Scientists from Duke University School of Medicine have highlighted an unexpected problem that must be solved for the flight of people to Mars: the shelf life of drugs. There are no pharmacies with fresh drugs on the ship or on Mars, and most modern drugs can be stored for less than 36 months. The flight to the Red Planet and back will last at least three years, which will leave the crew alone with expired pharmaceuticals.
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Scientists have suggested that the crew of the Martian ship will receive the same first aid kit that was collected for the ISS. It includes 106 types of medications, ranging from earwax removers to antipsychotics. Data on the shelf life of 91 out of 106 drugs was publicly available, and 54 of them, when stored in their original packaging, are suitable for use for 36 months. Other drugs have an even shorter shelf life – up to 24 months.
«This doesn’t necessarily mean the drugs won’t work, but just as you shouldn’t take expired drugs lying around the house, space agencies will have to take into account that expired drugs will be less effective.” – the researchers warned.
There are also concerns that in microgravity conditions and increased levels of radiation, the molecular composition of drugs may change more quickly. This is a serious problem, since a long space flight will exhaust the organisms of people, even those who initially passed a harsh selection for health reasons.
«Pharmaceuticals are likely to become a cornerstone of maintaining the health and performance of people participating in space exploration missions, the authors write. — There is a gap in public knowledge regarding the expected expiration dates of drugs contained in the ISS formulary. It is critical to know and understand these pharmacological parameters to ensure safe and effective astropharmaceuticals.”