Do Pills Lose There Potency Over Time

I was prescribed Xanax jan 2013 is it still ok to use did it lose it's potency? ## Hello, Essie! How are you? If you picked it up from your pharmacy in January 2013, that means that it would have expired in January of this year, 2014, so it is almost a year past its expiration. It doesn't get dangerous, once expired, but it does begin to lose potency, so it will no longer work as well as it did, when it was new. Since there are possible risks associated with taking this medication, it also isn't safe to try to take more to make up for the potency loss, thus it would be best to see your doctor for a new prescription and dispose of this one. This medication also carries the risk of being habit forming and could cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, headache and irrita...

1 REPLY

I have not had a UTI since 2011 and have recently moved. Not having a new doctor yet, besides the fact of being snowed in, and I know this is the beginning of a UTI, can this Rx be taken? Does it become toxic or just lose it's potency? It would help until I can get to a doctor on Saturday. ## Hello, BeeGee! How are you feeling? I'm sorry about the UTI. No, Phenazopyridine is not known to become toxic, once expired, but it does start to lose potency, as do all medications. Thus, it would be best to obtain a new supply. The FDA lists its typical side effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, fatigue, headache and discolored urine. Is there anything else I can help with?

1 REPLY

I ha e an old bottle of oxicodone 5mg that I have been keeping for a rainy day. Well, I just had surgery and the pills are now almost 7 years old. Can I still use them? I live in the desert, so it's very dry. Thanks, ## Hi Alice, While I usually don't condone the use of expired medication, there are several reports (namely one from Harvard University as well as one from the LA Times Newspaper) confidently stating that many medications still retain up to 90% of the active ingredients after 28 to 40 years past their official expiration dates. Hydrocodone was among those medications listed in the LA Times study, and even though Oxycodone was not, my understanding is that it probably still works just fine depending on how it was stored. So in cases like this it seems as though you w...

1 REPLY

When does the hydrocondone 10/325 lose its effectiveness? How long can you keep it? ## Hello, Hank! How are you? There isn't actually any particular time when it will suddenly totally lose its effectiveness, it is actually a gradual process that's caused by things such as heat, light and moisture, because they cause degradation. That is why they are tested to see how long they can be sure that they maintain maximum effectiveness. That's what the expiration date on the bottle designates. When you get them from your pharmacy, they have to be good for one year from the date you receive them and that is the longest their full efficacy can be guaranteed by the manufacturer, under optimum storage conditions. Once past that date, they gradually lose effectiveness. They don't ge...

2 REPLIES

I was given these meds back in November after having surgery on my left ring finger and was wondering if it was safe for me to take them now? The expiration date is 11/1/16 so they aren't expired but is it safe to take them? I was told by a friend who was perscribed these same meds (lower dosage) that after a few days/weeks they become toxic. I just would like to know if it is in fact true? ## Hello, Larissa! How are you? No, they do not become toxic, even after they expire, once past the actual expiration date, they can just start to lose potency. Since yours aren't even expired, there is nothing wrong with them, at all. The FDA classifies this medication as a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, ...

1 REPLY

I have sublingual strips that have been expired for about a month now. Are they still good? ## They should be fine, especially if they are still sealed in the package. ## @Adrian, Midiman is right... they should be fine since the expiration date wasn't too long ago. Harvard Medical School did a study stating that many medications like this can actually retain their potency for up to 10 to 15 years beyond their expiration date. The shelf life of Suboxone may be listed as 3 years, but I think it's been proven to retain its potency much longer under proper storage conditions. I hope this helps! ## I take 8 mg suboxone and I only take a small piece of it and then put the rest back in the package. As long as it stays sealed and in a dry place they dont lose alot of their potency. ## ...

