Peppermint and Fennel Capsules
#370216 - 09/18/13 11:14 AM
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I ordered these back in May 2013 but only took them for a few days....not enough time to notice a differance and my IBS was better. Now my IBS - especially gas and nausea is really bad(probably due to lexapro) and went back to my 2 bottles that i ordered(one opened and the other unopened) and noticed that they are close to expiring and smell funky(even the unopened one...ie i opened it and it had the same smell).....is this the normal smell or have they reached their shelf life? I left them in a kitchen cupboard...perhaps they should have been refridgerated? I hate to waste them or order more(im unemployed)....thoughts on whether they are safe to take?
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the enteric coating dissipates over time, and if the expiration date has been reached you don't want to take them. They won't "go bad" but without the enteric coating intact the risk of heartburn is much greater.
You do have to store these in a cool, dry place. Not hot, not cold, not refrigerated, just a cupboard in the house where the room temp is stable. Extreme heat or cold will damage the enteric coating and the gels themselves.
They are labeled with an 18 month expiration date. If you got them from us in May 2013 the expiration date would be at least some time in 2014.
Oddly, a funky smell is most common when the gels are brand new. That is the enteric coating - you can actually see it when the gels are very fresh. They will look dull, gray, and almost rough or pebbly. That is a good sign. If they look shiny, brown, transparent, and much prettier, that means the enteric coating has dissipated and you don't want to use them.
If you need more help with this please email us at Help at HelpForIBS.com.
Best,
Heather
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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