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That Drug Expiration Date May Be More Myth Than Fact

Marshall Allen

Lee Cantrell, an associate professor of clinical pharmacology at the University of California, San Diego, with a collection of vintage expired medications. Sandy Huffaker for ProPublica hide caption

Lee Cantrell, an associate professor of clinical pharmacology at the University of California, San Diego, with a collection of vintage expired medications.

The box of prescription drugs had been forgotten in a back closet of a retail pharmacy for so long that some of the pills predated the 1969 moon landing. Most were 30 to 40 years past their expiration dates — possibly toxic, probably worthless.

But to Lee Cantrell, who helps run the California Poison Control System, the cache was an opportunity to answer an enduring question about the actual shelf life of drugs: Could these drugs from the bell-bottom era still be potent?

Cantrell called Roy Gerona, a University of California, San Francisco researcher who specializes in analyzing chemicals. Gerona grew up in the Philippines and had seen people recover from sickness by taking expired drugs with no apparent ill effects.

"This was very cool," Gerona says. "Who gets the chance of analyzing drugs that have been in storage for more than 30 years?"

The age of the drugs might have been bizarre, but the question the researchers wanted to answer wasn't. Pharmacies across the country in major medical centers and in neighborhood strip malls routinely toss out tons of scarce and potentially valuable prescription drugs when they hit their expiration dates.

Gerona, a pharmacist; and Cantrell, a toxicologist, knew that the term "expiration date" was a misnomer. The dates on drug labels are simply the point up to which the Food and Drug Administration and pharmaceutical companies guarantee their effectiveness, typically at two or three years. But the dates don't necessarily mean they're ineffective immediately after they "expire" — just that there's no incentive for drugmakers to study whether they could still be usable.

ProPublica has been researching why the U.S. health care system is the most expensive in the world. One answer, broadly, is waste — some of it buried in practices that the medical establishment and the rest of us take for granted. We've documented how hospitals often discard pricey new supplies , how nursing homes trash valuable medications after patients die or move out, and how drug companies create expensive combinations of cheap drugs . Experts estimate such squandering eats up about $765 billion a year — as much as a quarter of all the country's health care spending.

What if the system is destroying drugs that are technically "expired" but could still be safely used?

In his lab, Gerona ran tests on the decades-old drugs, including some now defunct brands such as the diet pills Obocell (once pitched to doctors with a portly figurine called "Mr. Obocell") and Bamadex. Overall, the bottles contained 14 different compounds, including antihistamines, pain relievers and stimulants. All the drugs tested were in their original sealed containers.

The findings surprised both researchers: A dozen of the 14 compounds were still as potent as they were when they were manufactured, some at almost 100 percent of their labeled concentrations.

"Lo and behold," Cantrell says, "The active ingredients are pretty darn stable."

Cantrell and Gerona knew their findings had big implications. Perhaps no area of health care has provoked as much anger in recent years as prescription drugs. The news media are rife with stories of medications priced out of reach or of shortages of crucial drugs, sometimes because producing them is no longer profitable.

Tossing such drugs when they expire is doubly hard. One pharmacist at Newton-Wellesley Hospital outside Boston said the 240-bed facility is able to return some expired drugs for credit but had to destroy about $200,000 worth last year. A commentary in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings cited similar losses at the nearby Tufts Medical Center. Play that out at hospitals across the country and the tab is significant: about $800 million per year. And that doesn't include the costs of expired drugs at long-term-care and retail pharmacies and in consumer medicine cabinets.

Pharmacist Candy Tin checks dates and lot numbers with pharmacy technician Nikki Wong to pull expired medications at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Erik Jacobs for ProPublica hide caption

Pharmacist Candy Tin checks dates and lot numbers with pharmacy technician Nikki Wong to pull expired medications at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

After Cantrell and Gerona published their findings in Archives of Internal Medicine in 2012, some readers accused them of being irresponsible and advising patients that it was OK to take expired drugs. Cantrell says they weren't recommending the use of expired medication, just reviewing the arbitrary way the dates are set.

"Refining our prescription drug dating process could save billions," he says.

But after a brief burst of attention, the response to their study faded. That raises an even bigger question: If some drugs remain effective well beyond the date on their labels, why hasn't there been a push to extend their expiration dates?

It turns out that the FDA, the agency that helps set the dates, has long known the shelf life of some drugs can be extended, sometimes by years.

In fact, the federal government has saved a fortune by doing this.

At a goverment stockpile, drugs don't expire as fast

For decades, the federal government has stockpiled massive stashes of medication, antidotes and vaccines in secure locations throughout the country. The drugs are worth tens of billions of dollars and would provide a first line of defense in case of a large-scale emergency.

Maintaining these stockpiles is expensive. The drugs have to be kept secure and at the proper humidity and temperature so they don't degrade. Luckily, the country has rarely needed to tap into many of the drugs, but this means they often reach their expiration dates. Though the government requires pharmacies to throw away expired drugs, it doesn't always follow these instructions itself. Instead, for more than 30 years, it has pulled some medicines and tested their quality.

The idea that drugs expire on specified dates goes back at least a half-century, when the FDA began requiring manufacturers to add this information to the label. The time limits allow the agency to ensure medications work safely and effectively for patients. To determine a new drug's shelf life, its maker zaps it with intense heat and soaks it with moisture to see how it degrades under stress. It also checks how it breaks down over time. The drug company then proposes an expiration date to the FDA, which reviews the data to ensure they support the date and then approves it. Despite the difference in drugs' makeup, most "expire" after two or three years.

