Shelf life of animal medicines?

[shooterdave]

So I've been thinking that animal meds, such as antibiotics, are lots cheaper than human grade stuff. I'm wondering what the shelf life of this kind of product is, and if it can be stored at room temp or even buried a couple feet to maintain a constant temp. Thoughts?

 

[Lurker66]

Hmm in a pinch animal anti biotics might work. I wouldnt think it would matter about shelf life. If shtf and ya resort to animal meds, shelf life wont matter much.

Dont forget about antibiotics used to treat fish tanks.

 

[Vamoose]

One to nine years, depending on the antibiotic and storage environment.

http://www.truthistreason.net/guide-to-veterinary-drugs-for-human-consumption-post-shtf

 

[BadgeBunny]

Hmm in a pinch animal anti biotics might work. I wouldnt think it would matter about shelf life. If shtf and ya resort to animal meds, shelf life wont matter much.

Dont forget about antibiotics used to treat fish tanks.

This may be true with some meds but antibiotics need to be reasonably within a 2 year window of the expiration date. I think ... It's been a long time. Also, I know I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but it bears repeating for folks who might not know -- Using the wrong antibiotic, or an antibiotic when one is not warranted "just to be on the safe side" is as bad or worse than no antibiotic at all. Don't just stock medicines, especially antibiotics -- do your research so,if the time should come, you can at least try to make an informed decision about what to use and when ...

Meds are a lot like food -- dark, dry and cool are the key words.

(By the way -- I didn't take a "human" drug until I was almost 24 ... Everything we took was "animal" drugs. My first x-ray was on the surgery table at my dad's office. He took the x-rays to ER with us and then argued with the doctor when he wanted to do another set ... This is either a comforting statement, or a cautionary one, depending on whether you like me or not ...

 

[doctorjj]

Most drugs are extremely stable. A few notable exceptions, but most are good for 15 years at least.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/04/02/drug-expiration-part-one.aspx

 

[BadgeBunny]

One to nine years, depending on the antibiotic and storage environment.

http://www.truthistreason.net/guide-to-veterinary-drugs-for-human-consumption-post-shtf

I know this guy. While he himself is a good fella, some of the folks he associates with are not. I'd take anything I found on his site with a grain of salt (and at the very least, verify it with my own research). YMMV, of course.

 

[BadgeBunny]

Most drugs are extremely stable. A few notable exceptions, but most are good for 15 years at least.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/04/02/drug-expiration-part-one.aspx

That's interesting -- and a lot longer than I had ever been told they would last ... But, like I said, it's been a long, long time ... Thanks for the reading!!

 

[Hoov]

Storage is key. Humidity will kill pills quickly and excess heat will kill the liquids. Be careful using them, as they use different binders than the human drugs. Not sayin' that I haven't done banamine in coffee after a long night, but I like my kidneys too much!