17 REPLIES

I would like to know how long after the experation date, does the amoxicillin remain potent and effective ? And when dose amoxicillin become totally ineffective > ## It's really difficult to get a precise answer on this, because it can really be dependent upon storage conditions. For instance, if they were left in the original factory sealed bottle, they're usually actually good for about 3 years. However, once that bottle is opened, so they are exposed to heat, light and moisture, the degradation starts and how fast they degrade and lose potency depends on how much of the elements they are exposed to. If you keep them in a cool, dry, dark place then they'll last longer than if you keep them in your bathroom medicine chest, which is a warm, damp environment. Learn more A...

2 REPLIES

Can anyone help me find out the expiration date of my dolo 650. The batch number is DOAD0558. Thank you. ## Hi biju, Unfortunately I am unsure of the batch number of T Dolo 650. The only information I've been able to find is that it contains Paracetamol + Mahacef Plus; which is an antibiotic combination that contains Ofloxacin + Cefixime. In regards to the expiration date, I'm not sure how it works where you live, but in the U.S. prescription medications are required to have an expiration date of 1 year past the date that the medication is filled. They may still be ok to take after 1 year is up, but they will lose their potency. Some expired medications can actually be very dangerous. Sorry I couldn't be of more help, do you have any more questions? ## Please tell me the exp...

33 REPLIES

I found 4 year old expired oxycodone in my medicine cabinet and I would like to know if its still safe to take? I don't know much about medicine so I'll just write what the label says: OXYCODONE W/APAP 5/325 TAB MCK subsituted for percocet and the pill has a 512 stamped on it? ## If you are asking if it becomes dangerous as it ages, the answer is no. It does not, however, these medications will lose potency over time, so it may no longer work as well as it did when it was new and may have no efficacy left at all. Taking more, to try to relieve pain can be dangerous, since these also contain Acetaminophen and too much of that can be toxic, to the point of being fatal. The wisest idea is to properly dispose of them and see your doctor for a new prescription if you need help with p...

43 REPLIES

oval yellow pill 10/325 ## what is the shelf life for endocet ## endocet had a stable shelf life of 1 year. After the year it starts to loose its potency and may make you sick. ## To expand on Eddie's reply…. His response is correct for tablets or capsules that have been dispensed to you in a bottle from your pharmacy. In that case, they have an expiration date of one year from the date of dispensing, though most will not make you sick, they just lose potency. However, if they are in the original factory sealed container that has not been opened, then the storage shelf life is actually 3 years, since they have not yet been exposed to the elements that cause degradation, such as heat, light and moisture. There are some capsules, and all liquid medication formulation...

3 REPLIES

I pulled a muscle in my lower back and am in a lot of pain but am unemployed at the moment and can't afford to see a doctor and fill a new prescription. I found an old bottle of Tramadol HCL 50 MG with an expiration date of 3/22/2007. It has been stored in a cool, dark, dry cabinet all of this time. Does Tramadol HCL become unsafe or lose its potency after its expiration date, especially this long after? ## Unsafe: No. Loss of potency: Yes (to a degree)! In the original factory sealed bottles that your pharmacy receives, most medications are touted to only be good for 3 years. Once those are opened and they are placed in a bottle that exposed them to heat and light, they're subject to degrade faster and will lose potency. On the contrary however, something to keep in mind is tha...

65 REPLIES

How long does it take for methadone tablets to go bad past the expiration date? Will it have any potency after 10 years or more? ## I was just reading a great article about this very subject, Harvard Health Medication Expiration Dates. So, while it is usually said that expired medications should be disposed of, and a new supply obtained, if one is needed, actual research date shows different information. It should also be noted that it will vary for different medication formulations, for instance liquids will go bad faster than solid forms. Storage conditions will also play a role, the more a medication is exposed to elements that cause degradation, such as heat, light, and moisture, the faster it will lose potency. The FDA warns that Methadone carries the risk of being habit forming, a...

1 REPLY

I have some Buspirone that expired in 2008. Is it still ok to take this if I'm having some anxiety? ## Hello, Calvin! This medication is not listed by the FDA as becoming dangerous, once expired, but it does start to lose effectiveness, so in my opinion it would actually be best to dispose of it and see your doctor for a new prescription. However, according to the following article (listed below) from NIH, “the expiration date doesn't really indicate a point at which the medication is no longer effective or has become unsafe to use”, and is more of an arbitrary date based on the whit and whim of the pharmaceutical companies’ product “guarantee” that the labeled potency will last “at least” until that date. The article also goes on to not...