Once a drug is launched, the makers run tests to ensure it continues to be effective up to its labeled expiration date. Since they are not required to check beyond it, most don't, largely because regulations make it expensive and time-consuming for manufacturers to extend expiration dates, says Yan Wu, an analytical chemist who is part of a focus group at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists that looks at the long-term stability of drugs. Most companies, she said, would rather sell new drugs and develop additional products.

Pharmacists and researchers say there is no economic "win" for drug companies to investigate further. They ring up more sales when medications are tossed as "expired" by hospitals, retail pharmacies and consumers despite retaining their safety and effectiveness.

Pharmacy technician Nikki Wong sorts medications in drug boxes at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Erik Jacobs for ProPublica hide caption

Pharmacy technician Nikki Wong sorts medications in drug boxes at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

Industry officials say patient safety is their highest priority. Olivia Shopshear, director of science and regulatory advocacy for the drug industry trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, says expiration dates are chosen "based on the period of time when any given lot will maintain its identity, potency and purity, which translates into safety for the patient."

That being said, it's an open secret among medical professionals that many drugs maintain their ability to combat ailments well after their labels say they don't. One pharmacist says he sometimes takes home expired over-the-counter medicine from his pharmacy so he and his family can use it.

The federal agencies that stockpile drugs — including the military, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — have long realized the savings in revisiting expiration dates.

In 1986, the Air Force, hoping to save on replacement costs, asked the FDA if certain drugs' expiration dates could be extended. In response, the FDA and Defense Department created the Shelf Life Extension Program .

Each year, drugs from the stockpiles are selected based on their value and pending expiration, and analyzed in batches to determine whether their end dates could be safely extended. For several decades, the program has found that the actual shelf life of many drugs is well beyond the original expiration dates.

A 2006 study of 122 drugs tested by the program showed that two-thirds of the expired medications were stable every time a lot was tested. Each of them had their expiration dates extended, on average, by more than four years, according to research published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences .

Some that failed to hold their potency include the common asthma inhalant albuterol, the topical rash spray diphenhydramine, and a local anesthetic made from lidocaine and epinephrine, the study said. But neither Cantrell nor Dr. Cathleen Clancy, associate medical director of National Capital Poison Center, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the George Washington University Medical Center, had heard of anyone being harmed by any expired drugs. Cantrell says there has been no recorded instance of such harm in medical literature.

Marc Young, a pharmacist who helped run the extension program from 2006 to 2009, says it has had a "ridiculous" return on investment. Each year the federal government saved $600 million to $800 million because it did not have to replace expired medication, he says.

An official with the Department of Defense, which maintains about $13.6 billion worth of drugs in its stockpile, says that in 2016 it cost $3.1 million to run the extension program — which saved the department from replacing $2.1 billion in expired drugs. To put the magnitude of that return on investment into everyday terms: It's like spending a dollar to save $677.

"We didn't have any idea that some of the products would be so damn stable — so robustly stable beyond the shelf life," says Ajaz Hussain, one of the scientists who formerly helped oversee the extension program.

Hussain is now president of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education, an organization of 17 universities working to reduce the cost of pharmaceutical development. He says the high price of drugs and shortages make it time to re-examine drug expiration dates in the commercial market.

"It's a shame to throw away good drugs," Hussain says.

The pharmacy at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Erik Jacobs for ProPublica hide caption

The pharmacy at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

The AMA tries to extend shelf life — and fails

Some medical providers have pushed for a changed approach to drug expiration dates — with no success. In 2000, the American Medical Association, foretelling the current prescription drug crisis, adopted a resolution urging action . The shelf life of many drugs, it wrote, seems to be "considerably longer" than their expiration dates, leading to "unnecessary waste, higher pharmaceutical costs, and possibly reduced access to necessary drugs for some patients."

Citing the federal government's extension program, the AMA sent letters to the FDA, the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, which sets standards for drugs, and PhRMA asking for a re-examination of expiration dates.

No one remembers the details — just that the effort fell flat.

"Nothing happened, but we tried," says rheumatologist Roy Altman, now 80, who helped write the AMA report. "I'm glad the subject is being brought up again. I think there's considerable waste."

At Newton-Wellesley Hospital, outside Boston, pharmacist David Berkowitz yearns for something to change.

On a recent weekday, Berkowitz sorted through bins and boxes of medication in a back hallway of the hospital's pharmacy, peering at expiration dates. As the pharmacy's assistant director, he carefully manages how the facility orders and dispenses drugs to patients. Running a pharmacy is like working in a restaurant because everything is perishable, he says, "but without the free food."

David Berkowitz, assistant director of clinical pharmacy at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, says that the hospital has to throw out many drugs that are probably safe to use. Erik Jacobs/ProPublica hide caption

David Berkowitz, assistant director of clinical pharmacy at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, says that the hospital has to throw out many drugs that are probably safe to use.

Federal and state laws prohibit pharmacists from dispensing expired drugs, and The Joint Commission, which accredits thousands of health care organizations, requires facilities to remove expired medication from their supply. So at Newton-Wellesley, outdated drugs are shunted to shelves in the back of the pharmacy and marked with a sign that says: "Do Not Dispense." The piles grow for weeks until they are hauled away by a third-party company that has them destroyed. And then the bins fill again.

"I question the expiration dates on most of these drugs," Berkowitz says.

