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Q: Shelf life of Analgesics ( Answered,   0 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Shelf life of Analgesics
Category: Science
Asked by: thebear123-ga
List Price: $10.00
Posted: 13 Jul 2003 18:24 PDT
Expires: 12 Aug 2003 18:24 PDT
Question ID: 229612
What is the real shelf life of analgesic tablets containing
paracetamol, caffeine & codeine, if sored under ideal conditions?
Manufacturers are notorius for setting short expiry dates to boost
sales, even setting expiry dates where there is limitless shelf life
if correctly stored.
Answer  
Subject: Re: Shelf life of Analgesics
Answered By: tutuzdad-ga on 13 Jul 2003 21:38 PDT
 
Dear thebear123-ga;

Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting
question.

Here is an example of a product report on the drug Feminax that
contains all the substances you mentioned. This is considered a
“stable” drug with an official shelf life of 36 months.

PRODUCT SUMMARY - FEMINAX

HTML VERSION
http://216.109.117.135/search/cache?p=caffeine+tablets+%22shelf+life%22&ei=UTF-8&vm=i&n=20&fl=0&url=pNJdwRin46sJ:www.rocheuk.com/ProductDB/Documents/rch/spc/Feminax_UK_SPC.pdf
PDF VERSION
http://www.rocheuk.com/ProductDB/Documents/rch/spc/Feminax_UK_SPC.pdf


Now, having said that let me direct your attention to the exhaustive
report that I am certain will shed a great deal of light on what
you’ve already guessed to be true about ACTUAL SHELF LIFES.

REPORTS OF COUNCIL ON SCIENTIFIC AFAIRS

HTML VERSION
http://216.109.117.135/search/cache?p=analgesic+%22actual+shelf+life%22&ei=UTF-8&vm=i&n=20&fl=0&url=Wv1SHAQJmmEJ:www.ama-assn.org/ama1/upload/mm/interim01/CSA_Reports.pdf
PDF VERSION

This report explains the differences between “expiration dates” and
“use-by dates” and goes on to say that in tests, some stable drugs can
last up to 107 months. It also says that the military routinely
requests (and gets) expiration extensions on its stockpiled drugs and
uses them regularly, saving themselves a whopping $263.4 million
between 1993 and 1998. On the other hand, while the report never
directly addresses the fact that manufacturers would like to keep the
expiration dates as low as possible in order to keep you as a regular
customer, it does say that as much as $120 BILLION DOLLARS per year is
spent on simply replacing expired medications alone!

To confirm your suspicions the report says that “extension of drug
product expiration periods is strictly voluntary for pharmaceutical
manufacturers” (pg 2 para 7). We aren’t likely to get any input on the
matter from the FDA either as the report so aptly put it, “The FDA
noted that it lacks the resources to pursue such studies” (pg 4 para
2).

Below you will find that I have carefully defined my search strategy
for you in the event that you need to search for more information. By
following the same type of searches that I did you may be able to
enhance the research I have provided even further. I hope you find
that that my research exceeds your expectations. If you have any
questions about my research please post a clarification request prior
to rating the answer. Otherwise, I welcome your rating and your final
comments and I look forward to working with you again in the near
future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga


INFORMATION SOURCES

PRODUCT SUMMARY - FEMINAX

HTML VERSION
http://216.109.117.135/search/cache?p=caffeine+tablets+%22shelf+life%22&ei=UTF-8&vm=i&n=20&fl=0&url=pNJdwRin46sJ:www.rocheuk.com/ProductDB/Documents/rch/spc/Feminax_UK_SPC.pdf
PDF VERSION
http://www.rocheuk.com/ProductDB/Documents/rch/spc/Feminax_UK_SPC.pdf


REPORTS OF COUNCIL ON SCIENTIFIC AFAIRS

HTML VERSION
http://216.109.117.135/search/cache?p=analgesic+%22actual+shelf+life%22&ei=UTF-8&vm=i&n=20&fl=0&url=Wv1SHAQJmmEJ:www.ama-assn.org/ama1/upload/mm/interim01/CSA_Reports.pdf
PDF VERSION

SHELF LIFE EXTENSION PROGRAM
https://afml.ft-detrick.af.mil/afmlo/product/cfm/dtl.cfm?type=SLEP


SEARCH STRATEGY


SEARCH ENGINE USED:

Google ://www.google.com


SEARCH TERMS USED:

ACTUAL SHELF LIFE ANALGESICS

CODEINE

CAFFEINE

PARACETAMOL

SHELF LIFE EXTENSION PROGRAM
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