# E-DRUG: The use of expired e-drugs

**URL:** <https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-the-use-of-expired-e-drugs/4002>\
**Category:** e-drug\
**Created:** [December 7, 1998, 11:30am UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-the-use-of-expired-e-drugs/4002 "1998-12-07T11:30:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jwfvmil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@jwfvmil](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/jwfvmil)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 1998, 11:30am UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-the-use-of-expired-e-drugs/4002/1 "1998-12-07T11:30:42Z")

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E-DRUG: The use of expired e-drugs (cont)  
-----------------------------------------

Dear friends,

I would also like to carry on a bit on the idea of studying expriry  
dates. Most manufacturers have decomposition data on their  
drugs, because they somehow need a basis for establishing the  
expiry date on a valid basis. They will know the results of  
decomposition and the new substances (toxic and non-toxic) which  
will be formed.

There are several ways forwards. The idea of Gaut has been carried  
out already, and some labs or export firms will have data on  
decomposition from the time they used to export drugs just before  
or even over the expiring date.

Then there is a possibility of forced decomposition (by applying  
heat and/or humidity) and studying the time needed before a drug  
turns into toxic substances or loses its healing potential.

I am sure that many university-departments of pharmacy can be,  
and will be willing to help. It seems to me that the WHO  
collaborating centres could be the intermediate, and I think  
WHO/DAP shall be willing to coordinate, but that is to be asked.  
Pharmaceutical Chemistry is still very strong in many European  
countries, and therefore it must be easy to find faculties of  
pharmacy in e.g. the Netherlands, and certainly in Germany and  
Austria willing to cooperate. In some countries, like the  
Netherlands, there are Science shops, which are an intermediate  
between universities and the public. They might also be interested  
in being intermediate and planting such research into the  
universities.

Finally, there is quite a strong international group of analytical  
pharmacists organised withing the International Pharmaceutical  
Federation (FIP), who is continiously monitoring and checking the  
quality of drugs (mainly generics). Their chairman is Frans van der  
Vaart, at the KNMP [the Netherlands Association of Pharmacists - WB] in the  
Netherlands. I am sure they are willing to help and maybe already have a  
lot of data.

I hope this helps,

Foppe  
J.W.F. van Mil,  
Snailmail: Margrietlaan 1, NL9471 CT Zuidlaren  
Email: jwfvmil@wxs.nl  
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