One of the plastic boxes is piled with EpiPens — devices that automatically inject epinephrine to treat severe allergic reactions. They run almost $300 each. These are from emergency kits that are rarely used, which means they often expire. Berkowitz counts them, tossing each one with a clatter into a separate container: "... that's 45, 46, 47..." He finishes at 50. That's almost $15,000 in wasted EpiPens alone.

In May, Cantrell and Gerona published a study that examined 40 EpiPens and EpiPen Jrs., a smaller version, that had been expired for between one and 50 months. The devices had been donated by consumers, which meant they could have been stored in conditions that would cause them to break down, like a car's glove box or a steamy bathroom. The EpiPens also contain liquid medicine, which tends to be less stable than solid medications.

Testing showed 24 of the 40 expired devices contained at least 90 percent of their stated amount of epinephrine, enough to be considered as potent as when they were made. All of them contained at least 80 percent of their labeled concentration of medication. The takeaway? Even EpiPens stored in less than ideal conditions may last longer than their labels say they do, and if there's no other option, an expired EpiPen may be better than nothing, Cantrell says.

At Newton-Wellesley, Berkowitz keeps a spreadsheet of every outdated drug he throws away. The pharmacy sends what it can back for credit, but it doesn't come close to replacing what the hospital paid.

Then there's the added angst of tossing drugs that are in short supply. Berkowitz picks up a box of sodium bicarbonate, which is crucial for heart surgery and to treat certain overdoses. It's being rationed because there's so little available. He holds up a purple box of atropine, which gives patients a boost when they have low heart rates. It's also in short supply. In the federal government's stockpile, the expiration dates of both drugs have been extended, but they have to be thrown away by Berkowitz and other hospital pharmacists.

The 2006 FDA study of the extension program also said it pushed back the expiration date on lots of mannitol, a diuretic, for an average of five years. Berkowitz has to toss his out. Expired naloxone? The drug reverses narcotic overdoses in an emergency and is currently in wide use in the opioid epidemic. The FDA extended its use-by date for the stockpiled drugs, but Berkowitz has to trash it.

On rare occasions, a pharmaceutical company will extend the expiration dates of its own products because of shortages. That's what happened in June, when the FDA posted extended expiration dates from Pfizer for batches of its injectable atropine, dextrose, epinephrine and sodium bicarbonate. The agency notice included the lot numbers of the batches being extended and added six months to a year to their expiration dates.

The news sent Berkowitz running to his expired drugs to see if any could be put back into his supply. His team rescued four boxes of the syringes from destruction, including 75 atropine, 15 dextrose, 164 epinephrine and 22 sodium bicarbonate. Total value: $7,500. In a blink, "expired" drugs that were in the trash heap were put back into the pharmacy supply.

Expired EpiPens and atropine sulfate await pickup for disposal at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Erik Jacobs for Propublica hide caption

Expired EpiPens and atropine sulfate await pickup for disposal at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

Berkowitz says he appreciated Pfizer's action but feels it should be standard to make sure drugs that are still effective aren't thrown away.

"The question is: Should the FDA be doing more stability testing?" Berkowitz says. "Could they come up with a safe and systematic way to cut down on the drugs being wasted in hospitals?"

Four scientists who worked on the FDA extension program told ProPublica something like that could work for drugs stored in hospital pharmacies, where conditions are carefully controlled.

Greg Burel, director of the CDC's stockpile, says he worries that if drugmakers were forced to extend their expiration dates it could backfire, making it unprofitable to produce certain drugs and thereby reducing access or increasing prices.

The 2015 commentary in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, called " Extending Shelf Life Just Makes Sense ," also suggested that drugmakers could be required to set a preliminary expiration date and then update it after long-term testing. An independent organization could also do testing similar to that done by the FDA extension program, or data from the extension program could be applied to properly stored medications.

ProPublica asked the FDA whether it could expand its extension program, or something like it, to hospital pharmacies, where drugs are stored in stable conditions similar to the national stockpile.

"The Agency does not have a position on the concept you have proposed," an official wrote back in an email.

Whatever the solution, the drug industry will need to be spurred to change, says Hussain, the former FDA scientist. "The FDA will have to take the lead for a solution to emerge," he says. "We are throwing away products that are certainly stable, and we need to do something about it."

ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom based in New York. You can follow Marshall Allen on Twitter: @marshall_allen

Help ProPublica investigate wasted health care dollars: Experts say the United States might be squandering a quarter of the money spent on health care. That's an estimated $765 billion a year. Do you believe you've encountered this waste? Tell ProPublica .

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What Happens If You Take Medication Past Its Expiration Date?

• The Food and Drug Administration confirms the expiration dates that are printed on packages of over-the-counter drugs.
• Several factors, like someone’s age and the type of medication, play into whether or not it’s safe to take a medication past its expiration date.
• Experts recommend cleaning out your medicine cabinet before cold and flu season begins, so you’re confident in the safety of medications you have on hand.

Can you use medication past its expiration date?

As the U.S. moves into the fall and winter, it’s time to dust off the medicine cabinets and take stock of your seasonally appropriate medicine supply in preparation for cold and flu season . But before you restock over old medication, you may need to throw certain pills out—there’s a chance some medications might’ve expired.

Over-the-counter drugs, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, have expiration dates printed on the packages that are confirmed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

But, experts say that in a pinch, someone could take recently expired cold and flu medications to get relief from their symptoms.

