On the Earth, medicines degrade over time, particularly when exposed to light, oxygen or humidity, but they do not appear to degrade faster in space.

‘Medicines do not degrade in space as temperature and humid conditions on board the International Space Station are generally within ideal ranges for medicine storage on the Earth.’

On the Earth, medicines degrade over time, particularly when exposed to light, oxygen or humidity. Temperature and humid conditions on board the ISS are generally within ideal ranges for medicine storage on the Earth. 




"Till now, there has been little evidence of how medicines might react to factors unique to spaceflight such as micro-gravity and constant exposure to elevated radiation levels," said the team from the Centre for Space Medicine and department of pharmacology at Baylor College of Medicine in the US.
Lead researcher Virginia Wotring analyzed nine medications which had been stocked on the ISS and returned to the Earth unused after 550 days of storage in spaceflight. The medications included sleeping aids, pain relievers, antihistamines/decongestants, an antidiarrhoeal and an alertness drug.
The medicines were returned to the Earth and, upon arrival, they were kept under controlled conditions till analysis three-five months later. The researchers measured the quantity of active ingredients and degradation products present in the medicines.
One medication met requirements five months after its expiration date. Four of the nine drugs were still viable up to eight months after officially expiring. Three other medications met the guidelines when they were tested three months before their expiry date.
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The study appeared in The AAPS Journal, an official journal of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.
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