How Long Does Vicks Last

1 mom's story of using a decades-old jar of Vicks VapoRub has social media users singing the product'southward praises, fifty-fifty as the make cautions the employ of expired products.

Heather Chacon, an assistant professor of English at Greensboro College in Due north Carolina, shared a photo of herself property a vintage jar of Vicks VapoRub.

"My son has been sick (not Covid) and shout to to my mom, who loaned us the Aforementioned pot of Vicks she used to utilize on me growing up," Chacon wrote.

In a follow-up message, Chacon added that she had used the topical cough suppressant on her son — and that information technology had surprising results.

"Rest assured I did use this and it did indeed assist. Vintage Vicks for the win," Chacon wrote.

The tweet quickly went viral, racking up thousands of likes and hundreds of comments and shares. Many Twitter users chimed in with their ain stories of using similarly dated products.

"I've got you beat! Just institute this in my mom's closet and it'southward my grandma'south writing on there. Nov 1965," wrote one user. "I was congested the other day, put some under my olfactory organ, and piece of work just fine! This stuff is immortal!"

Another said that despite their expertise as a medical doctor, their female parent sent them a jar of Vicks from 1982. Other users showed off their own decades-quondam products.

While users might exist delighted with the story, the Vicks brand was a little less enthused.

"Heather, we're sad your son is sick, and hope he'due south feeling meliorate soon," wrote the brand on Twitter. "The rubber of your family is very important to united states, and while we appreciate your mom's confidence in VapoRub, we recommend that you don't use an expired product."

How long does it take for Vicks VapoRub to expire?

Vicks VapoRub does eventually elapse, according to the company's website, and should non exist used past the expiration date stamped on it.

"Do non apply Vicks VapoRub beyond the expiration date on the package," said the visitor online, echoing their comment to Chanson and other Twitter users who shared their stories of using vintage Vicks products.

A spokesperson for Procter & Take a chance, the parent company of Vicks, repeated that sentiment in a statement emailed to TODAY Health.

"We do non recommend using Vicks VapoRub by the expiration engagement," said the spokesperson. "The expiration dates reflect the time period during which the production is known to remain stable, which means it retains its forcefulness, quality, and purity when stored co-ordinate to its labeled storage conditions."

Onisis Stefas, chief pharmacy officer at Northwell Health, said that in general people should avoid using medication that is past its expiration date, since it can no longer exist effective or even crusade harm. Some medications can grow bacteria in them, while others tin can be even more than dangerous: Medications like tetracycline get toxic and can outcome in kidney damage if used past their expiration date.

"It's not good to use medications by their expiration engagement, specially thirty-plus years after the fact," Stefas said.

How oftentimes should you clean out your medicine chiffonier?

NBC News medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar recommends taking a look through your medicine chiffonier regularly to make sure that you're properly disposing of expired medications.

Azar recently appeared on TODAY and brash setting aside any item that is expired and checking its color, odor and consistency. If annihilation is off, dispose of the medication. For prescriptions, Azar recommends following the "1 year cut-off dominion:" Many medications lose their potency later on expiration, which can atomic number 82 to astringent side effects.

"Information technology'south just extremely important to always check it, don't take a take a chance," said Stefas. "And if you have an expired medication, Especially if it's over-the-counter only then become out and yous know get a go a new one with, with a new end date, so you can ensure that it's safe and constructive."

Make sure y'all safely dispose of your medications and restock on whatever y'all need on a regular basis.

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