12 REPLIES

I cannot swallow Tivicay. Is it ok to crush this medication for easier dosing/administration? If so, how much of its potency is lost? ## Hello, J! How are you? I'm not seeing anything saying that can't be done, though you should double check with your doctor or pharmacist to be sure. And it should not lose potency due to breaking, cutting or crushing. Side effects may include: body fat redistribution, insomnia and headache. Is there anything else I can help with?

1 REPLY

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandates expiration dates on all medications to ensure safety and efficacy. However, it's worth noting that many medications remain effective even past these dates. In fact, a significant quantity of these outdated medicines are donated to countries in need, such as various regions in Africa and Bangladesh, where they can still be of great help. It's important to understand that most medications do not become toxic after expiration, with the notable exception of certain antibiotics. While some, like penicillin, may lose potency over time, adjustments in dosage can sometimes compensate for this reduced efficacy. ## According to the following Harvard Medical School family health article, many medications can actually last up to 15 years ...

1 REPLY

Does IM injection Paliperidone Palmitate (Invega Sustenna) lose potency or become unsafe if it has been stored in far above room temperature for a few weeks? ## Hello, Ally! How are you? Yes, it would most likely be best to dispose of it. Liquid medications tend to degrade very fast, when not stored properly. Is there anything else I can help with? ## Thanks for your reply, Verwon. How about if it (IM inj. Paliperidone Palmitate (Invega Sustenna)) has been stored in a freezer for a few days? Does it lose potency or become unsafe?

2 REPLIES

Does liquid hydrocodone/apap lose its yellow color after two weeks ## Hi Jenni, Based on my research, U.S. prescription medications are required to have a mandatory expiration date of 1 year from the date the prescription is filled. After a year is up, the medication should still be safe but it will start to lose its potency and can no longer be as effective. However, there are some medications that can become dangerous after they expire. That being said, it's best to not take any medication after its expiration date. I haven't heard of this happening, but I'm sure it has to someone besides yourself. Maybe there is a problem with your specific prescription. Have you spoken with your pharmacy about it? I hope you get it figured out! Has this happened to anyone else? ## I woul...

4 REPLIES

I have Hydrocodone + Acetaminophen 10/325 that was prescribed for my back pain which expired a year ago. Is it still effective and how long does it keep its potency? ## Hello, Mary! How are you? Medications do lose effectiveness over time, that's why they carry an expiration date, that's the longest the manufacturer can be sure it will maintain maximum efficacy under normal storage conditions. There's no definitive information that I can give you on how long it retains its full potency, once expired, because that depends on many factors, such as the storage conditions. The FDA classifies this medication as a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation. If you...

1 REPLY

What is the shelf life of these pills? 12, 18, 24 Months? I do understand like all other products, they do lose their potency. ## Once they have been removed from the originally factory sealed bottle and exposed to the elements, then the expiration date is one year. If they are still in the original factory sealed bottle, then the expiration date is 3 years from the date of manufacture. Are there any other questions? ## Thank you, I'll be throwing these pills out ## I believe they say you can keep them for 3 years, that is if they are sealed from the manufacturer. Personally I wouldn't wouldn't worry too much about a month more or less. Heat and light may affect stength. ## I have a 500 mg vicodine that expired in 02/08/2013. It is a year and 6 months old. Can u still use it...

5 REPLIES

I would like to know if cardiotex rx make you gain weight ## no. If anything you will have more energy from the B12 - to exercise and lose weight. :) ## i want to gain weight ## Hi please help my brother is losing weight so he need something to gain weight fast please help ## This is an over the counter multivitamin supplement, so it is not guaranteed to help with anything, other than a deficiency in the vital nutrients that it contains, though the FDA does warn that it can sometimes cause nausea due to its potency. Mapule, why is he losing weight?

4 REPLIES