“There are some prescription medications that are actually harmful and could be toxic for the human body [after expiration],” Stacey Curtis, PharmD , community pharmacist and clinical associate professor at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, told Health .

“But for over-the-counter medications, generally speaking, they’re just not going to be as effective as they were when they were in date,” she said.

There are several factors—a person’s age, the type of medication, how it’s been stored, and how expired it is—that can make taking expired medication more risky.

Here’s what experts had to say about over-the-counter drugs’ expiration dates, what happens when you take expired medication, and how to stay prepared for cold and flu season.

Getty Images / blackCAT

How Do Medication Expiration Dates Work?

Unlike the expiration dates on most food products, the FDA has a hand in regulating medications’ shelf life.

Curtis explained that companies have to submit stability testing data to the FDA that shows how long over-the-counter medications are good for.

“That stability testing data essentially says, ‘We’ve tested this medication, and this is how long the medication is stable before it starts losing its effectiveness or becoming potentially harmful,’” she said.

After the expiration date passes, the drug company can’t guarantee that the over-the-counter drug will be completely effective and safe. The FDA encourages people to not use any expired medications.

But these expiration dates aren't always so black and white.

For some medications, Curtis said, people can probably use them for a few months after they expire—the medication likely just won’t work as well. 

This is probably safest in regards to “tablets and capsules, anything that has that compressed dry powder,” Ashley Garling-Nañez, PharmD , clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy, told Health .

However, when people take over-the-counter medications too long after the expiration date, that could become risky. Drugs that have been expired for many months could, at best, do nothing, and at worst, could cause negative reactions, Curtis said. 

Unfortunately, there’s no good way to determine when exactly a medication will stop being effective or safe. But Curtis warned that even three to four months post-expiration date may be “pushing it.”

For certain over-the-counter cold and flu medications, the expiration date should be followed as directed, Garling-Nañez said.

“Anything that’s going to be in liquid form—including eye drops , ear drops, nasal sprays, and liquid cough and cold that you swallow—those are not going to be safe, primarily because they have a tendency to grow bacteria,” she explained.

Products that contain aspirin may also be unsafe after the expiration date, she added, as that drug has a tendency to break down.

Determining whether to take expired cold and flu medication may also come down to who needs it, said Garling-Nañez. Children, older people, and those with other health conditions may want to avoid all expired over-the-counter drugs to err on the side of caution.

Where the medication is stored is yet another factor to take into consideration when determining if a drug is safe to take. If drugs are stored incorrectly, they may become ineffective before their expiration date, experts said.

“Something that is in a windowsill or gets a lot of sunlight, or if you kept it in the car, or even in a backpack or purse that you leave in the trunk, those are actually going to expire faster,” Garling-Nañez said. “The heat will break down the medication much quicker.”

The same goes for drugs that are stored in a bathroom.

“[A shower] creates a very warm, moist environment, which [can] affect the medications that are in that bathroom,” Curtis said.

While there’s no exact rule of thumb when it comes to figuring out if an expired medication is okay to take, if a drug appears to be crumbling, has a strange color, or looks “irregular” at all, it should be thrown out, Garling-Nañez advised.

Cleaning Out Your Supply of Cold and Flu Medications

Before taking expired cold and flu drugs, the best thing to do is try to find new medication, Garling-Nañez said, whether that’s using same-day delivery services or asking for a favor from a friend or family member.

However, if the medication has expired very recently—within the last couple of months—there’s a good chance that it’ll still work, Curtis said. Taking this medication just comes with a bit of risk.

To avoid choosing whether or not to take an expired medication, prevention is key. Garling-Nañez said now is a good time to “take 20 minutes, go through all your medications, look at all those expiration dates.”

It’s also important to dispose of expired medications properly. The process differs by state, Curtis said, but people can look up drug take-back locations via an FDA website .

Otherwise, people can simply throw them away, though there are some steps to take beforehand.

“We tend to want to mix [expired drugs] with something that’s not very palatable for animals and people. So mix it with coffee grounds, kitty litter, something that [you wouldn’t want] to ingest,” Garling-Nañez said. “Dispose of them in the regular trash. And we do that because we don’t want them getting into our water.”

Staying Prepared This Cold and Flu Season

Along with throwing out expired medication, restocking or filling in medication needs is crucial to staying healthy this cold and flu season. It’s important that people have access to medications that are not only within the printed expiration date, but that can also properly alleviate symptoms.

“Absolutely everyone should keep on hand either a Tylenol or an Advil product—so acetaminophen or ibuprofen—in case you do have a fever,” Curtis said.

Beyond that, she added, nasal saline, in any form available over the counter, can help keep the nose clean. People should also have a cough suppressant, decongestant, or antihistamine for runny nose , said Curtis.

“Find your go-tos that you like, that have worked for you in the past. And if at the very least, make sure that those are updated,” Garling-Nañez said.

Beyond over-the-counter medications, there are a number of other strategies that people can use to make sure they’re prepared for the cold and flu season. 

“The number one thing that people should be doing is keeping their hands clean,” Curtis said. “Continue to use hand sanitizer as often as you can with regard to when you’re coming in and out of public places.”

Other simple measures such as staying home when you’re sick and getting vaccinated against respiratory viruses can help a person stay on top of seasonal illnesses.

Food and Drug Administration. Expiration dates: questions and answers .

U.S. Department of Agriculture. Food product dating .

