Do you know what’s in your medicine cabinet, and whether your creams, ointments, pills, tablets and sachets are still safe to take? These are the basic questions that most of us wouldn’t be able to answer about our home supplies of over-the-counter treatments and remedies. Having a well-stocked medicine cabinet is important but the most crucial aspect is making sure that everything inside it is still in date.

Items in our medicine cabinets have expiry and use-by-dates and the NHS advises having a clear out every three months, but do we really need to worry if our paracetamol is six months past its expiry date? Pharmacist of 30 years, Deborah Grayson, who’s known as the godmother of pharmacology on TikTok, says: “After this time frame, the manufacturer cannot guarantee the product is effective. It may be unsafe to use, or have become contaminated by bacteria, which can be dangerous depending on the product.

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“While some products are more worrying than others, especially eye drops and oral medicines, always be on the safe side and check your pills and creams are in date before using them - and throw them away if they’ve been open for longer than their use-by date.”

Meanwhile the rise of popular medications such as GLP-1 jabs, such as Mounjaro and Wegovy, and HRT products, including gels, patches and pills, creates more storage challenges and may even involve clearing out space in your fridge. Here’s our expert guide to decluttering your medicine cabinet and storing your drugs properly so they’re as effective as the day you bought them.

Skin creams

Creams have long expiry dates but once opened it’s recommended that you use them within three to six months, especially if in a tube or tub. Steroid creams are a common culprit as they are often used for a short time and then forgotten, but out-of-date creams can be more problematic if used on open wounds as this enables any bacterial contamination to enter the body through the wound.

As steroids also switch off the immune response this can increase the risk of infection which could be serious especially in those with reduced immunity, children and the elderly. Moisturising creams in pump-action containers are generally less of a concern as the contamination is minimal and may well be safe to use for several years on unbroken skin.

Pain medication

Tablet-based pain medication, such as paracetamol and Ibuprofen, will often have a long expiry date and will be safe to use up until then as long as the pills or capsules are in blister packs to protect them from becoming oxidised. While pain medication may be safe for a number of months outside its expiry date, the effect will likely be reduced over time, though is unlikely to cause any harm.

However, aspirin can easily be affected by oxidation, especially if it’s in a bottle. If the pot has a potent vinegar-like smell, it’s not good to use. Oxidised aspirin could potentially cause more damage to the lining of the stomach along with no longer being effective and must be thrown away.

GLP-1s

GLP-1 injections not in use should be stored in a fridge (2-8ºC). The pen in use can be stored outside of the fridge, as long as it’s below 30ºC for up to 30 days. After 30 days any unused doses must be discarded. You should always check that the pen is undamaged and is not cloudy, discoloured or have floating particles in it.

It is also important that there is space within the fridge for cold air to circulate and that the pens do not freeze. Completely unused pens can be kept in the fridge for use up until their expiry date. Use of jabs after 30 days or when out of date increases the risk of infection from microbial contamination and a new needle should be used for each dose.

HRT

All HRT products should be stored below 25ºC but they do not need refrigeration. They are safe to use right up until the last day of the month of expiry, regardless of whether they have been opened. Using out of date HRT could mean that the levels and actions of hormones may be reduced. Lower levels of oestrogen would mainly affect the wellbeing effects of the HRT however, reduced levels of progesterone HRT could mean that the level of protection against endometrial hyperplasia (excessive thickening of the endometrial lining in response to oestrogen therapy) is lower than it should be.

Cough mixture

Unopened cough mixture generally has an expiry of one to three years. But once opened, bacteria and air gain access and over time this can increase the risk of contamination. Unless the manufacturer has stated otherwise, discard any unused portion after it has been open for six months. Mark the ‘open’ date on your bottles to help keep track of this.

Sugar-based medicines such as Benylin are worse for contamination as the bacteria can feed off the sugar, which is why the manufacturer advises discarding anything left over four months from opening. Always check the appearance of the medicine if you are not sure, as it will often look different if contaminated.

Electrolytes

Electrolytes, often powdered in individual sachets, are one of the few things that may survive for years as the risk of degradation is low. Whilst it is always a good idea to replace anything that’s out of date, the reality is it is that they’re unlikely to do harm.

Anti-inflammatory creams and muscle rubs

Voltarol gel and deep freeze gel are often used periodically and can sit in the cupboard for months or even years until needed again. As these products are used on unbroken skin the risk of microbial contamination is minimal. Even out of date, these are unlikely to cause any harm but just be aware that the anti-inflammatory ones will lose effect over time.

Dressings and plasters

Dressings and plasters all have an expiry too. The longer past their sell by date the greater the risk of bacterial contamination. This is less important if it is used over the top of a primary dressing which is still in date and therefore not in direct contact with the wound. If you need a dressing but all you have is out of date, you could still use it but restock with in-date products as soon as possible and keep an eye out for an infection developing. Plasters can be more problematic as the adhesive degrades over time.

Hayfever and antibiotic eye drops

The majority of these products have a warning to discard after 28 days - and this should be adhered to. There is a high risk of bacterial contamination especially if you accidentally touch your face with the bottle while using them, as this could result in a painful eye infection.

Always mark your eye drops with the date you first used them so you can be sure that you throw the bottle in the bin when this time period has passed. Once the 28 days has passed these products really must be discarded.

Antiseptic wipes

Out-of-date antiseptic wipes may well be safe to use past their expiry date as bacterial contamination will be less likely, but they are more likely to have dried out. Check your first aid kit regularly to ensure that everything in it is safe to use and in-date.

Vitamin C

Out of date vitamin C is likely to be ineffective rather than harmful as it’s highly likely to oxidise over time and will become darker when this happens. Effervescent vitamin C will degrade quicker especially once the container has been opened. When it becomes dramatically darker, it is better to replace it as there really is likely to be no benefit to taking it.

Antihistamines

Out of date antihistamines for hayfever and allergies are unlikely to cause any harm if past their expiry date, but will at some point lose their effectiveness. If this is being used for simple hayfever it will be easy to tell when this has happened as the medication won’t work and should be replaced. However, if your allergic reactions have the potential to be severe, then replacing when out of date is a must.

*Pharmacist Deborah Grayson is also a nutritional therapist with Heartburn Cancer UK and runs her own clinic called Digestion With Confidence

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