Eating Expired Cough Drops: What will Happen?

Short Answer: If you accidentally ate expired cough drops, you may not have any serious problems, but they may not work as well for your cough.

Cough drops are small lozenges that you suck on to help soothe your throat when you have a cough.

They usually contain menthol, which is a natural substance that has a cooling and numbing effect on the throat.

Cough drops have an expiration date of about two years from the manufacturing date, but this can vary depending on the brand and how they are stored.

If you accidentally eat expired cough drops, you may not experience any harmful effects, but they may not be as effective in relieving your cough.

This is because the menthol and other ingredients in the cough drops may lose their potency over time, especially if they are exposed to heat, moisture, or air.

Menthol can help reduce inflammation, pain, and irritation in the throat, but it can also cause side effects such as nausea, drowsiness, or allergic reactions in some people.

It is quite uncommon to eat expired cough drops, as most people use them only when they have a cough and check the expiration date before using them.

However, some people may have old cough drops lying around in their medicine cabinet or purse and forget to throw them away.

You can prevent this by keeping track of when you bought your cough drops and storing them in a cool, dry, and dark place.

To avoid accidental eating of expired cough drops, you should always read the label and follow the directions for use.

Do not use more than the recommended dose or for longer than the suggested duration.

If you have any questions or concerns about using cough drops, you should consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Finally, remember, cough drops are not a cure for coughs.

They are only meant to provide temporary relief of symptoms.

If you have a persistent or severe cough, you should seek medical attention to find out the underlying cause and get proper treatment.