will become harmful.

1. Information on the packaging (Expiry date, EXP, also known as expiration date) means the date until which the contents of the unopened package comply with international standards (ISO), and in Russia GOST.

2. If the tablets are individually packaged (so-called blister), the opened pack can continue to be used until the expiration date.

3. It is recommended to store a printed bottle of tablets for no more than a year from the moment it is opened, otherwise there is a risk of developing gastrointestinal problems. As experiments have shown, such pleasant things as E. coli, salmonella, staphylococcus and their other relatives begin to multiply in an open bottle. In addition, tablets/capsules can, depending on their properties, either dry out or, on the contrary, absorb moisture from the air, and this all affects how the medicine is then absorbed in the body. Pharmacists who dispense prescription medications from large packages into small jars have strict instructions to dispose of the drug one year after opening the container, regardless of how much is left in it.

4. Ophthalmic preparations must definitely be disposed of after the expiration date, since by this time the effect of the preservative usually ceases and bacteria begin to multiply in the drops.

5. According to researchers covering hundreds of the most popular drugs in North America and Europe, 84% of drugs remain good for another 5-25 years after the expiration date, provided that the packaging is intact. For the remaining 16%, the active ingredient content is reduced to 50-70% of the amount stated on the label. That is, the drug becomes less effective, but not completely useless.

6. In none of the drugs analyzed many years after the expiration date, the content of decomposition products of the main components reached a level dangerous to the health of patients.

7. Solutions for injections. Do not use ampoules with expired injection solutions as they may be toxic. Do not use injection solutions, even if they have not expired, if they have changed color or have a cloudy sediment - this can be fatal.

All of the above does not apply to vitamins. These preparations are very unstable, vitamin molecules usually decompose at a tremendous speed, therefore, in order to ensure the content stated on the label by the time the expiration date expires, a 50-100% excess of each ingredient is initially added. Thus, by taking newly released vitamins, we regularly provide ourselves with a decent overdose. There is no point in being indignant and complaining about this, since until now the vitamin industry in North America has had virtually no legislative regulation. Now the FDA is gradually getting its hands on this matter, but it is still far from complete restoration of order.

Previously, the shelf life of many drugs was long. Now, finding a medicine that has a shelf life of more than 36 months is not an easy task. These two shortened years are explained mainly by someone's financial interests. Guess whose.

It is very important to store medications at the temperature indicated on the package. If there are no recommendations about the refrigerator, you can keep them in the room, but in no case on the refrigerator, not on the window or near the stove - there the temperature is often higher than room temperature, and this can lead to premature aging or spoilage of the medicines. By the way, putting drugs into the refrigerator that are not marked “Store at 2 - 8 degrees” (or something like that) is also not recommended for the same reasons.

We can clearly see some valuable ideas from this incredible article. Now you understand that

“Drug shelf life revolves around marketing, turnover and profits.”