Expiration

Is it dangerous to take generic Vicodin ES after it has expired? I have an old prescription and was just wondering what might happen. Does it lose its effect, or become toxic? ## Never take expired prescriptions. There is a reason that there IS an Expiration Date on them. Not only do they LOSE all potency to help the issue, but the expired pills will surely affect your liver in a toxic way. This is serious. ## Thank you Dr Bronner for the clarification. This is a subject which has been widely debated because some say that certain drugs are okay to take after expiration, whereas others such as antibiotics become toxic. I agree with you that it's better to avoid the expired drugs and stay on the safe side. ## I am engaged to a lovely woman of whom she is part of a family that believes...

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Can I still take flaxseed tablets which expired eight months ago.I did keep it in the fridge.Thanks ## These over the counter supplements aren't tested for safety like prescription drugs are, so there's really no way of knowing if it's safe or not. Thus, I think the best thing to do would be to discard them and purchase a new supply. Learn more dietary supplement details here. Is there anything else I can help with?

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I have a tube of spectazole cream that is used for athletes foot/ and or ringworm. Is it still usable after the expiration date? ## When any medication expires it probably doesn't work as good. I would talk to you doctor that prescribed you spectazole cream, so he/she can prescribe you a new one. Do you have any more questions or information to add? Please post back if you do.

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Is it dangerous if you took a pill "Amoxicillin 500MG" after the expiration date? ## The medication Amoxicillin does not get dangerous, after it has expired, but it can lose effectiveness. Thus, it should not be used, because it may not completely clear up an infection and could lead to antibiotic resistance. Are there any other questions or comments?

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I would like to know if Hydroco/apap 10-500mg tablets are still good after a year and for how long they are good. ## Medications have an expiration (usually of 1 year) because by law it must have one. If you had these hydrocodone/apap pills in a dark, cool place such as a kitchen cabinet, bedroom drawer, etc. chances are still fine. Most pills are actually good for two years from the fill date as long as they are cared for properly. If you had them in the medicine chest in the bathroom, (a bad place for medication) then they may have lost some or all of their potency. When a medication like this one becomes older, it is not really dangerous to take it, rather it might have lost some of it narcotic and/or acetaminophen properties. DO NOT USE THIS RULE FOR EVERY MEDICATION ESPECIALLY FOR ...

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Is it illegal to take a lesser amount of the dose prescribed? I’m takin an 1/8 of a 2mg Xanax instead of a 1/2 of the pill which my dr prescribed? I am attending a methadone clinic in CA & they are telling me I am taking it incorrectly & since I have pills left my prescription is expired therefore I am taking the meds illegally & they will get in trouble with the DEA for me taking them? I am taking less then originally prescribed also I was told the prescription is only good legally 4 months after written or filled! They expire! Is this True? ## There is nothing illegal about this although you stand a very good chance of loosing your Methadone Clinic as they are looking for a certain amount of Xanax in you system ## The clinic knows the Xanax were prescribed but since ...

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how many months is Cip 500 effective? ## Once the Ciprofloxacin has been removed from the oringal factory sealed container and placed in a pharmacy dispensing bottle, which exposes it to the elements, it is only good for one year from the date it was filled. The is the length of time that they can guarantee that it still maintains its full potency, if you store it properly at home. How long ago did you get it?

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I have xanax from 2010 can you tell me if they are still ok to use? ## Hello, Doreen! How are you? They don't become dangerous, once expired, but they do lose effectiveness over time, so they will likely not very well. It would be best to dispose of them and see your doctor for a new prescription. The FDA warns that this benzodiazepine may be habit forming and could cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, headache and irritability. Is there anything else I can help with? ## The majority of my collection Verwon is from 2012 and under lock and key in another location. Because of this I have found myself using more recent prescriptions. I did pull out a couple 2012 bottles and they seem to work fine. I know liquid medicine loses potency over time but should I really worry about ...

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I have bactrim that expired 10 days ago. Is it safe to take? ## Dear Michelle, I wouldn't take any medications after they expired. If u need a new script, call you're Dr. No medications should b used if they have expired. I just cleaned out medicine cabinet. ## To add some specifics, antibiotics are very problematic, once past their expiration, because as they begin to lose efficacy, they may not completely eradicate bacteria, which creates the risk of developing antibiotic resistant bacteria. Are there any other questions or concerns?

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Can I take Clindamycin HCL 300MG if it expired on 4/26/14? Thank you. ## Hi Dea, While some antibiotics like tetracycline can become toxic after they expire, my findings lead me to believe that Clindamycin doesn't and should also be fine having only been expired for 9 months. According to mhra.gov.uk, Clindamycin has a shelf life of 15 months. There's also an article in the LA Times Newspaper (which you can find online) stating that researchers from the California Poison Control System, UC San Francisco and UC Irvine did a study investigating a variety of old drugs and concluded that many of them are still ok to take even up to 28-40 years after the listed expiration date! That said, I don't think you have anything to worry about as long as it was stored properly and not lef...

