Bipolar Disorder Treatment Medications Beyond-Use and Expiration Date Differences By Kimberly Read Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on April 04, 2020 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on May 08, 2020 Print Hero Images / Getty Images A beyond-use date is a date placed on a prescription by a pharmacy for compounded medications they prepare, noting when that prescription should no longer be used. It will often say "discard after ..." or "do not use after ..." How the Beyond-Use Date Is Determined This date is determined by the pharmacy when they prepare a compound prescription based on different factors, including: The type of drug and how fast it degradesThe dosage of the medicationThe type of container being usedThe storage conditions the medication is expected to be inHow long the medication will be takenHow likely it is that there will be any sort of contamination while the prescription is being filled Is Beyond-Use Different From Expiration? The beyond-use date is different than an expiration date of a drug. An expiration date is a point set by the manufacturer at which they can no longer guarantee the strength or safety of a medication. Because the expiration date is established by testing a drug in specific conditions related to storage containers, lighting, temperature, etc., this date, as per the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is compromised by changing any of these conditions. This includes moving a medication to a different container, which is the normal practice for pharmacies dispensing prescriptions. Beyond-Use Date The date when the compounded prescription should no longer be used Determined by the pharmacy when they fill a prescription Based on the type of drug, how fast it degrades, dosage, type of container, storage conditions, prescription length, the likelihood of contamination Expiration Date The date at which a manufacturer can no longer guarantee the strength or safety of a medication Determined by the US Food and Drug Administration Based on testing a drug in specific conditions related to storage containers, lighting, temperature, etc Importance of Expiration Dates The FDA says it's dangerous to take medications after their expiration date because they may not be as effective, their chemical composition may have changed, or they may have deteriorated to a point where harmful bacteria could breed. Particularly with antibiotics, it's important to watch the expiration date because using an expired antibiotic means it may not be potent enough to completely treat your infection, leaving you at risk for a worse one. The bottom line is that it is best to not use expired medications because there is no guarantee that they will work the way they are supposed to and they may even make you worse. Pay Attention to Medication Expiration Dates How to Safely Store Medications Medications need to be stored safely to help keep their chemical compositions intact and stop them from becoming breeding grounds for bacteria. Storing them properly until they are expired keeps them safe and at maximum potency. Make sure you are storing your medication according to directions. If the prescription says to store it in the refrigerator, make sure you do. If it says not to expose it to high temperatures, don't store it right next to the stove.Store most medications in a cool, dry area. Bathroom medicine cabinets, though a popular place to store your medications are not a good idea because of the heat and steam that accumulate during showers. This can lead to your medications becoming less effective or even dangerous before the expiration date.Consider locking them up. Prescription drug abuse is at an all-time high and accidental overdosing and poisoning does happen when kids or pets get into medications. A locked box may be a wise solution. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with racing thoughts? Always feeling tired? Our guide offers strategies to help you or your loved one live better with bipolar disorder. Sign up for our newsletter and get it free. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. US Pharmacopia. USP compounding standards and beyond-use dates (BUDs). June 2019. Ohler J, Miller C, Sheridan D. How do expiration and beyond-use dates compare?. Nursing. 2019;49(3):17. doi:10.1097/01.NURSE.0000553290.72084.04 US Food & Drug Administration. Don’t be tempted to use expired medicines. Updated March 2016. US National Library of Medicine.Storing your medicines. Updated January 2018. Additional Reading American Medical Association. Report 1 of the Council on Scientific Affairs (A001): Pharmaceutical expiration dates. Published February 2008. Food and Drug Administration. Don't be tempted to use expired medicines. Updated March 3, 2016. The United States Pharmacopeial Convention Pharmaceutical compounding—nonsterile preparations. Published 2013.