Most medicines can be taken a few weeks or even months after their expiry date.

Note, however, that over time, the active ingredients lose effectiveness, reminds doctor Jimmy Mohamed Thursday in "Without Rendezvous" on Europe 1.

What to do with expired drugs piling up in your medicine cabinet?

Can we still use them or is it better to get rid of them?

It all depends on the type of drug and its storage conditions, replies Dr. Jimmy Mohamed Thursday in

Without Rendezvous

 on Europe 1. To prolong their effectiveness, he recommends storing pills, eye drops and syrups in a dry place, at the away from heat and light. 

>> Find all of Sans rendez-vous every day from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Europe 1 as well as in replay and podcast here

"In principle, if a medicine has expired, it should be thrown away or, even better, returned to the pharmacist for recycling. In fact, if you have been using a tablet that has expired for a few months, it is not so The main risk is neither poisoning nor deleterious side effects but a degraded effectiveness of the active principle. This is also the reason why it is recommended to store drugs away from light. humidity and avoid certain extreme conditions If these tips are followed carefully, the medicine will remain usable even after the expiry date has passed.

Not all medicines have the same shelf life

The shelf life varies, however, from drug to drug. The most common tablets, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, are believed to be valid for three to five years after manufacture. But a study published in the scientific journal 

JAMA Internal Medicine

showed that certain molecules, in particular codeine and aspirin, would be usable forty years after the expiration date. Better to stick to a few months though ... 

Some drugs are more sensitive than others to long storage.

The most fragile are liquid or sweet drugs, such as syrups or eye drops, which tend to degrade a little faster.

This is not due to temperature or light but to the risk of microbial contamination.

These drugs must therefore be stored under very specific conditions. 

Keep in mind that drugs have four enemies: water, oxygen, light and temperature.

The bathroom is therefore not indicated since it is a humid room.

The drug therefore risks being attacked and little degraded. "