Almost everyone has a home medicine cabinet. Who among us hasn’t searched for a needed pill or ointment only to discover that its expiration date has passed? Unfortunately, not everyone considers this a reason to throw the medicine away. Some hope for the best, others, especially the elderly, are reluctant to discard expensive drugs or rely on the opinion of self-proclaimed Internet experts and continue to take expired medications. The expiration date of medications is a specific period during which the drug fully meets all the requirements of the regulatory documentation according to which it was produced and stored. During the pharmaceutical development stage, the manufacturer conducts various tests of the drug to determine its initial expiration date. This date is established experimentally by storing the drug for a certain period under conditions and packaging regulated by the documentation, and as data accumulates, the expiration date may be adjusted. If the drug remains stable, meaning all its declared properties and composition remain unchanged, the verified expiration date is included in the drug's regulatory documentation. There is a common belief that expiration dates on packages are indicated "with a margin." Is this true? No, it is not, and there is no point in it. A medication can only be used within the declared expiration period. It doesn’t matter if it’s a month or a year, what matters is that the expiration date has passed. You may not get the expected therapeutic effect, and the side effects of the medication may increase significantly. The "anti-effect" is, of course, highly individual for different medications, but the rule is the same for all – using expired medication is dangerous. Why do so many people fear consuming sour cream and yogurt that have expired just a few days ago, but have no doubt that a medication expired by a month can still be taken? Although the potential harm from expired yogurt and expired medication may be incomparable! How should medications be stored correctly? Only in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Storage information is always present on the packaging and in the medication’s instructions. Do not neglect it. For example, a cool and dry place is definitely not the bathroom cabinet where many people like to store their medicine cabinet. It should be a shelf, cabinet, or drawer away from radiators and other heat sources, including sun-heating rays, where room temperature is maintained without sharp fluctuations. If the box says "store away from sunlight," do not assume that the cardboard packaging is sufficient protection for such a product. Sunlight means not just bright light but also ultraviolet rays and heat that warms the box or bottle. A product with such a mark should be stored in a closed cabinet. It is extremely important to take medications only within the expiration date and strictly follow the storage conditions according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. 3 USEFUL TIPS FOR STORING A HOME MEDICINE CABINET 1. Different medications have different storage conditions. Allocate several places at home for the medicine cabinet: in the refrigerator and in a closed cabinet or drawer away from sunlight and radiators, out of reach of children. 2. Do not place transparent containers with medications that require protection from sunlight on open shelves. 3. When buying a new medication, be sure to read how and where it should be stored and place it in the appropriate place. Check the medicine cabinet at least once every two to three months, including disposable syringes, bandages, plasters, etc. Check expiration dates and storage conditions. If you accidentally left a medication that should have been stored in the refrigerator in a cabinet and it stayed in the warmth for several days, it is better not to use it. Do not transfer medications to another packaging, even if it is more convenient. Some people like to transfer tablets from a blister into an empty bottle from another medication. This is very dangerous! You may forget what medication is in the bottle and what its expiration date is, and you may violate the storage conditions.