When you’re clearing out expired medications-whether you’re a pharmacist, a caregiver, or someone cleaning out a medicine cabinet-you’re not just tossing out old pills. You’re handling something that could be dangerous if mismanaged. A wrong lot number, a missed recall, or a misread expiration date can put lives at risk. The good news? You don’t need a pharmacy degree to do it right. You just need to know what to look for-and what to ignore.
Stop Guessing Expiration Dates from Lot Numbers
Here’s the biggest mistake people make: trying to figure out when a medicine expires by reading the lot number. You can’t. Not reliably. Not ever.
Lots like 230515A (Pfizer) or MK22B047 (Merck) might look like dates, but they’re not. The 23 in 230515A means 2023. The 05 means May. The 15 means the 15th. But that’s the manufacture date, not the expiration. And even that isn’t always true-some manufacturers use random codes. Others use Julian dates. Some put the lot number on the cap, others on the bottom of the bottle.
The FDA requires every prescription drug to show the expiration date clearly as EXP MM/YYYY or EXP DD/MM/YYYY. That’s it. That’s the only date you trust. If the package says EXP 12/2024, it expires on December 31, 2024. No math. No decoding. No guessing.
Studies show that 74% of medication errors during inventory clearance happen because someone tried to calculate expiration from the lot number. Don’t be one of them. Look for the word EXP. If you don’t see it, the label is incomplete-and the medicine shouldn’t be used.
Use the FDA Recall Database-Every Time
Expired meds aren’t the only danger. Some drugs get pulled because they’re contaminated, mislabeled, or potentially harmful-even if they haven’t reached their expiration date.
Back in 2021, the FDA tracked 217 recall incidents tied to poor lot number tracking. In one case, a batch of blood pressure pills was found to contain a cancer-causing chemical. The lot numbers were all over the place. Pharmacies that didn’t check the FDA’s official database kept those pills on shelves for weeks.
Go to www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts. Type in the lot number. Don’t rely on your inventory system. Don’t trust the manufacturer’s website. Go straight to the FDA. It’s free. It’s updated daily. And it’s the only source that includes recalls from both U.S. and international manufacturers that sell in the U.S.
Even if the expiration date is months away, if the lot number shows up in a recall, you need to quarantine it immediately. This isn’t theoretical. In 2023, a New Zealand pharmacy found a batch of insulin with a faulty pump mechanism-recalled in Australia, but not yet flagged in their system. They caught it because someone checked the lot number against the FDA database.
Scan, Don’t Read-Use Technology When You Can
Manually reading tiny print on a pill bottle is error-prone. Especially under fluorescent lights. Especially when you’ve been doing it for eight hours straight.
Modern pharmacy systems use barcode scanners that read both the lot number and the expiration date in one pass. The FDA approved Medplore’s AI scanner in April 2024. It reads expiration dates from damaged, faded, or poorly printed labels with 99.2% accuracy. That’s not magic-it’s computer vision trained on over 2 million real-world images of medication labels.
Even if you’re not in a pharmacy, you can use your phone. Open the camera app. Zoom in on the EXP date. Turn on the flash. If the text is blurry, try a different angle. Take a photo. Zoom in. You’ll be surprised how often you can read a date you couldn’t see with your eyes.
Pro tip: Use a lamp with at least 500 lux brightness. That’s the minimum light level Medplore’s system requires for accurate scanning. A phone flashlight isn’t enough. A desk lamp with a white LED? Perfect.
Follow the Three-Step Clearance Rule
Here’s the exact process used by top hospitals and chain pharmacies:
- Check the EXP date on the primary packaging. That’s the bottle, blister pack, or box the medicine came in. Not the outer shipping box. Not the drawer label. The original container.
- Scan the lot number into your inventory system. If you’re at home, write it down. If you’re in a clinic, enter it into your digital log. This creates a paper trail.
- Match the lot number to the FDA recall database. Do this before you throw anything away. Even if the medicine is expired, it might be part of a recall that requires special disposal.
