Class Action Lawsuits Filed Over Bogus Drug Expiration Dates

As proof of the alleged expiration date scheme, the Plaintiffs cite studies by Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University and the Food and Drug Administration that found 90% of more than 100 prescription and OTC drugs were perfectly good to use even 15 years after the expiration date. This excludes certain drugs like tetracycline, nitroglycerin, insulin, and liquid antibiotics.

The purpose of the scheme? “[T]o increase defendants’ sales and profits because consumers have to purchase replacement medications for those they have thrown out,” the class action lawsuits say, which are seeking actual and punitive damages for consumers that purchased products from Pfizer, Bayer and Johnson & Johnson.

So what should a consumer do if they reach for a bottle of expired Tylenol or prescription medication?

According to a Harvard Medical School article, “If the expiration date passed a few years ago and it’s important that your drug is absolutely 100% effective, you might want to consider buying a new bottle. And if you have any questions about the safety or effectiveness of any drug, ask your pharmacist. He or she is a great resource when it comes to getting more information about your medications.”