What happens if you take expired sleeping pills?

Answer 1

My wife used to work for a doctors office back in 2004/05 that had TONS of samples of Strattera. I was prescribed Strattera for Adult ADD, and I really like how it worked for me at the 40 MG amount. I got LOTS of samples of it because it was free and worked well. I got off of the med after a change in jobs and felt I did not need it any longer...

Now, fast forward a few years...

It is now 2008, and I have changed jobs again, and feel that I would benift from the drug once again. I went to my family doctor to get a new script for it, to make sure I was still a good candidate for it, and to see if anything else had come to market that might be better... I was told that Strattera was still the only drug of its type, and that I could begin taking it again. I got my script, and went to the pharmacy. After insurance, it was still going to run me $40.00... NOT THAT BAD considering what it is with NO insurance, but still I'd rather take my samples I have. I did the research, and found this question, along with LOTS of other resources. After wading through them for a few hours, I have found ONE link that will keep me from taking my expired Strattera (expired May 1 of 2005)...

http://www.cchr-WA.org/articles_&_links/attached_case.pdf

Case #223349 starts on page 8 and concluded on page 10... Basically, she was Strattera that had expired approximatly 1 year earlier, and was on it for 15-20 days when the following was complained of:

"The patient experienced abdominal pain,nausea and severe right sided headache - dominating frontal and facial regions causing her to wake up at night, shooting pains throughout limbs, white spots in visual field, waking at night, regression in academic progress and difficulty recognising words. Also had faecal and urinary incontinence."

It is worth it to note that not all symptoms have gone away with taking the correct 'in date' Strattera. However, with the idea that not all of her symptoms have gone away, I don't think this is a good med to play around with.

I WILL NOT BE TAKING MY EXPIRED STRATTERA, but that is my choice based on my research.

Answer 2

The date of expiration merely states that after that date the effectiveness or the potency of the drug can no longer be guaranteed.

In other words, the drug does not become dangerous or lethal after it has expired, but it may not produce the desired effect that it did prior to the expiration date.

However, aside from the drug not being as useful as it once was, there are also possible harmful effects from taking expired medication. As said before the ingredients start to deteriorate and they may break down into a chemical that is more harmful than the original substance. For example, the elements that make up common household table salt are sodium and chlorine which is also known as sodium chloride when they are combined. If somehow the sodium was removed; all that would be left is the chlorine, which is poisonous.

Refer to related links for more.

Tetracycline is one medication that is known to break down into a harmful substance after expiration. Very few drug companies research the effects of drugs after expiration dates, they are only interested in how long their potency lasts.

Answer 3

Well this is what happen tp me for the second time after taking this sleep aiid after they were expired : for two days I,was in bed with terrible pain all over my body I,could'nt sleep get up eat,just if I was dying terrible.this happen twice,then I just got up like npthing happen.

The first time I,took four and this last time took two.

SO BAD I FEEL LIKE I WAS GOING TO DIE.

THE MEDECINE CAME FROM CVS SLEEPING AID EXP>09/20.

MAXIMUN STRENGH DIPHENHYDRAMINE HCI,50 MG. SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE ME THE RIGHT ANSWER. THANK YOU CARLOS PACHECO.

I

Answer 4

Drugs, when they expire, lose their therapeutic action.

So, if you are taking for a couple of months expired Remeron, your depression may come back.

Answer 5

WRONG ANSWER.