Food and Drug Administration. Don't be tempted to use expired medications .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy habits to protect against flu .

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Travel-Ease

Generic name: meclizine [  MEK-li-zeen  ] Brand names: Antivert , Bonine , Bonine Max, Dramamine Less Drowsy , Dramamine Nausea Long Lasting, Travel-Ease Drug class: Anticholinergic antiemetics

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Aug 29, 2023. Written by Cerner Multum .

What is Travel-Ease?

Travel-Ease is used in adults and children aged 12 years and older to treat or prevent nausea , vomiting and dizziness caused by motion sickness .

Travel-Ease is also used in adults to treat symptoms of vertigo (dizziness or spinning sensation) caused by disease that affects your inner ear.

Travel-Ease may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Travel-Ease side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction : hives, difficult breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Common side effects of Travel-Ease may include:

drowsiness ;

dry mouth ;

vomiting; or

feeling tired.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Use only as directed. Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Travel-Ease if you are allergic to it.

Do not give Travel-Ease to anyone younger than 12 years old without medical advice.

Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had:

breathing problems such as asthma , emphysema , or chronic bronchitis ;

an enlarged prostate or urination problems;

recently used alcohol, sedatives, or tranquilizers; or

liver or kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How should I take Travel-Ease?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Swallow the tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.

You must chew the chewable tablet before you swallow it.

To prevent motion sickness, take Travel-Ease about 1 hour before you travel or anticipate having motion sickness. You may take this medicine once every 24 hours while you are traveling, to further prevent motion sickness.

To treat vertigo, you may need to take Travel-Ease several times daily. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Travel-Ease is used when needed. If you are on a dosing schedule, skip any missed dose. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking Travel-Ease?

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how Travel-Ease will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

Avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects.

What other drugs will affect Travel-Ease?

Using Travel-Ease with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures .

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you use, which may increase side effects or make the medicines less effective.

Other drugs may affect Travel-Ease, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins , and herbal products . Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

More about Travel-Ease (meclizine)

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Antivert , Bonine , Dramamine Less Drowsy , Meclicot , ... +3 more

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Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Copyright 1996-2024 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 8.01.

ondansetron , hydroxyzine , lorazepam , olanzapine , dexamethasone , promethazine , diphenhydramine , meclizine , Benadryl , prochlorperazine

Do drugs go off? What happens to medicines after their use-by  dates

Professor of Forensic Science, Anglia Ruskin University

Disclosure statement

Michael Cole has received funding from the EPSRC, EU (Framework V), EU AGIS programme, Botswanan Government and South African Police Service for carrying out research on the analysis and profiling of controlled substances, including those which contain over the counter medicines.

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

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It is estimated that there is a staggering £300m worth of medicine unused in the UK every year. But is it safe to take these medicines if they are past their expiry date?

Expiry dates are put in place after rigorous trialling and controlled experiments to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the drugs people take. In short, they guarantee the potency of the drug. Medicinal drugs are all chemicals and the rate at which they go off will depend upon their chemical structure, the drug preparation, how they are packaged, environmental conditions, whether they are subject to microbial contamination and their exposure to heat, light, oxygen and water.

Read more: Medicine shortages are already a reality but a no deal Brexit could make it worse

The drugs are sold in a variety of containers including bottles, blister packs, tubes and ampules. They are relatively secure while sealed. But once the seal is broken, the process of “going off” accelerates.

Common painkillers

Let’s look at an everyday drug like paracetamol . This is an “over the counter” medicine, freely available, which helps to reduce pain or a fever. Paracetamol is sometimes sold in brown sealed bottles. The seal keeps moisture and atmospheric oxygen out. The brown bottle keeps UV light out as this can also cause the drug to breakdown. Once the seal is broken, the tablets are exposed to water and oxygen in the air and breakdown begins.

Paracetamol is also sold in blister packs. These packs are permeable to water and oxygen so they are covered in, for example, polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC). This protects the contents and slows down the decomposition process but is still slightly permeable so doesn’t prevent it altogether.

The consequence of this is that, despite the protection of the packaging, the drug content slowly declines. Research shows that when paracetomol based medicines go past their expiry date, up to 30% of the drug may break down in between 12 and 24 months.

Cold remedies and antibiotics

Cold remedies contain both paracetamol and a decongestant (usually phenylephrine hydrochloride). These can be sold as powders, capsules, oral solutions or nasal sprays.

While drugs in dry powder and capsule form may be relatively stable, those in liquid form may go off more quickly. For example, cold remedies such as nasal sprays contain both preservatives and antioxidants that only work at lower temperatures. They are considerably less effective above 40°C.

Similarly, antibiotics such as amoxicillin and erythromycin can be prescribed as an oral suspension in water. The dry powder form of the drug is, again, relatively stable. But the shelf life of the drug mixed with water by the pharmacist may only be seven to ten days – even when kept in a fridge.

Some drugs in liquid form have a considerably shorter shelf life. For example, nitroglycerin (glyceryltrinitrate) is used to treat angina and coronary heart disease. Formulations include liquids, tablets and capsules. Nitrate esters, of which this drug is an example, readily break down in the presence of water, rendering the drug ineffective.

Some formulations of nitroglycerin contain stabilisers to reduce this and are contained in protective packaging. But even these formulations only have a shelf life of about three months. Users often divide up their doses into pill boxes. The shelf life of nitroglycerin, once out of protective packaging, is reduced down to less than a week because of the rapid rate of drug breakdown.

