Drug Shelf Life Vicodin

acetaminophen / hydrocodone 500 mg / 5 mg, watson 349 shelf life? ## If they are still in the original factory sealed container, these tablets have a 3 year shelf life. However, once the seal on that container has been broken, the shelf life drops to one year, since they are then exposed to the elements that can cause degradation. This expiration date would include your receiving them in a bottle dispensed from your pharmacy. This is a generic for Vicodin, which is a narcotic pain reliever, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, constipation, dry mouth and drowsiness. Another note that needs to be added here is that as of 2013, the FDA has made a request that all manufacturers lower the amount of Acetaminophen in these combinat...

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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...

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I have had several pain intensive surgeries followed by Dr. prescrptions of Vicodin & Percocet on various occasions in the past. Each time I would have surplus meds (with dispose of dates listed on container) leftover after pain subsided. My question is do these meds have a shelf life where they become ineffective or worse, toxic? ## No, these types of medications do not become toxic, but they will start to lose effectiveness past the expiration date. There's no precise time frame to give, because it depends on storage conditions, but the one year date from the pharmacy is the maximum time they can be sure they'll remain fully effective. Learn more Vicodin details here. Learn more Percocet details here. Is there anything else I can help with? ## Thanks for the expiration inf...

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i have a bottle of Generic Vicodin ES 7.5-750 Tab ,dated 03/26/10 ,are they ok to take? ## Yes. They might be a little stale. ## This medication does not become dangerous, once expired, but it does start to lose effectiveness. Under optimal storage conditions, in the original factory sealed container, the maximum shelf life for efficacy is 4 years. Thus, these are most likely no longer effective and you should dispose of them. The FDA lists 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?

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