Does It Expire

I have a vial of B12 with expiration date of 4/2012, is it safe to still use it for injections ## I would of coarse never recommend taking expired "anything", but generally vitamins are still ok to use shortly after their expiration date, and if it's not as potent or effective, at least you'll know why. April was only two months ago, so I doubt that it will have lost much or any of its potency by now. I have some expired Vitamin C powder from Feb. 2012 and it still seems to serve its purpose well today. It may just be me, but I think the expiration date on vitamins isn't as accurate as we're lead to believe. From my perspective I think the quick expiration date on many products is just to get you to buy it more frequently than necessary. I hope my opinion helps! ...

3 REPLIES

Does MiraLAX expire? And if so, can you use MiraLAX after the expiration date? Also, how much is recommended for a single adult dose? ## Yes, MiraLAX does have a shelf-life and expiration. According to the frequently asked questions on MiraLAX.com, "It is not recommended to use MiraLAX beyond the labeled expiration date.” However, I do think some factors influencing its expected shelf-life or integrity may also depend upon how it was stored as well as how long it has been since the product expired. If it hasn't been too long (e.g. a few months), my personal opinion is that it's probably fine, as expiration dates themselves can be arbitrary numbers, but you're still probably better off getting a new batch if you want to play it safe. Regarding dosing instructions, t...

30 REPLIES

Vicodin dated disregard after 2011 is if expired ## Once they have been removed from the original factory sealed container and dispensed to you in a pharmacy container, which exposes them to the elements, the expiration date is on year from when you receive them. They don't get dangerous once expired, but they do start to lose effectiveness. After several years, they are likely worthless and you should just properly dispose of them. Are there any other questions or concerns?

1 REPLY

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

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 have had liquid methadone bottles in my safe for over a year now and needed to know if they expire? ## Yes, all medications expire, but that does not mean they become dangerous, they just start to lose efficacy. Overall, the FDA advises that you dispose of them and see your doctor, if you need a new supply. This medication carries the risk of being habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, headache, constipation, and dry mouth. Is there anything else I can help with? ## I have a bottle of methadone and it said to take it all on the 6th and I didn’t and it’s the 14th now it expires on 12/31/17 can I still take the lil bit that’s left ## I get 27 bottles to go at my clinic, all dispensed on the same date. They are effective beyond the last da...

12 REPLIES

Is it safe to use Omeprazole that expired in October 2014, considering it's now January 2015? ## Hello, Shirley! How are you? Omeprazole doesn't get dangerous once it's expired, but it may start to lose effectiveness versus when it was new, depending upon how it was stored. According to Harvard University’s Medical Center, “Most of what is known about drug expiration dates comes from a study conducted by the Food and Drug Administration at the request of the military. With a large and expensive stockpile of drugs, the military faced tossing out and replacing its drugs every few years. What they found from their study is that 90% of more than 100 drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, were perfectly good to use even 15 years after the expiration date. So, ...

8 REPLIES

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

I've heard that gabapentin has a shelf life of five years after expiration. Most pharmacists have to put a earlier expiration date on them however. And even if gabapentin is expired they pose no risk. Maybe they'll lose some of their effectiveness, but that's it. ## Hello, Cindy! How are you? Yes, that information is correct and no, they do not become toxic. Once the pharmacy breaks the seal on the original factory bottle, they are required, by the FDA, to put a one year expiration date on the dispensing bottle, because that is the longest time the manufacturers can guarantee their full efficacy under average storage conditions, in someone's home. The 4 to 5 years is under ideal storage conditions, where they aren't exposed to the elements that can cause degradation,...

2 REPLIES

My son had an ear infection a month ago and was prescribed a 10 day course of Bactrim. He now has another ear infection and has been prescribed it again. Is it ok to use the bactrim left from a month ago or should I get the new script filled? Other antibiotics he's had have specifically said to throw away 14 days after mixing. ## Hi Miriam, by rights, your suppose 2 complete the whole course of antibiotics right away. Just because u or your so starts. 2 feel better b 4 your done the 10 day supply, u need 2 complete the 10 days. Maybe, that is why the infection came back. So, I would call the Dr and get a new prescription . Hope your son feels better. ## He did finish the 10 days but there was more than that in the bottle. ## Hello, Miriam! If it is a liquid then it should be dispose...

4 REPLIES

My friend gave me hydrocodone from1992.. Am I going to be ok ## Hello, Steph! How are you? If it's tablets, they don't get dangerous once expired, they just loses effectiveness. The best thing to do would be to dispose of them, however, if you did take any, they may not relieve your pain much and could cause some nausea and dizziness, but that's about it. It's never a good idea, though, to take any medication that hasn't been prescribed for you and it is also illegal to share medications in this manner. 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. Is there anything else I can help with? ## When does Augmentin (pill)...