Even large, macromolecular drugs, like insulin, present problems. Insulin is a polypeptide used in the maintenance of blood glucose levels and the management of diabetes.

The drug is dissolved in water and when stored in a refrigerator (typically around 4°C) spoiling can be slowed. The solutions also contain preservatives to reduce the rate of spoiling. However, as they are small proteins, the drug molecules may break down in water, and in some instances bacteria can start to grow and break down the protein. This is why the shelf life of drugs such as insulin is very limited.

So is it safe to take medicines after their expiration date? The answer depends on the drug in question but, generally, no. Drugs like nitroglycerin may, in some instances, be life saving. But the actual drug content of out-of-date medicines such as this may mean that there is no effective medicine left in what is being taken. So there will be no effect on the target condition.

In the case of liquid antibiotics the concentration of the drug may be so reduced that it is not effective. To make things worse, studies have shown that the bacteria the antibiotic is being used to treat may, at lower concentrations of the drug, develop resistance that could render the antibiotic ineffective.

In other cases, like paracetamol, the consequences may not be so severe. But the drug content won’t be known. So if in doubt, check with pharmacists and doctors and try your best to keep drugs in date.

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Why do medicines have expiry dates?

Medicines have expiry dates so you know when to use them by. After the expiry date medicines may not be safe or as effective.

You should not take medicines after their expiry date. If you've had a medicine for a while, check the expiry date before using it.

You should also make sure that you've stored the medicine properly, as described on the packaging or leaflet.

If your medicine looks, tastes or smells different to when you first got it, even if it's within the expiry date, take it to your pharmacist for advice.

Where is the expiry date?

You can find the expiry date on the medicine packaging or on the label. This may say:

• expiry date

Expiry dates are put on medicines by:

• the manufacturer that produces the medicine
• the pharmacist who supplies the medicine

What does the "expiry date" mean?

The expiry date usually means that you should not take the medicine after the end of the month given.

For example, if the expiry date is July 2024, you should not take the medicine after 31 July 2024.

What does the "use by date" mean?

If your medicine has a use by or use before date instead of an expiry date, this usually means that you should not take the medicine after the end of the previous month.

For example, if the use by date is July 2024, you should not take the medicine after 30 June 2024.

If a doctor or pharmacist has given you any other instructions about using or disposing of your medicine, you should also follow these.

For example, your pharmacist may label a medicine: "discard 7 days after opening".

You should bring any medicine that's left after this time back to your pharmacist to dispose of, even if it's within the manufacturer's expiry date.

Short expiry dates

Some medicines are given a short expiry date, such as:

• prepared antibiotic mixtures: when the pharmacist adds water to powdered antibiotic, it changes the stability of the product, and the pharmacist will give it an expiry date of 1 or 2 weeks, depending on the product
• eyedrops: these are usually given an expiry date of 4 weeks after first opening the container, because your eyes are particularly sensitive to any bacteria that might get into the eyedrops

How can I dispose of expired medicine?

If you have medicines that have passed their expiry date, take them to your pharmacist, who can dispose of them safely for you.

You should never throw unused or expired medicines in the rubbish bin or flush them down the toilet.

Further information

• Information about medicines
• How your pharmacy can help
• Find a pharmacy

Page last reviewed: 5 October 2023 Next review due: 5 October 2026

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Making sure your medicine is safe at home

Peer reviewed by Dr Krishna Vakharia, MRCGP Last updated by Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE, FRCGP Last updated 6 Nov 2023

If you've ever rummaged through the back of your medicine cabinet for painkillers, you may find half-finished packs of tablets you took for a bad back a long time ago, or a bottle medicine you opened a few weeks back. For #MedSafetyWeek we have a look at what you need to know about making sure your medications are safe and effective to take.

In this article :

What is an expiry date, sealed packaging, temperature of the medicine, how expiry dates affect other types of medicines, what to do with expired medicines.

Continue reading below

The expiry date of a medicine is the latest date that the manufacturer guarantees that the medicine will be as effective - and as safe - as when it was issued. It's a legal requirement for all medicines in the UK to have an expiry date.

Manufacturers tend to pick arbitrary expiry dates which are one or two years after the manufacture of a batch of medicines. They check them on that date to ensure the medicine is stable and works at the dose it's prescribed.

The actual shelf life of the drug may be longer than the date on the packet. But because this can't be guaranteed, you should not take medicines after they expire. Whilst some medicines may still be effective and safe a month after the expiry date, you do not know whether your medicine falls into this category or not.

#MedSafetyWeek

Whether or not the package is adequately sealed can change how long it stays safe for. Light, variations in temperature and moisture can affect the stability of a medicine. That's why your medicine cabinet is a fairly good place for many products, because it's dark and does not usually have big temperature fluctuations.

Many medicines come in foil blister packs, which keep moisture and light out. The expiry date guarantees that as long as the blister isn't opened, they will still be effective up to that time.

However, if the packaging that surrounds the medicine - as opposed to the cardboard box it is in - is opened, that expiry date cannot be guaranteed. Likewise, tablets in bottles can never be guaranteed past their expiry date.

Another key variable is temperature. Some medicines - usually non-tablet forms - need to be kept in the fridge. If you leave them out by mistake, they may be less safe or less effective even before their expiry date is reached.

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Any medicine that contains preservatives - eye drops are a common example - may not be safe once it has passed its expiry date. That's because the preservatives are added to avoid harmful bacteria growing in the liquid - which can cause damage to your body, especially in sensitive areas like eyes.

