Expiration Dates Observed on Foods, But Not Always on Medications

Expiration Dates Observed on Foods, But Not Always on Medications

National Survey Reveals That 46 Percent of American Adult Respondents Have Used an Expired Medication

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- While many American adults say they perform regular tune-ups on their cars (54 percent) or update their wardrobes to reflect the season (49 percent), the need to revamp their medicine cabinets on an annual basis is typically overlooked. According to a recent survey commissioned by McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals, Division of McNeil - PPC, Inc. and conducted by Harris Interactive(R), 66 percent of American adults will typically take time to clean out their refrigerators regularly, but only 31 percent say they clean out their medicine cabinets annually.

"It's important for people to realize that ignoring the expiration and labeling information on their medications or improperly storing medications may pose potentially harmful risks to their health," notes Janet P. Engle, Pharm. D., associate dean for academic affairs and clinical professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy. "It is important to give your medicine cabinet an annual makeover, and to make sure your medicines are stored properly and have not expired."

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides helpful information to consumers about over-the-counter (OTC) medications through informative websites and reminds patients to pay careful attention to expiration dates. However, in spite of these warnings, many consumers are either unaware of expiration dates or do not realize the potential consequences. According to data from the McNeil survey, 61 percent of American adults always check the expiration dates of their OTC medications, although nearly half of the respondents reported having taken an expired OTC medication.

Knowing where OTC and prescription medications should be stored is also vital in maintaining their effectiveness. The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) claims that overexposure to moisture, heat and humidity may change the potency of certain drugs. Therefore, consumers should not keep certain medications in a bathroom or kitchen cabinet. Medications should always be stored in their original packaging according to directions provided on the package label and should never be combined into one bottle for easier storing. By keeping medications in original packaging, consumers always have easy access to full dosing instructions, drug interactions, storage instructions and expiration information.

"People tend to keep themselves busy with everyday household management activities, like doing the laundry or picking up groceries, and updating their medicine cabinets is certainly not a number one priority," says Genevieve Gorder, a makeover guru who has joined forces with the makers of TYLENOL(R) to teach Americans how to take control of their medicine cabinets. "Something as simple as cleaning out your medicine cabinet monthly to toss expired medicines and restock essential remedies makes a world of difference."

Must-haves for every medicine cabinet, according to the FDA, include pain relievers such as TYLENOL(R), antacids and acid reducers such as Mylanta(R) and Pepcid(R) Complete, fever reducers such as Motrin(R) IB for adults and children, and bandages such as the BAND-AID(R) brand. Survey findings also indicate that antacids/anti-diarrhea products (63%) and low-dose aspirin (39%) (i.e. Imodium(R) A-D and St. Joseph(R) 81 mg Adult Aspirin) are among the common products that adults who have a medicine cabinet tend to keep in theirs.

To learn more about maintaining a healthy medicine cabinet, and to enter a sweepstakes to win a $50,000 medicine cabinet makeover with Genevieve Gorder, visit http://www.mymedcab.com/.

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Open to legal U.S. residents, 18 or older. For Official Rules, visit http://www.mymedcab.com/. Ends 12/30/05.

Methodology

Harris Interactive(R) fielded the study on behalf of McNeil Consumer and Specialty Pharmaceuticals from May 31 - June 2, 2005, via its QuickQuery(SM) online omnibus interviewing a nationwide sample of 2,311 U.S. adults aged 18 and over, of whom 2,116 have a medicine cabinet. Data were weighted to be representative of the total U.S. adult population on the basis of region, age within gender, education, household income, race/ethnicity, and propensity to be online. Though this online sample is not a probability sample, in theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results have a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

About Harris Interactive(R)

Harris Interactive Inc. (http://www.harrisinteractive.com/), the 15th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world, is a Rochester, N.Y.-based global research company that blends premier strategic consulting with innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and application. Known for The Harris Poll(R) and for pioneering Internet-based research methods, Harris Interactive conducts proprietary and public research to help its clients achieve clear, material and enduring results.

Harris Interactive combines its intellectual capital, databases and technology to advance market leadership through U.S. offices and wholly owned subsidiaries, HI Europe in London (http://www.hieurope.com/), Novatris in Paris (http://www.novatris.com/), and through an independent global network of affiliate market research companies. EOE M/F/D/V

About McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals, Division of McNeil - PPC, Inc.

McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals, a Division of McNeil-PPC, Inc., markets prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical products. The company's OTC products include complete lines of TYLENOL(R) acetaminophen, which celebrates 50 years of trust and innovation in 2005, and MOTRIN(R) IB ibuprofen for adults and children. Prescription products include CONCERTA(R) (methylphenidate HCl extended-release tablets) and FLEXERIL(R) (cyclobenzaprine HCl 5 mg tablets). Other McNeil brands include IMODIUM(R) A-D anti-diarrheal, ST. JOSEPH(R) 81 mg Adult Aspirin and NIZORAL(R) A-D Shampoo.

About Johnson & Johnson - Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co.

Johnson & Johnson - Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co. is a U.S.-based 50/50 joint venture formed to develop and market nonprescription products derived primarily from Merck & Co., Inc. prescription medicines, as well as products licensed and acquired from outside sources. Current products include Maximum Strength and Regular Strength PEPCID(R), for both the prevention and relief of heartburn and acid indigestion; PEPCID(R) Complete, a combination acid reducer and antacid; and anti-gas products MYLANTA(R) Antacid and Infants' Mylicon(R) Drops.

Source: McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals

CONTACT: Kathy Fallon, Director, McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals, +1-215-273-7818, KFallon@MCCUS.JNJ.com

Web site: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/

Web site: http://www.mymedcab.com/

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