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I am wondering about an old prescription I have. The only date on the bottle is 3/2/2012. Is it safe to take? ## Hello, Smith1985! How are you? Prescription tablets have an expiration date of one year from the date they were dispensed to you by your pharmacy, because that is when they are removed from the factory sealed container and are exposed to the elements that cause degradation. After the expiration date, this medication does not get dangerous, but it does begin to lose effectiveness and will no longer work as well as when it was new. It would be best to dispose of it and see your doctor for a new prescription. Is there anything else I can help with? ## I have aleve that expired in march 2013, will it still work now that it is 3 years past the expiration date or should I just toss...

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I need to know how long Stugeron is good after the expiration date on the front has passed. I have a pack here that says "exp 2 2013". I'm traveling soon so I would like to know if these pills will still work for me or not. Thanks! ## @Allyouneedtoknow, Not all expired medications are bad, but I think it's good that you took the time out to check first since some can be dangerous (i.e. tetracycline). According to a drug monograph I read, Stugeron has an estimated shelf life of 3 years. I also found out that it does not require any special storage conditions like most other meds do. So you should be fine to take it until 2016 based on that info alone. I don't know if at what point it can begin to diminish potency, however other drug studies by Harvard University sugge...

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I have a brand new bottle Advil (ibuprofen) unopened with the seal still intact with an expiration date of may 2010 are they still good? ## @Jackie, There's actually a lot of conflicting information around the topic of expired medication, but according to a Harvard Medical School family health article, except in rare cases (i.e. tetracycline), there is little chance of danger due to taking medications even up to 15 years beyond their expiration date. This conclusion was based upon a study conducted at the request of the US military due to stockpiles of expensive drugs they could otherwise need to replace every few years. The conclusion was that 90% of those drugs remained effective 10 - 15 years after the expiration date. I don't know whether or not the drug you have happens to ...

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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...

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expired in November 2009. Still effective? Toxic? ## HI, Duke! How are you? No, opiates aren't known to become toxic or dangerous once expired, but they do lose effectiveness. After so many years, it is most likely worthless and you should just dispose of it. Is there anything else I can help with? ## Why thank you Verwon. Pain management is a challenge here in Mexico. The latest is that there is no morphine available. Since I have been taking 180 mg daily, down from 300, for many years, finding alternatives is a task. Currently Endocodil, oxycodina, is the solution but it is five times as expensive and not quite as through. I am from Toronto, but living at Lake Chapala in the mountains of southwest Mexico. Where are you writing from? ## Not in my experience I know someone who had 2...

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can you still use hctz 25mg. that expired 5/15? ## Hello, Blondie! How are you? It would be best to dispose of it and contain a fresh supply, medications tend to degrade with time, so it may not longer be as effective as it was, when new. The FDA lists the typical side effects of this medication as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, increased urination and dehydration. Is there anything else I can help with?

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is it dangerous to take nitrofurantoin 7 months after the discard date? ## Hello, Ezmee! How are you? It doesn't become toxic, or anything, once expired, however, the danger may lie in the fact that it might not be as effective as it was, when new, which could result in your developing antibiotic resistant bacteria. Thus, it's best to dispose of it and see your doctor for a new prescription. The FDA lists the typical side effects of this antibiotic as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, non-allergic skin rash and diarrhea. Is there anything else I can help with?

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Is there an expiration date for ichthammol ointment? I can't find any on the box or the tube. I've had it for quite a few years. ## Hey Dot, How's it going? From what I could gather, the shelf life of ichthammol is reported to be 2 years. And while I'm not aware of ichthammol becoming toxic or unsafe to use after that point in time, lots of meds like this can gradually become less effective, depending on storage/temperature conditions. I hope this helps! ## Thank you David, for your information on ichthammol ointment. ## I too have the same question and can't find answer from a professional. My CVS 1 oz tube has no expiration date. Can anyone help? ## It does have an expiration date. If you look on the tube towards the bottom you will see the bar code and then at the...

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I have allergy induced asthma, which occasionally flairs up and I need to take a short term dose of prednisone. The prescription that I keep on hand expired 11 months ago. Is it still safe to use and will it be effective? ## Hello, Rita! How are you? It does not become dangerous, but it has likely started to lose some efficacy, according to the NIH, thus it would be best to dispose of it and obtain a new supply. My mother-in-law has the same problem, so her doctor usually keeps a running prescription on file for her, which they renew every year, to make sure she always has a fresh supply on hand. The FDA lists the typical side effects of this medication as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, nervousness, insomnia, fluid retention, and elevated heart rate. Is there anything e...

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My bottle of setrtraliin says discard after 6/2015 but bottle says expiration nov 2015. What do I do ## Hello, Jan! How are you? Are you not taking it daily as prescribed? Sertraline isn't a medication that you can just take on an 'as needed' basis, it must be taken regularly for it to work. The FDA classifies this medication as an SSRI antidepressant that can also be used to treat anxiety. Its typical side effects may possibly include nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, headache and weight gain. At this point, it would be best to dispose of them and obtain a new supply. Is there anything else I can help with?

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