Andrews Salts - Can I Still Use This Pack?

[joko]

are they safe to still take if the contents have stiffened up?

they break up again when you stir it.

the use by date is not until 2014 - but its kind of gone all hard - i assume its got a tiny bit of damp in it ...?

this always happens to this stuff if you don't use it for a while and i always end up binning it

so i want to know if this means its gone 'off' or has i just settled and air has got in and it will be fine to use?

thanks

[Psybbo]

I think fine to use, I still use mine

[Peter Pedant]

I think its OK

so long as you dont use any that have already been used of course

[gingejbee]

It's completely safe....but may not dissolve as quickly...or fizz as much as it should!

[Baldric]

It's in date, use it.

[frugalfred]

It's probably absorbed moisture from the air (hygroscopic); it's OK to use it.

[Hypognosis]

http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?medicine=Original%20Andrews%20Salts

"If your medicine comes in a plastic container, you must dispose of the container and any remaining contents three months after opening it. It is a good idea to make a note of the date when you first opened it."

Note: I am merely quoting what this website says, not necessarily agreeing with their advice. In fact I wouldn't mind learning the reasoning behind the need to dispose of the mixture after an arbitrary time period.

At the top of the page, it says the ingredients are just Sodium Bicarbonate, citric acid and magnesium sulphate and they would need to undergo some kind of chemical transformation to become in any way harmful. "Reacting with what?", I'd have to ask.

The mixture has gone hard merely from absorbing moisture from the air (look up: hygroscopic). Ordinary table salt does something similar and you may notice "anti-caking agent" in the ingredients list.

It may be that chemical changes occur over time, due to exposure to air/moisture which, whilst not actually harmful to you, somehow render the medicine wholly or partly innefective, causing you to take extra doses to relieve symptoms. The website, above, mentions that excessive levels of magnesium can be harmful to patients with kidney problems so, in a convuluted way, there is a valid reason to throw it away.

[joko]

thanks all - yes its probably been longer than 3 months.

seems odd that it would for 'off' but maybe the moisture makes it spoil.

they do seem to put it in a really rubbish container - not airtight at all - i think i will start putting it in something better and see if it lasts longer

i may try some and see if i feel well after it