Stale Drugs

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30762, 28 May 1965, Page 10

Stale Drugs

Sir. —Having a recurrence of an eye infection for which drops and ointment were prescribed in another city last year, I checked my supply to find that they were both required to be used before May, 1965, but that the notices had been obscured by the druggist’s labels. When drugs were being collected recently for sending overseas, it was mentioned that some were stale according to the date shown, but that there was a wide tolerance. This may be so, but there must be a reason for showing a date, and i this should be transferred by i the druggist to his label, : along with a description of I the preparation. There is an i urgent need to restore our I shaken confidence in the ’ multiplicity of new prepara- • tions on the pharmacists’ ■ shelves.—Yours, etc., ' VARIAN J. WILSON. May 9, 1965. [The Medical Officer of Health (Dr. L. F. Jepson) replies: “I agree that expiry : date labels should not be ob- ■ scured. However, it is not recommended that drugs prescribed on one instance be kept for re-use. Practitioners prescribe sufficient drugs to cover the period of expected use to save the patient returning for extra small quantities of drugs, but storage at home is to be deprecated. Eye drops, in particular, are easily contaminated in use and when used some time later may induce infection.”]