I just have to ask...giving expired meds

Yesterday, my sister had stuffy nose. So, my mom asked me, the registered nurse in the family, if we could give nasal drops of Sodium Chloride. So she checked the expiry date, I checked it also. After giving it, I realized that it was past 3 months its expiry date. I only read the year, I don't know why I did not bother to look at the month. I know this was just as mistake at home, or it's just sodium chloride but I am beating myself up. I kept thinking to myself that if I make small mistakes, what more mistakes am I capable of even though I am triple checking everything else in the hospital. I researched about it, and mostly I read that the expiry date, for this case, only affects the sterility since it's salt and water. Any thoughts? thank you sorry but I am really bothered by something so shallow, I think.
Research by the US Armed Forces showed that medications past their expiration dates were for the most part unaffected in terms of efficacy and safety; exceptions include insulin and sublingual glycerin trinitrate. This doesn't mean that you ought to give expired meds, or not check the expiration date, but it does mean you don't need to stress It's also not a bad thing to be reminded early that drug errors can happen however careful you are. Most people learn from their mistakes, but there are any number of things that can go wrong with medication administration, and so there's no point when you can wholly relax about it - I recently celebrated my 21st anniversary since I began nursing, and I still make drug errors, because the ward's busy, there are so many meds, and I get interrupted. Plus I'm human.The important things to keep in mind are: be alert, but don't freak out about medication administration; check the order, the medication, the patient and follow the Rights of med adminstration; seek assistance (another nurse, pharmacy, MIMS) when you need it; put your hand up when you make a mistake - however bad it is, covering it up is worse; and learn from both your mistakes and those of your colleagues.

talaxandra - - what an EXCELLENT post!I check expiration dates on everything, these days. I have found many items in the supermarket that are well past their sell-by dates. My husband recently brought home packaged deli meats and chocolate milk that were past their sell-by dates. He never looks. But he will start - I made him go back to the market with them! That being said, I am very careful with commercial eyedrops, and will toss them if I see they are expired.

Quote from talaxandraResearch by the US Armed Forces showed that medications past their expiration dates were for the most part unaffected in terms of efficacy and safety; exceptions include insulin and sublingual glycerin trinitrate. This doesn't mean that you ought to give expired meds, or not check the expiration date, but it does mean you don't need to stress It's also not a bad thing to be reminded early that drug errors can happen however careful you are. Most people learn from their mistakes, but there are any number of things that can go wrong with medication administration, and so there's no point when you can wholly relax about it - I recently celebrated my 21st anniversary since I began nursing, and I still make drug errors, because the ward's busy, there are so many meds, and I get interrupted. Plus I'm human.The important things to keep in mind are: be alert, but don't freak out about medication administration; check the order, the medication, the patient and follow the Rights of med adminstration; seek assistance (another nurse, pharmacy, MIMS) when you need it; put your hand up when you make a mistake - however bad it is, covering it up is worse; and learn from both your mistakes and those of your colleagues.

You're very welcome And for anyone who's interested, the article I mentioned is here.

Arent there some medications that actually become toxic after expiration? I think I heard that is the case with some antibiotics. Otherwise, I believe I have read that expiration is more of a matter of decreased effectiveness.

talaxandra, you have one of the best replies I have ever read! As for med errors at home. I had a small white bottle of ear drops (wax removal) next to a small white bottle of eye drops (over the counter allergy relief) guess who put ear drops into her eye!!!!!

My instructors said to one day, if you give expired meds to someone...they they just don't treat you....but they do not harm you. I don't know if this is true for all meds, but it makes sense.Foods are a different story.

Quote from Paco386Arent there some medications that actually become toxic after expiration? I think I heard that is the case with some antibiotics. Otherwise, I believe I have read that expiration is more of a matter of decreased effectiveness.

Quote from talaxandraYou're very welcome And for anyone who's interested, the article I mentioned is here.

Quote from katkonkIf I remember my pharmacology correctly, it is tetracyclines that can become toxic after exposure to heat. I don't have time to research that, but that is why I remember that you can NEVER leave antibiotics in the car. Also, aspirin can become bad with age.

Quote from katkonkIf I remember my pharmacology correctly, it is tetracyclines that can become toxic after exposure to heat. I don't have time to research that, but that is why I remember that you can NEVER leave antibiotics in the car. Also, aspirin can become bad with age.

Quote from talaxandraresearch by the us armed forces showed that medications past their expiration dates were for the most part unaffected in terms of efficacy and safety; exceptions include insulin and sublingual glycerin trinitrate. this doesn't mean that you ought to give expired meds, or not check the expiration date, but it does mean you don't need to stress it's also not a bad thing to be reminded early that drug errors can happen however careful you are. most people learn from their mistakes, but there are any number of things that can go wrong with medication administration, and so there's no point when you can wholly relax about it - i recently celebrated my 21st anniversary since i began nursing, and i still make drug errors, because the ward's busy, there are so many meds, and i get interrupted. plus i'm human.the important things to keep in mind are: be alert, but don't freak out about medication administration; check the order, the medication, the patient and follow the rights of med adminstration; seek assistance (another nurse, pharmacy, mims) when you need it; put your hand up when you make a mistake - however bad it is, covering it up is worse; and learn from both your mistakes and those of your colleagues.