美国国家公共电台 NPR When Old Medicine Goes Bad

 

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

And now a dilemma¹ that most of us have probably experienced, reaching for a painkiller² or other medication only to discover it's expired according to the date on the label. NPR's Patti Neighmond takes a look at what these dates actually mean.

PATTI NEIGHMOND, BYLINE³: It turns out they mean a lot. Expiration⁴ dates are based on research showing how long the drug's potency⁵ lasts. Drug companies expose their medications to different environments, temperatures and humidity to see when a dose starts to degrade. Pharmacist Mike Fossler is with the American College of Clinical Pharmacology.

MIKE FOSSLER: After, about 10 percent of that dose is gone. That would be considered the end of the useful life of that drug. And then that would be your expiration date.

NEIGHMOND: If you take the drug months or even years past the expiration, it might not do you any harm. But it also might not do you any good, which may not be a big deal if you're treating a headache. But if you're fighting an infection with antibiotics⁶, that could be a problem. In addition to keeping medication up to date, it's also important to store it properly.

FOSSLER: Medicines like the kind of environment that people like. We like it a little dry, and we don't like it too hot or too cold.

NEIGHMOND: Which means the place people often keep medications, the bathroom medicine cabinet, isn't a good idea because it's repeatedly doused⁷ with humidity.

FOSSLER: With your shower and things like that. So it's better to find a closet somewhere and keep your medicine.

NEIGHMOND: A dry, cool, dark place. Scientist Barbara Kochanowski with the Consumer Healthcare Products Association says this is particularly true for liquid medication.

BARBARA KOCHANOWSKI: That's often where you see refrigeration required or protection from light required. And anytime those conditions change, those medicines can rapidly degrade.

NEIGHMOND: And get contaminated with bacteria or fungus⁸. If you see changes in color or consistency⁹, those are red flags. Don't take it. So before you even buy the medication, check the expiration date and read the storage instructions on the label. That way, you'll get the most out of it.

Patti Neighmond, NPR News.

(SOUNDBITE OF TYCHO'S "RINGS")

1 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。

2 painkiller   

n.止痛药

参考例句：

• I shall persuade him to take the painkiller.我将说服他把药吃下去。
• The painkiller only provides him a short respite from his pain.止痛药仅仅让他在疼痛中有短暂的疏解。

3 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

4 expiration   

n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物

参考例句：

• Can I have your credit card number followed by the expiration date?能告诉我你的信用卡号码和它的到期日吗?
• This contract shall be terminated on the expiration date.劳动合同期满，即行终止。

5 potency   

n. 效力，潜能

参考例句：

• Alcohol increases the drug's potency.酒精能增加这种毒品的效力。
• Sunscreen can lose its potency if left over winter in the bathroom cabinet.如果把防晒霜在盥洗室的壁橱里放一个冬天，就有可能失效。

6 antibiotics   

n.（用作复数）抗生素；（用作单数）抗生物质的研究；抗生素，抗菌素( antibiotic的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the discovery of antibiotics in the 20th century 20世纪抗生素的发现
• The doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics. 医生给我开了抗生素。

7 doused   

v.浇水在…上( douse的过去式和过去分词 )；熄灯[火]

参考例句：

• The car was doused in petrol and set alight. 这辆汽车被浇上汽油点燃了。
• He doused the lamp,and we made our way back to the house. 他把灯熄掉，我们就回到屋子里去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 fungus   

n.真菌，真菌类植物

参考例句：

• Mushrooms are a type of fungus.蘑菇是一种真菌。
• This fungus can just be detected by the unaided eye.这种真菌只用肉眼就能检查出。

9 consistency   

n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度

参考例句：

• Your behaviour lacks consistency.你的行为缺乏一贯性。
• We appreciate the consistency and stability in China and in Chinese politics.我们赞赏中国及其政策的连续性和稳定性。