Expiring medications could pose challenge on long space missions | Science & Technology

Medications used by astronauts on the International Space Station might not be good enough for a three-year journey to Mars.

A new study led by Duke Health shows that over half of the medicines stocked in space — staples such as pain relievers, antibiotics, allergy medicines, and sleep aids — would expire before astronauts could return to Earth.

Astronauts could end up relying on ineffective or even harmful drugs, according to the study appearing July 23 in npj Microgravity, a Nature journal.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean the medicines won’t work, but in the same way you shouldn’t take expired medications you have lying around at home, space exploration agencies will need to plan on expired medications being less effective,” said senior study author Daniel Buckland, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and an aerospace medicine researcher.

Expired medications can lose their strength by a little — or a lot. The actual stability and potency of medications in space compared to Earth remain largely unknown. The harsh space environment, including radiation, could reduce the effectiveness of medications.

Buckland and co-author Thomas E. Diaz, a pharmacy resident at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, noted that expired medications could pose a challenge as space agencies plan for long-duration missions to Mars and beyond.

Diaz used a Freedom of Information Act Request to obtain information about the space station formulary, assuming NASA would use similar medications for a Mars mission.

Using a database of international drug expiration dates, the researchers determined that 54 of the 91 medications had a shelf-life of 36 months or less.

Using the most optimistic estimates, about 60% of these medications would expire before a Mars mission concludes. Under more conservative assumptions, the figure jumps to 98%.

The study did not assume accelerated degradation but focused on the inability to resupply a Mars mission…

Source www.sciencedaily.com

We use income earning auto affiliate links. More on Sponsored links.
Ad Amazon : The reality of UFOs and extraterrestrials is here for those with the courage to examine it. We are not alone! We are only one of many different humanoids in a universe teeming with other intelligent life?

Ad Amazon : Books UFO
Ad Amazon : Binoculars
Ad Amazon : Telescopes

Related Posts

Astronomers have pinpointed the origin of mysterious repeating radio bursts from space | Space

Analysis-Global push for cooperation as space traffic crowds Earth orbit | Space

Cyber Monday and Black Friday Boost December Travel Time as Cruise and Airline Sectors See Major Discounts, and Industry Growth: TTW Reports | Airlines

Congress pushes for transparency on UFO findings | UAP

‘It’s hard not to believe he saw something’: Historian Greg Eghigian on how UFOs took over the world | UAP

China’s two-ton eVTOL debuts in Japan, boosting low-altitude intl cooperation | eVTOL

Air New Zealand A320 diverts to Auckland after engine issue | Airlines

The best wall-mounted space heater I’ve ever used is $20 off for Cyber Monday | Space

American Airlines holds firm on mileage expiration policy | Airline Industry

Thales TALIOS Targeting Pod Receives AI Upgrade | Aviation

The ultimate airline in the world revealed with Brit airlines making the cut | World | News | Airlines

2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar | Space

U.S. Airlines Lead the Way in 2024 How Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and More Are Transforming the Travel Experience and Shaping the Future of Air Travel | Airline Industry

Southwest Airlines makes change reducing passenger movement in effort to lower injury risk | Airlines

VMUT-2 Performs First MQ-9A Reaper Flight at MCAS Cherry Point | Aviation

China to see 100,000 eVTOLs for taxi and personal use by 2030: industry report | eVTOL

Space photo of the week: James Webb telescope spots a secret star factory in the Sombrero Galaxy | Space

Taiwan secures $320M deal for F-16 support and AESA radars | Airlines

‘Skating in Birmingham could flourish with an indoor space’ | Space

American Airlines denies refund to doctor who gave up business class seat for sick passenger | Airlines

India’s Airlines Got 999 Hoax Bomb Threats This Year, Disrupts Flights | Airlines

South Carolina Airport Orders 10 SkyDrive eVTOL Aircraft | eVTOL

UFO expert not ruling out Russia or China links to drones seen at RAF bases | UFOs | UAP

Walmart’s Black Friday deal on the Dreo space heater beats Amazon | Space

American Airlines (AAL) Stock Drops Despite Market Gains: Important Facts to Note | Airline Industry

CEO says his airline's all-Airbus fleet is a 'better alternative' as rivals struggle with Boeing blues and engine issues | Airlines

Turkish Airlines reaches SYD after longest ever flight | Airlines

The best wall-mounted space heater I’ve ever used is still 15% after Black Friday, and it’s perfect for winter chills | Space

MORNING BUSINESS REPORT: Airline fees, Thanksgiving restaurants, best Black Friday deals | Airlines

Brazil to Upgrade A-29 Super Tucanos to Network with Saab Gripen Over Data Link | Aviation