by Angela V 
When was the last time you went through your medicine cabinet to check for expired medication? I cleaned ours last weekend and was shocked with how many expired products we had. We are at the beginning of flu and cold season in Canada and getting hit with a nasty virus and being unprepared is the worse. Nobody wants to leave their house to get supplies when they are sick!
Below is a list of things you should have in your medicine cabinet. Remember most things expire, so check those expiration dates if you haven’t in a while.
- Pain relievers for adults and children: To help with fever, aches and pains caused by the flu.
- Throat lozenges: To help soothe a sore throat.
- Vapour Rub for Kids and Adults: I also use it to help relieve cough symptoms at night. I love they have a “Kids” version as well.
- Vaporizer: To ease congestion since cough suppressants and decongestants are no longer recommended for children.
- Electrolyte Powder: You can freeze the mixture to make popsicles. These help prevent dehydration and the kids love them when they are sick or have sore throats.
- Antibacterial wipes: To wipe down common surfaces like light switches, door handles and remote controls. Using those and constant hand washing is the best way to avoid passing the virus to everyone else.
We are also getting our flu shot at our local Shopper’s Drug Mart this weekend. We all get it every year as both of our children have asthma and they are more prone of getting respiratory infections than others. Getting the flu vaccine, hand washing, healthy eating and exercising can help you stay healthy and recover faster during the cold and dreary months!
What’s your must have product you always have at home to prepare for cold/flu season?
Twitter Party: Be sure to join the upcoming #ShoppersFluShot Twitter party on Thursday, Nov 17th at 1:00pm EST to win flu prevention prizes and learn more about the Flus shot. We’ll be there!
THE GIVEAWAY
Win it: One lucky Canadian reader will win a prize pack from Shopper’s Drug Mart (Value: $150) Enter to WIN via Rafflecopter below. Good Luck!
Prize Pack Items:
-
- Life Brand Hand Sanitizer
- Cough Drops
- Vaporizing Cold Rub
- Electrolyte Maintenance Powder
- Disinfectant Wipes
- Vaporizer
- PC chicken noodle soup
- PC facial tissues
- PC Feeling Soothed Tea
- $100 gift card
Disclosure: This is a partnered post with Shopper’s Drug Mart. A product sample and/or compensation has been received for this review and all opinions and views on this post are 100% my own.
288 Comments on “Medicine Cabinet Stock-Up Reminder”
I actually went thru my cabinets last weekend! a couple items got tossed!
About six months ago.
I actually went it through it last weekend, to see what we needed to stock up on for the winter.
I checked my medicine cabinet in the spring when I cleaned and tossed a lot, but honestly, I put some of the items back that had expired only a short time ago….like a couple of months.
Ahem…a long time ago was the last time i check my med cabinet.
A great reminder I will. Have to check my medicine cabinet. I am sure there are things that have expired!
I think the last time I checked was a year and a half ago. I had to throw out alot of expired stuff!
I probably last checked expiry dates on bottles in my medicine drawer about a year ago.
I went through mine last weekend. I threw out so much.
About a month ago!
My entire household is sick right now so we just went through our medicine to check for what is expired last weekend. This prize pack is so handy and just what we need!
I don’t think I ever have. ????
Wow! What a great giveaway! I don’t have that much in my medicine cabinet.. So I go through it quite often! With a nurse in the family she’s always on me about expired stuff too!
I actually cleaned out the medicine cabinet just last week.. but to be honest it was only because I had went for something in there and notice some expired meds lol
I did it about a month ago when I had a cold. There were lots that had to be discarded.
lol just yesterday
Actually it was just the other day and we have a lot of expired things! So this prize pack and gift card would sure come in handy
I checked mine in the spring.
I check my medicine cabinet for expired medication a few times a year.
I did a couple of weeks ago when I went looking for some throat drops.
I just went through it a few days ago when we came down with colds
Well I am thinking maybe I should do it now!
It has been about 6 months now!! 🙂
I did about 3 months ago which I hadn’t done for over a year.
I went through my medicine cabinet about 3 months ago.
I go through the medicine cabinet every 6months starting in September so I’m ready for cold and flu season!
Probably over a year for over the counter items.
Funny coincidence; we went through it yesterday after 5 years. We had to throw away quite a bit. Definitely need new medications.
About a month ago, I couldn’t believe how many items we had in the cabinet that were expired
actually i did it yesterday
We always have our most humidifier and children’s Motrin &a Tylenol on hand. Our son also has asthma so stopping and colds as soon as possible is very important.
