Taking expired medication

[fustercluck]

I got some not-too old medication i dug out that i want to use, it says to use by September 4th/05 - Think it's still fine to use? I know some things like milk can expire pretty quickly, but other things like Eggs will pretty much be good forever, even though it says to use them by a certain date. Medication gets a little risky when using it 3 months after the expiration date i suppose, or does it?

 

[spherrod]

I wouldn't risk it myself, what kind of medication is it?

 

[Atomicus]

I think medicine just loses potency after the expiration date, much like vitamins. So its still safe IMO

 

[ElFenix]

better get to the hospital quick

 

[Mill]

What type of medicine is it. They lose their efficacy over time...

 

[Need4Speed]

only one way to find out...better take double the dose just in case

 

[jagec]

depends on the medication...but IMHO, if it's the sort of medicine that's safe to use after it expires, it's the sort of medicine that you don't really NEED anyway.

 

[brxndxn]

IMO, I've never had a problem with expired medication.. even if it is a couple years old. I love my 2-year-old Bextra prescription.. still have a couple left.. woot.

Though.. marijuana and ecstacy expire fast.. Ecstacy will expire in less than a month..

 

[kranky]

Liquid medicine which must be refrigerated and was marked to expire 6 weeks after you bought it?

Pills which should be kept at room temperature and were marked to expire one year after you bought them?

There's a big difference.

Pills with a one-year expiration I would still take if it was only a couple months past the expiration date.

In the liquid scenario I made up, it would now be 14 weeks after a 6 week expiration date. No way.

Why not call the pharmacist and ask?

 

[Cattlegod]

dude, you are fine. some show did a study on this and said that almost all are fine after the exp date. some of them that they tested were 5 and 10 years past the date.

 

[SMOGZINN]

You should be okay with most medications. The main exceptions are suspended liquids (the will separate out and you can get much to large of a dose) and antibiotics (they lose potency fast and just encourage resistant strains.)

 

[J Heartless Slick]

Why risk it?

 

[Shadowknight]

My mom used to be a nurse, she said most (pill) medications just lose their potency. Still, it might just be a good idea to call a doctor and ask if X medication is safe to use past its exp. date.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: Atomicus
I think medicine just loses potency after the expiration date, much like vitamins. So its still safe IMO

But not as effective, so if it is anti-depressants or something crucial to your functioning well, you may want to switch it.

 

[Kibbo86]

What kind of medication is it?

With painkillers, stimulants, sedatives, I'd go for it if in pill form. More than likely it will just lose potency.

I wouldn't do it with liquids, antibiotics, hormonal pills, etc.