How many days should a pharmacy technician assign as an expiration date for magic mouthwash containing water?

The correct choice indicates that magic mouthwash, which typically contains water as one of its components, should be assigned an expiration date of 14 days. This is based on the understanding that compounded medications, especially those containing water, can harbor microbial growth, which can lead to potential contamination.

Magic mouthwash recipes often consist of various ingredients like an antihistamine, an antacid, and sometimes corticosteroids, all mixed in a liquid base that contains water. When water is involved, the stability and integrity of the mixture can diminish over time due to the risk of microbial growth and degradation of the active ingredients.

As a best practice, the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) guidelines recommend a short shelf life for compounded oral solutions that have water to minimize any risk of microbial infection. Thus, a 14-day expiration date is generally adopted as it ensures that the medication remains safe and effective for the patient’s use within that timeframe.

In contrast, options suggesting longer expiration dates, such as 21, 30, or 60 days, do not consider the inherent risks associated with water-containing formulations in compounded medications where microbial contamination could compromise patient safety. Therefore, the selection of 14 days aligns best with established compounding guidelines to