Ps we go through it every three months.
I am almost done renovating my bathroom, which will finally have a decent sized medicine cabinet. It would be great to stock it nw!
A few weeks ago when we were all sick!
We have to keep our medications up to date so we don’t have any expired medications.
Actually I just did this, my husband is off work for chemo treatments and I cleaned out our cabinet to make room for his new meds. I was amazed at all the expired products I had, I had some in there from 2008, it’s amazing how long we keep this stuff!!
I went through my medicine cabinet in the last 6 months. I was shocked at how much expired medication there was in the home. I take it in to the pharmacy to be properly disposed of about once a year.
Oh my, the last time was probably spring cleaning last April. Should check that coboard again eh. Thanks for the chance.
I actually just did it a couple of weeks ago. I like to do it a couple times a year! Thanks for the giveaway!
I don’t think I’ve done it for years! Eeek! Thanks for the reminder.
I go through the medicine cabinet on a monthly basis.
About 6 months ago
ive not ceaned mine in at least a year
It’s been a long time – I guess it is time to check the medicine cabinet.
I checked about 2 months ago.
I think the last time I checked would have been about 3 months ago.
Oh, it’s been a while. I think the last time I had a thorough clean through was during the spring(spring cleaning).
We went through our cabinets a few weeks ago, but before that it had been at least a year.
It’a been a few years since I went through old prescriptions… definitely due for a good clean up.
I did it a couple of weeks ago.
As bad as this sounds I dont think I have ever gone through my Medicine cabinet
I haven’t checked for at least 6 months
I did it this week! I need cough syrup and cold meds only to find out that it was expired:( Off to Shoppers I went!
I don’t go through my medicine cabinet often enough. but I did go through it the other day when I was doing some fall cleaning
Maybe about a year ago, don’t have too many medications so none were expired.
I try to do it once a year, I should probably do it a bit more often!
I went through them the last time I picked up a new prescription and brought the expired meds back to the pharmacy for disposal.
I actually went through it two weeks ago. I was looking for toothpaste and decided to clean it out.
I actually checked the expiry dates a couple of weeks ago.
About 4 months ago.. yes it’s due!
During summer i’ve done it.
Funny you ask! I actually just did this a week ago. I thought to myself “when is the last time i went through the medicine” crazy how much you find expired! I threw out almost half of our stuff!
I went through in Sept, nearly time to check again. However I also always check before I take medication too.
probably …. 2 years ago??? I’m totally overdue for a clean up
It’s been a while since I went through the medicine cabinet. Although, I do check expiry dates prior to taking any medication from my cabinet.
i do it yearly about this month. thats my goal for next week for sunscreen, bug spray, expired medicine to bring to the pharmacy
Ummm…I don’t think I’ve ever gone through the whole thing. I just took some old drugs to recycle to the pharmacy but didn’t go through everything.
It was actually a few weeks ago.
We dont have alot of medicine anyways but i do have a bunch if old prescription enhalers my boys needed like 5 years ago that should really toss !
Earlier this year I did a quick clean out. I had stuff in there that expired before my 3 year old was born!!!
I actually just cleaned out the cabinet last week. I try to do it about twice a year.
I went through my cabinet about 3 months ago and tossed expired cold meds to get ready for the new season.
I checked it about 3 months ago
Well that’s an easy question to answer, we have no meds in our medicine cabinet. No supplements either.
So no need to check expiry dates!
I cleaned it out in September
I went through it a about two months ago
I went through my medicine cabinet about 6 month ago.
I just went through mine about 3 weeks ago actually. I was rearranging our medicine storage cabinet, and decided to check for expired medicine while I was at it. I had a few things that were expired so I was glad I did it.
It’s been too long but I did through some stuff out last month that had expired. It wasn’t a good going through though.
Actually it has been awhile but I have just started fall cleaning!
It’s been awhile, but I always check the bottles before using them.
I checked my medicine cabinet a few months ago
about 6 months since the last time I went through the medicine chest
I went through everything last month. My mother moved into a nursing home, so I merged the two medicine cabinets and did a ruthless clean.
Last year while I was nesting!
I go threw my cupboards Med cabnet and change batteries when I change the clock back or forward.
I checked all our medications when we did the time change with the clocks. I take any expired products to the pharmacist for disposal. I think doing that is safer than putting them in the garbage or dumping down the toilet.
It has been about 7 months since I went through the medicine cabinet, good reminder to do it again:)
Just last month when I came down with a coughing virus!
I went through it this summer
about a month ago
I went through maybe two months ago.
