Medication Question - Out of date medicines

[fairytale dreamer]

So a couple of days ago I got a cold/flu type thing. And because I was getting annoyed with all the sneezing and runny nose and coughing, I decided to take a trip to Superdrug to buy some medicine.

My friend came with me, and she advised me to get Beechams Flu Plus because they do actually work. So I grabbed a packet and paid for them. Went out, took 2(normal dosage). They worked fine, but did make me feel a little sick. Later on in the evening, I took another 2 because the previous ones had worn off.
This morning, I took 2, and then started to feel very very ill. I was very dizzy, felt really sick and was close to passing out. So decided to check the packet, just to make sure I hadn't done anything wrong. And only then did I spot the expirery date. June 2007.

They were 3 months out of date, but I had only bought them the day before. Therefore Superdrug sold me out of date medicine.
I'm planning on writing a letter of complaint to them, but, I was just wondering if anyone could tell me the dangers of taking out of date medicine?
I know it is partially my fault for not checking the packet in the first place, but to me, medicines is something I trust people with, and I don't expect to be sold out of date medicine.

Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

Steph =]

[Mandimoo]

sue their ass! no advice sorry!

[Aidee]

As Irene said you should never take out of date medications, although 3 months is not enough time for the medication to change that much...

I think a more likely explanation is that the cold medicine is interacting with some other medication you are taking, or you are allergic to one of the ingredients. I suggest not taking any more of that cold medicine, and trying a different medication with different ingredients. If you are taking other medications, you need to call the doctor that prescribed them and see what cold medications are safe to mix with it.

You should definetly write to the store, and call the store manager for the store you went to. They will need to check to make sure there are no more expired medications on the shelves so they can remove them.

[banana split]

in defence to superdrug and to keep the record straight:

The computer systems in shops do NOT keep track of the dates.

It really gets my ghost that people assume that.

But yeah write or go into the store and complain.

And always check the dates in any store cos us cashiers and floor workers ARE human and do make mistakes sometimes

[akita]

Take them and get a refund and write a letter of complaint.