Taking Expired Bactrim

I have bactrim that expired in May 2015. Is it safe to take now even though it's outdated?

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Hello, Kenyada! How are you?

This medication does not become dangerous once it's expired, but it does start to lose efficacy, so it may not fully eradicate infectious bacteria, which could create the risk of your developing antibiotic resistant bacteria. Thus, it would be best to dispose of it and see your doctor for a new supply.

The FDA lists the typical side effects of antibiotics as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, non-allergic skin rash, and diarrhea.

Is there anything else I can help with?

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My wife found some opened old bactrim from 2007. It was stored in the heat and not taken care of. Just a few tablets left. Anyways she wasn't thinking clearly due to vomiting for 12 hours and no food. She couldn't urinate to take a home pregnancy test and thought the bactrim might help if she had a uti. Well, bad idea because I woke up and found my very healthy 34 year old fit wife in a world of pain. Her neck was cocked to one side and she couldn't straighten it. Also her jaw was crooked and tense. She looked like a stroke victim. She wasn't speaking clearly so I rushed her to the ER. I didn't know she took the bactrim since I was sleeping. I had no idea what had happened. The ER doctor ran labs and gave her an iv of benadryl. That immediately fixed her in like five seconds and she could talk and her neck and jaw were fixed. I guess the bactrim gave her lock jaw and a swollen tongue. They couldn't find anything wrong with her labs but the Dr did think it was from some medication. She told us about the one pill of bactrim she took only after she came coherent. When we got home I saw it was expired by almost 10 years. Has anyone else heard of this happening? She wasn't allergic to bactrim before. Maybe since it was expired she ingested the bad medication full of byproducts. Crazy story and we learned an important lesson. I'm just glad she's alive.

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