I went through my medicine cabinet a few months ago. I threw away some expired medication.
I went through my medicine cabinet about six months ago, but I need to check it again soon.
About Last month we checked
I went threw my medicine cabinet yesterday actually I am sick went to Dr she prescribed me a new puffer thought to myself hmmm got that at home checked YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EXPIRED 2110 YES I COULD USE SOME NEW STUFF LOL
My son and daughter faithfully check the expiry dates in the medicine cabinet. It was checked within the last month I do, however, insist that they not throw away one item. The pharmacist told me that I could ignore the expiry on it. I only use it rarely, so I don’t want to have to purchase a whole packet for one or two capsules. Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
I haven’t look at my medicines for a long time. I expect many of them are expired.
I think it was about a year ago so I must do it again!
I don’t even remember the last time I went through it. I just throw things out as I notice the dates
I just went into my medicine cabinet last week!
????
Ummmm…waaaay overdue. Probably last move so that was 7 yrs ago. Thanks for the reminder!
I can’t remember the last time I went through my cabinet to look for expired meds.
It’s been months since I’ve gone through it.
Ummm never. For shame!
i checked last month.
Not as recently as I should have – maybe a few months ago?
Oh gosh I’m terrible at this. I never have one day dedicated to checking expired medications. It happens over the course of the year as we need things & then I realize uh oh this is expired, we need to buy a new one.
my wife usually takes care of that sort of thing a few times a year … i really only look when we need something!
I am usually terrible about this, but I did that job a couple of months ago.
I checked my medicine cabinet in the spring when I did my spring cleaning.
A few months ago
Just recently because my husband needed lozenges.
About two years ago.
nicolthepickle *
I went through everything this summer, so I tend to do it seasonally.
I usually go through my medicine cabinet a few times a year. Last time was last month. Nothing thrown out this time!
I check regularly and try to keep stocked
Two years aga. But I do bring them to shoppers when expire…
I just moved so everything has been checked in my medicine cabinet.
I think it’s been about 6 months since we’ve checked the medicine cabinet expiry dates.
About 6 months ago
i just did this actually! i didnt have that much!
We went through our medicine cabinet two months ago, before the flu season hit.
A year ago
I actually went through our medications about three months ago. I took the expired drugs back to the drugstore. I usually check medications twice a year. Our drugstore will take back outdated or unusable drugs.
I cleaned out my medicine cabinet not too long ago,and threw away some things.
every 8-12 months. thanks
I go through it when it gets too full to hold anything more, which is about once every two years!
I usually go through most of the over the counter cold meds once a year.
A year ago.
A week a go.
A week a go. or once a year.
I check my medicine about once a year in January.
It’s probably been about 5 years since I went through my medicine cabinet!
it was prob last dec but i’m sure hubby cleared some stuff out
it’s been too long since i’ve gone through my expired meds. Guess I should do it soon.
Every 6 months
It was about 6 months ago or so. Time to get back on it…
Not sure, a long time ago
it has probably been a good year ago
I had some cough syrup that expired 2 years ago when I looked a few weeks ago
I don’t have any medicine so I have not checked
I’ve never gone through my medicine cabinet to check for expired medicine – but I will now!
i go through mine 4 times a year. every season of the year.
I moved in August, so I cleared everything out before I moved.
Truthfully I would say it was at the beginning of summer we did
I think I looked over a year ago
Hey..after some housecleaning..got rid of all kinds of stuff..it had been there unused for quite some time.
I don’t think I’ve ever done that. I guess I should right away!
Honestly, I don’t do it often at all, ever since I became aware of the fda study showing that “Medical authorities state expired drugs are safe to take, even those that expired years ago.” A law was passed in 1979 saying that drug companies had to put expiration dates on their products, but those dates don’t actually indicate when a medication stops working, just the date before which it will definitely be at full potency.
source: http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/drug-expiration-dates-do-they-mean-anything
I feel like a bad person. I can’t remember the last time I went through it.
I went through my cabinet during this year’s spring cleaning.
I did the expiration check 3 years ago when I moved in to my new place.
I went through it about a month ago.
I did a clear out not that long ago – maybe 3 months ago.
I’m going to do it now.
The last time I looked through my medication was when I was last sick (pretty much a year ago!) Definitely will be doing this again though-ASAP!
Last year … it’s time again to go through that medicine cabinet.
We went thought about 6 months ago – it felt so good to dispose (properly!) of all the expired/no longer needed medications and vitamins. Thanks for the chance to win! 🙂
To be honest I do not keep my medications in the Medicine Cabinet, I keep them in my night stand drawer and I last cleaned that out about August so 3 months ago
I check periodically but haven’t done a thorough clean out in about a year.