Sometimes, a shortage of medication supply means the NHS and national drug safety agencies need to check and see whether a medicine is still safe. Importantly, liquids may have two dates - an expiry date if unopened, and a shorter time-frame for use once opened. You should pay attention to both.

If you have unused medicine that has expired, speak to your pharmacist. Your pharmacist cannot re-issue medicines to other people, even if the packet is unopened, for safety reasons. However, they can often dispose of it safely for you.

If you have any one of a range of long-term conditions such as high blood pressure , raised cholesterol , diabetes , asthma , chronic kidney disease or heart disease , you may be taking several regular medications. Taking these medicines exactly as prescribed means you'll get maximum benefit and protection from them. And taking steps to manage and organise your medication properly will make this a lot easier.

Although they aren't strictly medicines, sun creams and lotions have an expiry date for a reason. The protection they provide becomes much less effective over time, especially if they've been opened or left out in the sun. Get rid of sunscreen at the end of every summer season or at least as soon as it reaches its expiry date.

Overall, it's a very good idea to do a regular clean out of your medicine cabinet. You might want to put a reminder in your diary to do this every six months - or more often if you take multiple medicines. And if you're not sure whether a medicine is safe, do not take it.

Click here for more information about #MedSafetyWeek and the Yellow Card scheme for reporting suspected side effects from your medicines.

With thanks to 'My Weekly' magazine where this article was originally published.

Article History

The information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

6 Nov 2023 | Latest version

Last updated by

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28 Sept 2022 | Originally published

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Does Meclizine expire? 

Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.

Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights: 

• Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
• PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
• Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
• Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina

Professional Experience:

From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.

Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.

In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.

Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.

• 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
• 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
• 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil

The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:

Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing . Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347. 

Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM , Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562) . J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.  

Jacques AV, Stefanes NM , Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines . Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315. 

Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca . Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245. 

Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM , Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res.  2021; 35(22):4494-4501. 

Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM , Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976. 

Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM , Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines . Anticancer Drugs. 2020;   31(7):709-717.

Maioral MF, Stefanes NM , Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers . Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688. 

Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM , Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia . Anticancer Drugs. 2019;   30(8):p 828-837. 

Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM , Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment . Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343. 

Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM , Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051. 

Maioral MF, Stefanes NM , Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922. 

Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity . Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382. 

Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM , Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies . Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57. 

You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below. 

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/

Yes, Meclizine does expire. It doesn’t necessarily start to go bad once the expiration date has passed. Meclizine slowly becomes less and less effective and it will not give any therapeutic response if the drug has expired for quite a while. 

However, it is recommended by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to avoid using expired medications as there’s not much research data available to guarantee the safety and efficacy of meds once they are past the expiration date (1). Meclizine is no exception. 

What are the dangers associated with the use of expired Meclizine?

Using expired Meclizine may affect you by not doing anything to make your allergy symptoms go away. This is because Meclizine loses its potency with time. 

It may take a while and the drug will most likely outlive its expiry date, but it’s still a risk. There’s no way to tell what chemical changes may start to occur as physical and storage factors can also determine the rate of drug degradation. 

If it has been a few months (1-6 months), Meclizine is probably good to take. However, if more time has passed, it’s best to get a new one. 

What to do if you have taken expired Meclizine?

You don’t need to do much if you have taken expired Meclizine as the drug does not cause any toxicity in your body after it has expired. However, it will not make your symptoms go away. Make sure you check the expiry date before you take the medication. 

Was this helpful?

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Don’t Be Tempted to Use Expired Medicines [Internet]. Silver Spring (MD): U.S. Food and Drug Administration; 2021 [cited 2022 Oct 18]. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/dont-be-tempted-use-expired-medicines .

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• Travel Sickness
• Motion Sickness
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Here to help you enjoy the journey

Kwells has been a go-to, over-the-counter travel sickness remedy for UK travellers for over three decades.

We believe the journey is as important as the destination and that travel sickness shouldn’t dampen your day out or your adventurous holiday spirit.

Kwells travel sickness tablets for adults and children over the age of 10 and Kwells Kids for children over the age of four are used for the fast and effective prevention and control of travel sickness.

About motion sickness

Motion sickness is the general term used to describe the nausea symptoms caused by repeated movements when you’re travelling, such as going over bumps in a car or moving up and down in a boat. 1

It can also occur on fairground rides, while playing video games 2 or using Virtual Reality headsets 3 .

Also known as cybersickness, VR motion sickness sufferers experience similar symptoms to those who suffer from travel sickness.

About travel sickness

Travel sickness is common, particularly in children 4 and is caused by repeated movements when travelling whether its car, boat, plane or train.

It occurs when the inner ear sends different signals to your brain from those your eyes are seeing. 1 These confusing messages cause you to feel unwell.

Symptoms can include a headache and nausea, feeling cold and going pale, sweating and feeling weak. 4

About sea sickness

Alongside car sickness and air sickness, sea sickness is an unpleasant combination of symptoms such as nausea, dizziness and vomiting. 2 Sea sickness is said to be the most common form of motion sickness. 5

Whether it’s a cruise ship or a boat it’s caused by the vessel moving up and down over the water, again sending those mixed messages from your eyes and inner ear to the brain.

About car sickness

Whether it’s a day out or a staycation, car sickness can really put a downer on a journey. As with other forms of travel sickness, car sickness is caused by the repeated movements of travelling.