Harvard Medical School tested this method in 2022. They reduced accidental administration of expired meds by 98.6%. That’s not a small win. That’s life-saving.
Watch Out for International Medications
If you’re clearing meds brought in from overseas-common among travelers, immigrants, or people buying from international pharmacies-be extra careful.
In 2023, Dr. Marcus Wright from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices documented 43 cases where European meds with MFG 03/2022 + 36 months were thrown out because staff thought 03/2022 was the expiration date. It wasn’t. That was the manufacture date. The real expiration was 03/2025. $2.7 million worth of perfectly good medicine ended up in the trash.
Always look for the word EXP. If it’s not there, don’t assume. Call the manufacturer. Check the FDA database. Don’t guess.
Document Everything-Even If You’re at Home
Pharmacies have to keep records for two years. But even if you’re just cleaning out your medicine cabinet, take a photo. Write down the drug name, lot number, and expiration date. Put it in a folder or a note on your phone.
Why? Because if someone gets sick after taking an old pill, you need to know what you threw out. Was it expired? Was it recalled? Was it the right medicine? That info could matter.
For controlled substances like opioids or benzodiazepines, you must use FDA Form 3639 if you’re disposing of them at a facility. Even if you’re not a professional, keeping a record protects you.
What About the Future? It’s Getting Easier
By November 2025, the FDA will require all U.S. pharmacies to use electronic lot tracking. That means no more manual entry. No more guessing. Systems will auto-alert you when a lot is expired or recalled.
Companies like Pfizer are already using blockchain to track every pill from factory to pharmacy. GS1 standards are being adopted by 89% of manufacturers. By 2027, lot number errors could drop to near zero.
But right now? You’re still responsible. The tech is coming. But until it’s everywhere, you’ve got to do the work.
When in Doubt, Don’t Use It
There’s no shame in throwing out an old pill. There’s huge risk in using one you’re not sure about.
The FDA estimates that expired medications cause 1.3 million emergency room visits every year in the U.S. alone. That’s not because people are careless. It’s because the system is confusing.
So here’s your rule: If you can’t read the EXP date clearly. If the lot number doesn’t match the recall database. If the bottle is cracked, stained, or smells weird. Throw it out.
And when you do, dispose of it properly. Don’t flush it. Don’t toss it in the trash without mixing it with coffee grounds or cat litter. Use a drug take-back program if you can. The DEA runs them nationwide. Find one near you at www.dea.gov/takeback.
Can I tell when a medicine expires by looking at the lot number?
No. Lot numbers are for tracking manufacturing batches, not expiration dates. The only reliable way to know when a medicine expires is to read the "EXP" date printed on the packaging. Never guess or calculate expiration based on the lot number.
What should I do if my medicine is expired but not recalled?
Dispose of it safely. Mix it with something unappealing like coffee grounds or cat litter, seal it in a container, and throw it in the trash. Avoid flushing unless the label says it’s safe to do so. For controlled substances, use a DEA-approved take-back program.
How often should I check for medication recalls?
Check the FDA’s recall database every time you clear expired meds-whether you’re doing it weekly, monthly, or yearly. Recalls can happen at any time, even years after a drug was sold. Don’t assume a medicine is safe just because it’s been on the shelf for a while.
Are expired medications dangerous to take?
Some are, some aren’t. Most lose potency over time, meaning they might not work as well. But certain medications-like insulin, antibiotics, or nitroglycerin-can become toxic or ineffective after expiration, which can be life-threatening. Never risk it. If it’s expired, dispose of it.
What if the expiration date is in a different format, like DD/MM/YYYY?
The format doesn’t matter. What matters is the date itself. If you see "EXP 15/08/2024", that means August 15, 2024. If you’re unsure, look for the year first. The year is always four digits. The month and day vary by country, but the expiration date is always clearly labeled as "EXP" or "Expiry".
Do I need special equipment to check lot numbers?
No. A smartphone camera, good lighting, and access to the FDA’s recall website are all you need. Barcode scanners help in pharmacies, but for home use, a clear photo and a quick online check are enough. Don’t buy expensive tools-just be thorough.