I check about every 6 months
I don’t need to , I check a running list, since I use naturopath stuff I need to keep on top of it .
I don’t check because I don’t take anything
The last time I went through the medicine cabinet to check dates on meds was two weeks ago.
about a year ago
I usually check it twice a year.
Not often enough obviously, since I can’t remember the last time. Going to check now!
I check for expiry on my vitamins every few months.
I did a couple months ago – when I was sick 🙂
I check my medicine cabinet about every 6 months.
I don’t even remember the last time, usually when I’m looking for medicine I just come across something expired 😛
I go through mine at the change of every season so it’s been about a month since I cleaned mine out.
I don’t keep a lot in my medicine cabinet and it’s been about 6 months since I last checked them.
6 months ago i went through the cabinet
I’m not going to lie – I’ve never checked for expired medicine!
I have been patting myself on the back since Thanksgiving when I cleaned out the closet and the medicine cabinet!
I have never thought to check the expiration dates on my medicines but I should!
I check every 6 months because we do not have too much medications.
I just did mine in Sept. I do it when school starts and when spring break starts.
I just went through mine. I go through every few months to check the dates on all my drugs and other toiletries like sunscreen and toothpaste.
i did this a couple months ago because we moved so as I was packing everything up a threw a bunch out 🙂
I do it every spring faithfully
It’s been awhile
Not sure, thanks for the reminder!!
Last time was a month ago. Had to toss a lot. This would be great thanks
It has been quite awhile. I needed the reminder to check again!
I can’t remember the last time I went through my medicine cabinet….guess I should do this! Thanks for the contest……
I can’t remember the last time I went through my medicine cabinet!
I actuallt just went through mine a few days ago-stocked up for the winter.
It’s probably been 6 months to a year since I’ve checked mine!
I just went through mine , I try to keep up on it , sometimes I find one thats expired on me !
It’s been awhile. Added to the to do list!
I actually did a few months ago!
Maybe about a month ago was the last time I went through my cabinet
I went through the medicine cabinet at the beginning of the school year.
About eight months ago when we moved – but the challenge is convincing my mom to throw hers out! 😉
I just moved, so it was only a month ago!
Actually, this summer! I had to clean out the cupboards in the bathroom!
I checked mine last summer and brought all the expired ones to SDM for safe disposal.
I went through ours in Spring.
I’m awful, i only check when someone gets sick.
Then I check everything so I only have to hit the drugstore once
I haven’t done it in a while, there could be some expired things lurking in there.
I just went through meds in my cabinet the other day. Nothing is expired thankfully
I haven’t done that since the spring. Thanks for the reminder!
I rarely check my medicine cabinet
Last week I checked, looked pretty good. I think may be we are taking too much.
The last time I went through the medicine cabinet was about 6 months ago. Thanks for the reminder!
I checked a few months ago.
I actually check and clean out my medicine cabinet once a month so I checked it 2 weeks ago.
I go though every few months
Twice a year at daylight savings. That’s easier for me to remember than any other time
It hasn’t been done in awhile in our house, but this is a great reminder to do so.
6 months ago
I did that last month when everyone in our family got a cold and I was looking for non-expired medication!
This is so timely! I just went through my medicine cabinet last week.
Cleaned out the medicine cabinet last spring.
every few months
I just went through my medicine cabinet this weekend as my daughter had a fever due to bronchitis
I do this fairly often for my daughter’s items. In fact just did it the other day while looking for something nearby.
My husand is meticulous about this and so it is done often.I am bad for hanging on to medicines because they are often expensive and not covered by any plan.However my husband will often tell me that he just threw out expired pills and meds.I know that this is something he does do often.
It has been quite some time.
Comment below letting me know when was the last time you went through your medicine cabinet to check for expired medication?
dont have a lot of old medicine,and i really have a hard time taking new medicine..im one of thos people
I have not gone through it for several years. I better get on it!
I live with my parents and go through the medicine cabinet at least once a year since about 10 years ago when I found a large bottle of Atarax that dated back to 1983 when my three siblings and I had chicken pox at the same time.
Last year for me, when we renovated the bathroom, but before that – ? it was a long time!
I am embarrassed to say it’s been a very long time (over a year) that I checked my medicine cabinet for expired products. This is a good reminder for me to do this weekend asap. Thanks
i always check the expiry date first, especially for kids medicine
It’s been about 6 month
I checked my cabinets the beginning of October. I discarded quite a few expired items.
