Expired Melafix

[Bignose]

Well, firstly, I didnt say it would do any harm. Secondly, when the active molecules react with all the other things in there, like the bottle or chelating agent or if melalueca degrades into something else because of heat, sunlight, or just time, are all these other basically unpredicable molecules it could become also harmless? At the very least, the active molecule has become ineffective, so it won't do anything at all. So, again, when it has expired, you should toss it.

I used some 3-month expired melafix the other day. It worked just fine. But I recently bought a new bottle, and it's expiring date is July 2009, which is more than three times the shelf-life of any other medications I have seen.



Oh me, oh my! I spoke to soon! My fish are growing arms and back-mounted laser cannons! They are going to destroy the world after they pick my burned flesh clean off my bones! The melalueca must have upgraded into a super-reactive ionic form of Promethium! Oh, the horror!



-Lynden

Fine, Lynden, I can't stop you from doing what you want, I can only report what science says, and recommend again that it is foolish to take chances on something that has expired, when you don't know for sure what is in the bottle, when the manufacturer has told you via the expiration date that what was in the bottle is not 100% what is in the bottle after expiration and the medication is not going to work as designed.

This is the second time you've tried to set up a straw man by putting words in my mouth with that ridiculous exaggeration. If you want to argue any of the points I have made, please do so using backed up facts, but if your means of argument is to put words in my mouth or to make up silly stories, please refrain until you can discuss the ideas rationally.

 

[skiltrip]

I dumped the old Melafix a few days ago. I don't want fish with back mounted laser cannons.

But seriously...I'd probably err on the side of caution and tell everyone, regardless of what it is, food, meds, tea oil meds, whatever... if it has an expiration date on it, just heed it. Get rid of it. Some chemist somewhere made some kind of judgement call when formulating the Melafix, and they chose a certain shelf-life for some reason. Trust your chemist!

That Melafix sure smelled good though going down the drain. B)

 

[Lynden]

That Melafix sure smelled good though going down the drain

Yeah it makes the tank smell great too.

 

[Zulema]

I have a bottle of MelaFix that expired 4/2006. I have a couple fish with fins that are a little damaged from roughhousing. I'd like to put some MelaFix in the water. Do you think the expired stuff is just not active anymore, would it hurt the fish. 99% of the ingredients seem to be inert. with 1% being Melaleuca.

Any advice about this expired bottle would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I found a research website on Melafix that will help! http://www.teatreewonders.com/does-tea-tree-oil-expire.html

 

[AbbeysDad]

Good Grief...."WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT!"

(nuff said)