Talhaq › Medicine expiry date
Medicine expiry date: how to read it, and how long after opening
Work out when your medicine expires from the date on the box and how long you can use it after opening, then dispose of expired medicine safely.
When does my medicine expire?
How long after opening?
The calculator only does the dates. The use-after-opening period differs by medicine — take it from your leaflet or pharmacist.
What EXP, MFG and LOT mean
- EXP: expiry date — don’t use the medicine after it.
- MFG/MFD: manufacturing date, not expiry.
- LOT or B.N.: batch number, used in recall notices.
Month and year only
If only the month and year are printed, e.g. “EXP 07/2027”, the medicine is good until the last day of that month (31 July 2027), as the US FDA interprets it.
On the strip and in the barcode
The date is printed on the outer box and often on the edge of the strip; keep strips in their box. Every medicine pack in Saudi Arabia carries a square 2D barcode (the “Rased” tracking system) containing the product number, serial number, batch and expiry date (Saudi FDA). Read with a barcode app, the expiry is the six digits after (17) as year-month-day: “(17)270731” means 31 July 2027.
Use after opening
Some medicines — certain eye drops, syrups and mixed suspensions — must be used within a period after opening that is shorter than the box date. It differs by product: check the leaflet (“after opening”), the Saudi Drug Information system, or your pharmacist.
Disposing of expired medicines
Per the Saudi FDA (21 April 2018), if there’s no take-back scheme: remove personal details from the pack; mix the medicines, without crushing, with semi-solid waste like used tea or coffee grounds; seal in a plastic bag and put it in the outside bin. Some controlled medicines need a special method — ask your pharmacist.
Never miss a dose — or run out
Talhaq rings at every dose until you tap “Taken”. With stock tracking (Talhaq Plus) it counts what’s left and reminds you before you run out.
FAQ
What does EXP mean on medicine?
Expiry date. MFG is the manufacturing date and LOT the batch number.
Month and year only — when exactly does it expire?
On the last day of that month: “EXP 03/2027” means good until 31 March 2027.
Can I use medicine after it expires?
No — don’t use it after the date on the pack or after the use-after-opening period in its leaflet. Ask your pharmacist for a new pack.