Is a year old Prozac still good?

Answer 1

The official answer is: Medications should be discarded one year after they are dispensed or when indicated by the pharmacy label. This is for several reasons. I will list two:

1.The prescription that the physician originally wrote is good for one year. If you haven't seen the physician for reevaluation and a new prescription, you are technically taking a prescribed drug without a legal prescription. Because this could be harmful to your health it is illegal.

2. The medication may have been compromised during the year, not only potentially losing its potency, but perhaps going through chemical changes that could cause the user physical, sometimes irreversible, harm.

The real answer to your question is: it depends.

IF the medication is marked with an expiration date (as in blister pack, sample, or manufacturer dispensed) AND that date has not passed AND the user can personally guarantee has been stored in the recommended manner, one could reasonably assume it was safe to take.

If that user has not been reevaluated by a physician-is not completely sure of the storage conditions-has had other medical, digestive or psychological changes-has a bulk type bottle dispensed from the pharmacy-or ANY other doubts, do NOT use that medication.

If the medication costs less than a liver transplant, its not worth it to try.

Medicines are manufactured so as not to lose their potency for at least one year after the use-by date, so you're about 100% safe if it's not a fake and was purchased from a pharmacy in your country, not bought over the internet of course.