Can you take medication after its expired date?

Answer 1

Most medications are completely fine if taken past the expiration date. The FDA wants drug companies to include a date that they will know for sure that it is still 100% viable. But most companies do not test their products past 2-3 years, so that is what they put down as their expiration date. But many drugs have been tested independently 5-6 years down the road and have been found to still be completely good. Aspirin especially has a great shelf life. The pharmaceutical companies like to include the dates on their products so that people will throw out the "old" stuff and then buy more. Some exceptions include more "exotic" drugs; the more complex the drug, the more likely it will break down. Though, this still takes a generous amount of time, and that it is still 90+% effective usually. Liquid medications also lose some of the effectiveness faster than anything in a solid form. A good rule of thumb in any case is that if your life depends on the drug, and it is expired, then you probably should not rely on it. Your life is not worth the savings from not getting a new Rx. And as always, feel free to consult your doctor if you have any questions.

Answer 2

Since an FDA regulation in 1979, drug makers have been required to guarantee their products' potency to a certain point in the future. In other words, the "expiration date" tells you that the drug will be 100% effective-as-new until that day. After that, the medication may still "work" for all intents and purposes, but it is no longer guaranteed to do so.

Drug companies do not give a "half life" or any other information on how long it takes for any medication to truly "go bad." Indeed, some studies have found medications to be good-as-new as long as 15 years past the expiration date!

Of course, different medications will last longer than others, and storage environment as well as whether the packaging has been opened will effect this lifespan, as well. It's best to ask a doctor about specific medications, and, of course, "when in doubt... throw it out!"

Answer 3

You can but you shouldn't.

Unlike the expiration date on food which is usually a "sell by or pull" date for the store to tell them when to get it off the shelf and the food is still usually perfectly good to eat for at least a couple weeks (if not longer); the expiration date on medications indicates the active ingredient will probably degrade and no longer be dependable and may even have become harmful after that date.

Using expired medication may cause inadequate treatment of the condition it was prescribed for or in some cases poisoning! Get rid of the medication as soon as possible after it expires.

Answer 4

I have a box of Contac Flu And Cold medicine and it expired 4/2009 it is now 5/2009 it is safe to still take just for 1 day till i get more

Answer 5

You cannot take medication that is a few days past the expiration date because after the expiration date, they lose potency and may be unsafe.

Answer 6

You should not take over the counter medication that is just a few days past the expiration date because the medicine might be unsafe.