Thankfully there are things you can do to prevent or relieve the symptoms and unlike being on water or in the air, you can stop for breaks for fresh air, refreshment and exercise.

Children aged three to 12 are most likely to suffer from travel sickness – and this often becomes apparent on car journeys – with most teenagers growing out of the condition.

About nausea

Nausea, or feeling sick, is one of the main motion sickness symptoms. 4

And here’s an interesting fact for you; the word nausea is derived from the Greek word ‘naus’ which came from ‘nautical’ meaning a ship!

If you do feel sick while travelling fresh air may help as well as taking sips of a cold drink – some people find fizzy drinks work best. 6 You could also try focussing on a stable object such as the horizon or closing your eyes. 2

References:

1 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/motion-sickness/

2 https://111.wales.nhs.uk/travelhealth/TravelSickness/

3 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/923616/safety-domestic-vr-systems.pdf

4 https://patient.info/travel-and-vaccinations/health-advice-for-travel-abroad/motion-travel-sickness

5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7048153/

6 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/feeling-sick-nausea/

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Kwells 300 microgram tablets. For the prevention of travel sickness, suitable for adults and children aged 10+. Contains Hyoscine Hydrobromide 300 microgram. Kwells Kids 150 microgram tablets. For the prevention of travel sickness, suitable for children aged 4+. Contains Hyoscine Hydrobromide 150 microgram. Always read the label

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• Motion sickness is also known as travel sickness, car sickness or sea sickness.
• If you have motion sickness, you are likely to have nausea and may vomit and feel clammy.
• You can help prevent motion sickness by looking outside of the vehicle or focusing on the horizon.
• Symptoms usually end once the motion stops.
• You can try travel sickness treatments to help prevent motion sickness.

What is motion sickness?

Motion sickness is feeling unwell when moving on any type of transport. It is also known as ‘travel sickness’, 'car sickness' or 'sea sickness'. It is a normal response to certain types of movement.

There are a few ways to prevent and manage motion sickness.

What are the symptoms of motion sickness?

Nausea is the main symptom of motion sickness. But you might also experience other symptoms, including:

• vomiting or retching
• cold sweating
• lack of appetite
• dry mouth or excess saliva
• increased sensitivity to smell

If you are prone to motion sickness, you may quickly feel sick if you read a book or look at your phone when in a moving vehicle.

You might feel better after vomiting, and symptoms will generally improve once you stop moving. But you can also feel the after-effects of motion sickness for a few hours or a few days before fully recovering.

What causes motion sickness?

Motion sickness is thought to be caused by your senses being confused when what you see is different to the signals felt by your inner ear balance system .

If you are feeling anxious about travel, this can make motion sickness worse.

You can get motion sick when:

• travelling by car, bus, boat, train or aeroplane
• on amusement park rides
• playing virtual reality video games or simulations

Motion sickness is a common problem. It is most frequent in children aged between 2 and 12 years. If other family members get motion sickness, it is more likely that you will too.

If you already have a condition that causes nausea, such as morning sickness or migraines , you may be more likely to experience motion sickness.

How is motion sickness diagnosed?

You don’t need to see a doctor or get any tests for a diagnosis of motion sickness. There is a pattern of feeling unwell during travel or movement, so you will probably know if you have it.

If you often feel dizzy or nauseous at other times too, discuss this with your doctor.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.

How is motion sickness treated and prevented?

Practical tips.

Here are some tips for preventing motion sickness:

• Look out of the window, and focus on the horizon instead of looking at a book or a screen.
• Try to sit or lie still and rest your head on a pillow or headrest.
• Sit close to the front of a car, bus or train.
• If flying, sit still and close your eyes during take-off and landing.
• Listen to music and breathe mindfully .
• Open the window or air vent for fresh air.
• Eat lightly before and during the trip and avoid alcohol. Sip water instead.

Pressure bands worn on your wrists may help prevent motion sickness in some people.

If you are travelling by sea, after a few days of exposure to the motion you will likely adapt and get used to it.

You can try taking travel sickness medicines to prevent motion sickness. These may include:

• antihistamines
• antiemetics (medications to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting)

There might be side effects, such as drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice on what to take. Getting advice is especially important:

• for children
• if you are taking other medicines
• if you are pregnant

If you are using a travel sickness medicine, you should take it about half an hour before travel. If you have motion sickness and you already feel nauseous, it is probably too late to take a medicine. Eating a few plain crackers or having a clear, fizzy drink may help.

If you or your child regularly suffer from motion sickness, make sure you have a container, plastic bags and wipes handy. Take a break for some fresh air when needed.

Resources and support

Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to prevent and treat motion sickness.

Visit the Australian Government Smart Traveller website for more travel health advice.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content .

Last reviewed: October 2023

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Contaminated food and drink are the major sources of travellers' diarrhoea. High-risk regions for an attack include the majority of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Mexico, Central and South America.

Travel medical kit checklist - MyDr.com.au

Stay safe when you are travelling with this checklist of handy health supplies and find a list of what to take in your travel medical kit on myDr.com.au.

An Overview of Nausea and Vomiting in Adults | Ausmed

Nausea and vomiting are not conditions themselves - rather, they are non-specific symptoms associated with a variety of conditions. Nausea describes a feeling of unease in the stomach, chest or throat. Vomiting (emesis) is the physical act of forcibly ejecting stomach contents through the mouth.

Read more on Ausmed Education website

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