Can you have expired cough drops?

The FDA says using expired medicine is risky and could be harmful to a person’s health, depending on what type of medication it is. “Once the expiration date has passed, there is no guarantee that the medicine will be safe and effective. If your medicine has expired, do not use it,” said the FDA.

What is the shelf life of cough drops?

Ricola Cough Drops have a two-year shelf life if stored in a cool, dry place.

What happens if you take old cough syrup?

Expired medical products can be less effective or risky due to a change in chemical composition or a decrease in strength. Certain expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth and sub-potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance.

How long can you use cough syrup after expiration date?

While it’s best only to use non-expired medications, one study conducted by the U.S. military showed that some medications could retain their potency up to one year after the expiration date has passed.

Does month and year have an expiration date?

Neither fully explains what the expiration date means. Actually, it’s the date up until which the drug manufacturer can guarantee that the medicine is fully potent and safe to take based on scientifically-sound product testing. It is usually expressed by month and year.

What happens if you use expired cough drops?

If you use expired cough drops, you may experience nausea, headache and vomiting. I take the view that where manufacturers are required by law to put expiry dates on their products, they will err on the safe side.

What happens if you eat too many cough drops?

What Happens If You Eat Too Many Cough Drops? Menthol is the primary active ingredient in almost all of the medicated cough drops. In cases of an overdose with cough drops, menthol is the one causing possible side effects. On average, cough drops contain about 5 mg to 10 mg of menthol.

Do Over-the-counter cough drops contain Pure menthol?

Over-the-counter cough drops don’t contain pure menthol. The menthol is usually watered down and mixed with other ingredients. To put it in perspective, a typical cough drop contains between 3 and 10 milligrams (mg) of menthol. The lethal dose of menthol is estimated to be roughly 1,000 mg (1 gram) per kilogram of body weight.

How many cough drops can you take in a day?

There is no standard limit to how many cough drops can be consumed. This is because the amount of menthol and other ingredients varies between brands. Cough drops should be treated as any medication, by following the information on the label to find out the safe dosage.