When does Valium pills expire?

Answer 1

Believe it or not, as long as you keep it dry, and regardless of the written expiration date, Valium (diazepam) tablets do not degrade! The chemical is very stable when dry. This fact was well known by pharmacists 30 years ago, and yet somehow it was conveniently forgotten by the manufacturers. And why can't the chemical simply be stable? This is not the case for liquid diazepam (Valium) solutions which are less stable. Nor is it the case for all drugs, and many degrade or even turn toxic over time, including vitamin C. I am afraid we all have been convinced to an extent, even those in the medical field, that all drugs must degrade and become unsafe, or at least uncertain, when many do not.

Answer 2

I would not say that Expired Diazepan would be "Harmful" but it would be most likely much "less potent" or "useless". Now, they could be harmful if stored in unsafe conditions. Some US Army studies on Valium, for example, show that the drug is very stable and completely safe and effective for up to 8 years after manufacture.

The Medical Letter consultants believe that most drugs stored under reasonable conditions retain at least 70% to 80% of their potency for at least 1 to 2 years after the expiration date, even after the container has been opened (nb: current US Pharmacopoeia [USP] standard is generally 90% potency). With new individual pill packaging techniques, it is highly likely that USP acceptable potency would be the norm over that same time period.

Greetings,

John/

Answer 3

All prescription medication comes with an expiration date. You will have to look on the bottle that the pharmacy gave you. If you bought the Valium illegally, it's probably already expired - and might not even be real Valium.

Answer 4

I asked my doctor this question and he said probably not harmful but might not be very effective after one year past expiration date.