2 REPLIES

My doctor gave me Hydroxyzine pills on April 12th, 2012 and I want to know if they're still safe to take again? ## HI, Nicky! How are you? Tablets begin to degrade once they are exposed to the elements, such as heat, light and moisture. This means that their time starts ticking away as soon as the seal on the original factory container is broken. From that point on, they have a one year expiration date and after that year, they being to lose effectiveness. Hydroxyzine isn't one that has been known to be dangerous once it's expired, but it's not going to continue working and having its intended beneficial effects. Thus, the best thing to do would be to properly dispose of them and see your doctor for a new prescription. Is there anything else I can help with? ## My hydrox...

6 REPLIES

Is it still ok to take Cyclobenzaprine pills two months after expiration? ## Hi tonya, You might be surprised to know that certain drugs are actually okay to take for up to 15 years after expiration, whereas others such as antibiotics can become toxic. My personal assumption is that two-month old Cyclobenzaprine should be perfectly fine to take. Given the option, I would still feel safe taking it within that time frame. The article linked below, by Harvard University, should help shed some light on the topic of expired medication: health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update1103a.shtml On a related note, while the topic of drug expiration may be based on arbitrary numbers & best guesstimates, according to Rising Pharmaceuticals, a manufacturer of Cyclobenzaprine, the "expected" she...

12 REPLIES

I was perscribed Bella ALK/PB ELX Qualitest over a year ago now for my severe cases of acid reflex, does this medication expire because I do not see an expiration date on the perscription ## All medications expire, due to the fact that they will eventually lost potency. For tablets, in the U.S. it is one year from the date your prescription is filled. It is even shorter for liquids, that means that your is probably long past its expiration date. Have you talked to your doctor about getting a new one?

1 REPLY

I have liquid vicodin that expired 5 months ago. Will it be ok for me to still take it? It's 7.5mg per 15 ml. ## It would be best not to do so, liquid medications can actually 'go sour', so to speak, once expired and it could make you sick, if you take. If you still need such a medication, it would be best to see your doctor for a new supply. The FDA warns that this medication carries the risk of being habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, headache, constipation, and dry mouth. Is there anything else I can help with? ## How long does liquid hydrocodone last in the refrigerator without making you sick past the expiration date? ## Is liquid hydrocodone still safe to take if it's only two months past its expiration date? ## My liquid hydrocodo...

5 REPLIES

I found expired Phentermine in my bedroom. They must be at least 3 years old. Are they still good? ## While I do agree that certain medications are actually okay to take after expiration, there are others such as antibiotics that can become toxic. The only real way to know how long phentermine can maintain its potency after expiration would be to have it lab tested periodically. Fortunately for us, according to Harvard University’s Medical Center, “Most of what is known about drug expiration dates comes from a study conducted by the Food and Drug Administration at the request of the military. With a large and expensive stockpile of drugs, the military faced tossing out and replacing its drugs every few years. What they found from their study is that 90% of more than 100 drug...

7 REPLIES

I have an entire bottle of augmentin pills, which were orginally going to be used for a slow antibiotic treatment over a month. My doctor told me not to do it in the end, but left me with a full bottle. Do the pills expire? ## Is it an original factory sealed bottle, or a bottle that was filled and dispensed by your pharmacy? In the original factory sealed container, they are usually good for about 3 years, since that keeps them from being exposed to the elements. Learn more Augmentin details here. If they're in a bottle from a pharmacy, which means they've been removed from the original container, then they expire a year from the date they were dispensed to you. Breaking the seal on the original container exposes them to heat, light and etc. which starts the degradation process...

2 REPLIES

I have cephalexin 500 mg from the year11/19/14 is it still good as I have no insurance. Can I still use it ## Hello, Elizabeth! How are you? If it is a pharmacy supplied bottle, or a container other than the original factory sealed one, then it expires on year from when it was dispensed to you, as noted by the FDA. It doesn't become toxic, once expired, but it does start to lose efficacy, so it may not work as well as it did, when new and may not completely eradicate infectious bacteria. Its typical side effects are listed as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, non-allergic skin rash, and diarrhea. It would be best to consult your doctor. Is there anything else I can help with? ## It's the 219 light green oblong shaped imprinted with the number 218 on both sides. Tha...

2 REPLIES

5513 ## I am not certain what you are asking, could you please clarify? ## Can I take the medication Soma if it expired in 2007? ## I’m wondering the same thing. I found a script that expired in 2007 also. ## Yes you can, they may show signs of aging but should still be good. I did however have some Rantidine/Zantac go bad after storing an emergency night bag in my car in 150 degree Southern California summer weather ## Yes you can. It just loses its potency. ## I have 5-year-old Soma that is just as potent. What they do do is turn hard making them difficult to break in half. And some of mine are also exposed to extreme temperatures

6 REPLIES

Can I still administer a Vitamin B12 inj. which expired in July of 2014? ## Hello, Jeanne! How are you? Liquid formulations tend to degrade faster than others and they can also go bad, so there is a risk that using it after the expiration could be harmful. It would be best to see your doctor for a new supply, if it is still required. The only known side effects, listed by the FDA are administration site irritation and soreness. Is there anything else I can help with?

1 REPLY