I don’t have a single piece of medication in there. It’s not big enough!
I should really check it……
We leave the country every December so I go through it then. I want to take what I need with me (in case it isn’t available where I’m going) and ensure that it doesn’t get frozen (we don’t heat our house while we’re gone). I take all expired meds to Shoppers Drug Mart and do NOT put them down the toilet.
Besos Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
it has been at least 6-12 months, yikes!!
No, you would not find any expired medications in the “medicine cabinet” because I just went through eeeeverything in there about a month ago and bagged all medications that were expired and then bagged all the expired epi pens. I just have not dropped it off at the pharmacy to dispose of it yet.
It has been awhile, I don’t think I have been through the medicine cabinet since we moved.
We just checked about a month ago
I try to go through twice a year, once in the spring and once in September right before cold season
Oh…I went through two weeks ago and kept the expired medication anyway – it is not “that” old…yet…
I’m bad for taking expired drugs, not really old but I don’t worry about stuff thats a month or two past date.
I check every time I buy new medication.
I checked my medicine cabinet a few months ago.
Usually never but I moved beginning of September and clean as I packed..that is why my Medicine Cabinet is EMPTY! LOL Everything had expired!
I probably last checked in 2013,when I was nesting.
It’s been way too long since I’ve gone through the medicine cabinet I’m sure there’s quite a bit in the back that are expired
It has been about eight to ten months since I last went through the medicine cabinet to check for expired products.
I try to empty ours every six months, but need to do it again soon.
i checked it last month
We checked for expired medicines last week.
I just did this about 3 months ago
I usually go through as part of the spring and fall cleaning.
To be honest i dont remember.
Six months ago maybe … I guess it is time to do it again !
Perfect prize for the upcoming winter/cold season
I check every season to be sure we have we need
I need to do this more often just last night I went to take some cold meds and they was expired for a very long time
this would be awesome
I go through my medicine cabinet every fall and clean out what is expired and not used in the last year.
We did a good spring cleaning of all our bathroom cabinets.
Honestly, I don’t remember when the last time I went through my medicine cabinet. Thank you for reminding me of the importance of it though and a Great Giveaway 🙂
My daughter has been sick for a few days so I actually just did this and got rid of quite a bit of expired medicine
IT’s been a few months for sure
Last year
I went through my medicine cabinet last month, which I do once a month!
Twice a year or so we go through it all.
I actually went through my medicine cabinet not very long ago. I try to go through everything at least twice a year, when daylight savings time starts and ends.
I feel like I do it frequently but then whenever we need something it happens to be the one thing that’s expired. That’s the problem with having too many little storage areas instead of one place for everything 🙂
I am ashamed to say it has been a few months since I have been through the med cabinet checking expiration dates 🙁
I went through mine last weekend.
I actually tend to go through it every 6 months and definitely doublecheck each medicine when giving it to my kids.
A while ago.
I actually just did it a few weeks ago. I found out from our Pharmacist that they take all unwanted medications and get rid of them for us. I had 4 meds that I didnt want to just throw out or pour down the sink so I took them to my drugstore and easy peasy done.
I actually went through it just last month
I haven’t checked my medicine cabinet for expired medicine for at over 10 years. Most expiry dates on medicines are imposed because the drug companies do not want to conduct long-term studies on their potency—-they want to get them out to market quickly. Most health professionals agree (privately!) that very few medicines actually expire when they are stamped. However, for liability purposes, they HAVE to tell you that you should throw out your expired medicines.
I don’t even remember the last time I checked my medicine cabinet LOL. That should be a sign.
Medicine is checked every 6 months with batteries and everything else for season change.
I go through my medicine cabinet each season. I will be due to go through it again in December 🙂
Thanks you for the great giveaway !
I do that every fall. It seems like someone is getting sick right around September/October so I gotta make sure I’m ready!
I just did a clean out of my medicine cabinet last week!
I did it about a month ago when my city had an unused prescription take back program.
Oh, my! It’s been a few years! Thanks for the reminder!
I last cleaned out my medicine cabinet in October when I was getting ready to go on vacation.
I actually go through my medicine cabinet for expired meds quite often, and just did it a couple weeks ago. With three little kids and an abundance of different medicines, I can never be too careful!
I went through the cabinet about 6 months ago.
I checked last month.
Really recently – probably last month? We had a leak under our sink, so after my landlord finished fixing it, I used it as an excuse to purge from my medicine cabinet and cabinets.
I just did this in the summer..it felt good.